A Facebook friend was surprised I am still in Washington. Me too, but I figured it out: When you have four sisters, and you’re not the oldest, not the youngest, and not one of the twins, you don’t really have a special designation in the family.
But in this house, in that long ago time in Metaline Falls, I did. I was the cousin who came to stay for weeks at a time.
Every day, I’d hear the screen door slam as my uncle left to work at the cement plant behind the house. And every day, there would be a new adventure.
Huckleberries, ballgames, late-night excursions when we were supposed to be sleeping out in the back yard. Sweet summer days and star-gazing nights. I had thought I’d stay few days here and move on, but memories and a dearly loved aunt and cousins had me lingering.
Metaline Falls is a tiny town tucked up in the farthest northeast corner of the state. The folks here wear many hats. The Baptist minister dives a school bus, the local hair dresser coaches the girls volleyball team. My cousin Andy (pictured here) 
works for the Selkirk School District. He’s the: Director of Transportation, Athletic Director, bus mechanic and softball coach. The school district covers three towns and has a K-12 student population of 220.
On every walk, I met someone new, friendly and interesting. I’m considering a photo essay on tiny towns. We’ll see what I find in the rest of the country. If I ever get out of Washington…
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