Huckleberries: She gave us hope for 40 years as Leia – and that hope lives on

The recent joint memorial for Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, recalls a superb post by a Coeur d’Alene blogger after their deaths a day apart in late December.

Before Fisher introduced Princess Leia to us in “Star Wars: A New Hope” 40 years ago, said Nic Casey of the Faithful Geek blog, “women in pop culture were either the damsel in distress or nothing more than a romantic interest. They needed protection.” Even in the video game Nic played as a child, Mario was always trying to rescue Princess Peach.

Princess Leia broke that mold, Nic blogged, from participating in her own rescue from evil Darth Vader to leading a rebellion and a revolution over three films. This, while actress Fisher battled her own demons, from addiction to mental illness, with grace and humor.

Nic wraps up his blog comment on the importance of the late Ms. Fisher with this: “Because of her portrayal of the Princess of Alderaan, I have discovered something much like what was delivered to her at the end of ‘Rogue One’: Hope. She gave me hope that my daughter can be both a princess and a hero, both a peacemaker and a warrior, both delicate and unbreakable, both compassionate and fierce.”

Carrie Fisher may be gone. But the hope she has given us for four decades lives on.

No string, no problem

Florine Dooley marvels at the professionalism shown by the Spokane Symphony under the direction of Eckart Preu at the Fox Theater on March 26.

Guest violinist Benjamin Beilman was in the middle of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major when a string broke on his Stradivarius. Without skipping the proverbial beat, he traded violins with concertmaster Mateusz Wolski. Who traded violins with the second violinist. Who calmly reached into his pocket for a new string – and restrung the crippled Strad.

All the time the orchestra played on.

Then, concertmaster Wolski indicated with his bow where the three performers could reverse the handoff.

Comments Florine, of Coeur d’Alene: “A few seconds later, everybody had the violins they’d started with, a potential disaster was averted, and the audience continued to be enthralled with the music.”

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “When I was a lad, the nuns told us, ‘Boys, the emptiest barrels make the most noise” – Tom Wobker, The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“On TV Pundits”) … While Opinion Editor Gary Crooks dreams of readers learning how to spell Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ surname correctly – that silent D is a killer – Huckleberries tries to remember whether it’s Cathy with a C or K … Props to state Rep. Caroline Nilsson Troy, R-Genesee, who brought levity to the grumpy chambers of the Idaho House or Representatives in its closing days. She taped a sign to her desk (photographed by Melissa Davlin/Idaho Public Television) stating: “Idaho District 5: Approximately 45,000 citizens and at least one Sasquatch.” Some of you recall that at least one of Rep. Troy’s constituents claims Bigfoot chased a deer into her car recently … How do you suppose the woman who hit the deer explained that one to her insurance agent?

Parting shot

From the Penthouse to the Outhouse: That giant, metal die/dice was the talk of Coeur d’Alene when it floated onto the North Shore a few weeks back. Many wanted to take a photo by it. Taylor Viydo of KREM 2 tracked down the owner. Now, it’s keeping company with a portable outhouse, east of Coeur d’Alene Skate Park. Adding insult to injury, some of the white dots have been torn and others have been filled in with love testimonies and graffiti. One statement, complete with a heart and arrow, indicates that Travis loves Louise. How has the mighty die fallen.