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Posts Tagged ‘Videoville’

Exceptional in every way!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Happy birthday, tagged , , , on November 18, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Kirsty Croghan

Kirsty Croghan

Kirsty Croghan

The Queen of Videoville.

Kirsty Croghan has always been the exception.

She’s been the only Coupeville High School coach who could also claim they once worked at Videoville, my home-away-from-home for 12+ years — at least until Hall of Famer Ashley (Ellsworth-Bagby) Heilig returns to her Wolf roots and picks up the coaching mantle.

So, there’s that.

I went from goofing around with her behind the video counter to (sort of seriously) asking her questions after volleyball matches, a journey I never shared with say, Ken Stange or Randy King.

Give me a moment. I was just reflecting on what it might have been like to have Mr. King transplanted from the basketball court to the video store floor.

“This movie is three minutes late! You’re killin’ me, Smalls!!”

Yep, would of worked out just fine…

But anyway, back to Kirsty Sue (unlike with other coaches I can use her middle name cause I actually know it!), who celebrates a birthday today.

How many? Um…

She’s somewhere in her twenties, I know that. And getting more awesome by the second.

Kirsty had to give up the Wolf spiker job after just a season, when the commute from La Conner proved to be too much, but it was a thrill to see her get a crack at the position.

A star player in her day, she lived and breathed for CHS, and it’s a shame it didn’t work out for her to pass on her skills and knowledge to generations of Wolf players.

But, wherever the coaching life takes her, I know she’ll be successful.

More than that, she’ll continue to spread joy everywhere she goes.

The woman is one of the friendliest, most likeable people to ever walk this Earth, and her spirit is infectious.

She came to work at Videoville during a tough time, when the store was being moved and (eventually) sold to new owners, and there were many days when she was the one thing that kept our spirits up.

Here’s a message for Kirsty Sue — Miss Croghan, you are freakin’ amazing and I enjoyed every second I had with you.

I hope your day, your week, your year is as sublime as you have always been.

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Britt’s the best!!

Posted in Cheer, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on October 23, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Brittani Wil;kinson (John Fisken photo)

Brittani Wilkinson (John Fisken photo)

Cheer

Born to cheer.

Wilkinson (center, middle row) during Senior Night for football. (Cheridan Eck photo)

Wilkinson (center, middle row) during Senior Night for Wolf football players and cheerleaders. (Cheridan Eck photo)

Like a bright, blazing light bulb, forever lighting up the world around her.

That’s Coupeville High School senior Brittani Wilkinson, who celebrates her 18th birthday today.

Her smile is huge, her heart even bigger, and she has excelled as a Wolf cheerleader and part of a large, loving family.

I remember the early days, when she used to toddle along behind older sister Courtney Boyd when she and her siblings would come in to Videoville and later, David’s DVD Den.

Now, she’s all grown up (well, mostly grown up) and headed towards graduation.

The smile has never dimmed, the sense of joy she exudes in everything she does, especially cheer, where she has made her name, never faded.

She is as bright, personable, friendly and outgoing as anyone, which I credit a great deal to her mom, Carrie Wilkinson, who is also all of those things.

The mom is a marvel and her daughters (and sons) have lived up to her example.

Happy birthday, Brittani. I hope it is as wonderful as you are.

Which would be pretty dang wonderful.

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Good night, prickly pear

Posted in In memory, tagged , , , on October 19, 2014| 1 Comment »

Kathy Marley and one of her grandchildren.

Kathy Marley and one of her grandchildren.

She was a prickly pear. In the best sense possible.

Kathy Marley was always more about butt-kickin’ than butt-kissin’.

The very first customer I ever had at Videoville, on Oct. 4, 1994, she became a third mom (Miriam Meyer, who owned the store, was my second mom).

Over the years, if she said one thing to me more than anything else it was a short, sardonic “Stop being an idiot!” while cocking an eyebrow at me.

Followed by a smile and a smack to the back of the head.

She said that many, many, maaaaannnnnnnyyyyy times to me, and, to her credit, kept on saying it long after she had figured out I was always going to be an idiot, regardless of what she said or did.

There were times when we saw each other on a daily basis, and times when months would go by without any contact, but Mrs. Marley was always there for me, easy to reach and always willing to be chafed … to a point.

She tried her best to get me to be more responsible, with my money and my decisions in life. But she also let me fall flat on my face when it was needed, because how else do you learn.

When I was at my best, during the glory days of renting 500 VHS films on a Friday night in Cow Town, she was there.

When I was at my worst, working 10-hour days without a break for 144 days in a row and throwing my money away on DVD’s instead of food and propane, compromising my health and sanity for a stupid vendetta over a silly off-hand comment, she was there.

Except when she would go to the food bank and then slide by, leaving food in the back of my car, without saying anything about it.

She was a rock, to her family, to friends, to those of us who she decided, against her better judgement, to adopt.

She was tough love with a sardonic smile. A good woman whose body gave out long before her spirit ever did.

She will be missed, greatly.

And, from time to time, if some of you feel like smacking me in the back of the head, go ahead and cap it by saying “Mrs. Marley says hi. Now stop being an idiot.”

Cause that’s the way she would have wanted it.

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Make Mekare Bowen leave the country!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Fundraisers, tagged , , , , , , on October 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Mekare Bowen (left) with lil' sis Aria.

Mekare Bowen (left) with lil’ sis Aria.

Mekare Bowen is the most amazing young woman I have ever known.

I’m sorry. There is no argument. That’s it. End of story.

Miss Bowen, who I have seen grow up from a wee little lass causing good-natured havoc at Videoville and Miriam’s Espresso when her mom Dea worked there with me to the bright, confident, super-smart, supremely sweet college freshman she is now, is without peer.

Spend any time around her and you will be witness to greatness.

Whether she was casually writing a 500-page fantasy book as a teen or being a doting caregiver to lil’ sis Aria, Mekare exudes joy, love and friendliness, embracing the world and all in it.

What’s kind of remarkable is that she never changed.

Super-friendly little girl to serene, caring young adult, all done with the ease of a Matthew McConaughey-worthy “Alright, alright, alright.”

No grumpy teen years. No angst. At least not in public.

Her intelligence, her grace, her positive spirit, the radiance that flows from every pore in her body — they all grew and continue to blossom.

And now Mekare, having moved on from her time as a CHS cheerleader, is a freshman at Western Washington University, one with a plan to continue to reach out and help others.

She has been accepted to go to South Africa next summer for two weeks with Reach Out Volunteers. While there, she would help in a building program at an orphanage and in conservation work at a game park.

Which is where we, her many fans, can come in to the picture.

Mekare needs a small financial helping hand, and anyone with any sense should gladly be willing to kick in a few cents (or bucks).

Take a moment to click on the link below, read her words and help a truly wonderful young woman help others. It’s the best thing you could do today.

http://www.gofundme.com/fksvqo

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Nun school? It can still happen!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , on September 23, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Courtney Boyd and daughter Ruby in 2013.

Courtney Boyd and daughter Ruby in 2013.

cute

Cute picture or cutest ever? Discuss.

Courtney Boyd is the queen of feisty.

And sure, the onetime Coupeville High School basketball star may have mellowed a bit since giving birth to the most adorable baby in all creation, Ruby, but I have no doubt she can still reach down and find that fire.

As a fast-talking, gum-snapping child, Miss Boyd, who celebrates a birthday today, spent most of her time hanging out behind the counter at Videoville and Miriam’s Espresso.

She didn’t actually work there, but she still owned the place.

She and her traveling companion, Liz Tingstad, ate all the food, controlled what movies were being played on the in-store TV screens and stole my computer away from me every time they could.

Occasionally (say once or twice a year) they might deign to take out the garbage or go get the mail but only if they weren’t already busy harassing me.

Courtney was a pro, taking great delight in getting half the town to believe I was her father.

I retaliated by running out in front of the store whenever she walked by with a boy and screaming “Nun school! You’re going to nun school!!”

Then she would throw things at me.

Good times…

Courtney is now, and has always been, one of the sweetest, kindest young women to ever grace this planet. Just wrapped in a fiery shell.

Even as a young girl, she would help out her mom, Carrie, shepherding her younger brothers and sisters around town.

So, it’s no surprise that she has adapted so strongly to being a mom herself.

I expect as Ruby gets older, she’ll be a lot like her mom, and her grandma.

Feisty, independent, fiercely loyal and protective, sweet, caring women.

My 12 years behind the counter at Videoville will likely never be topped. It was my perfect job.

People came and went, employees, customers and hanger-ons. Some were memorable for good reasons, others for bad reasons.

Courtney will always hold a place in my heart, and I couldn’t be prouder of her and everything she has accomplished if I actually was related to her.

You are legendary, Miss Boyd. Never forget that.

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