View From The Bridge 12/22/10

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
by Muncie
12/22/10

MERRY CHRISTMAS
I wish all of the readers of the “View” the most wonderful Christmas you have ever had. I wish that as you read the River Press on Wednesday or Thursday, everything went well with all your preparations. I wish that you heard from friends that you have not heard from for a long while and know that they are well and happy. I wish that amongst family and friends, there were much forgiveness and much love. I also wish that all these wonderful Christmas feelings last throughout the next year. My last wish is that there will be peace on earth and it will be soon. It cannot be soon enough for me and I know that you all feel that way.

All of our Christmas celebration get-togethers are over and this week before Christmas should be a quiet, reflective one. The weatherman said tonight (Sunday) that we would have a harder snowstorm starting at midnight until noon tomorrow (Monday) than we had a week ago. It is a little much but we should be used to it by now. I will say again that it is not even winter yet. That should keep us inside the house to finish the miscellaneous items of preparation for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

It is now Monday morning and it looks as though the area has about 6 in. of new snow. The sun is out and the wind is not blowing (yet.) That makes it seem warmer than the 13.5 that shows on our satellite weather station. Keep warm and cozy and you seniors do not go out unless you absolutely have to. Always let someone know where you are and where you are going. Please do not fall because you do not want to break a bone for the holidays. You want to be “home for the holidays.”

DECORATIONS
Have you had an opportunity to drive around town and see the Christmas decorations? The snow and ice may have prevented you from doing that, but if you can manage, take a ride in the evening and enjoy the decorations.

Aunt Dode Morger loved it when we would pick her up from the Sunrise Bluffs and drive her around town. We took her every other night and it is not as enjoyable without her because she would “ooh and awe” at every decorated house.

My favorite part of the decorations is the day the City Crew turns on the Christmas lights on Front Street. I watch out my kitchen window every late afternoon after Thanksgiving to catch the first lighting. The lights are usually left on for a few weeks after New Year’s and I know that the next time I see them it will be Summer Celebration. Will summertime June ever be here again?

The merchants on Front Street also do a great job of decorating. I wish it could be like that all year because it is so festive and cheerful.

FEEDING THE BIRDS
This summer I moved my birdfeeders from the lilac trees close to the house to the garden fence. The reason for moving them was that a black cat was visiting our yard for a dinner it might find and the birds passed the word around. The cat could jump from the deck railing into the lilac trees and catch a bird in midair. Moving the feeders result was that the cat (or cats) would not reach the birds. I was filling the feeder every other day. Now again, I have no birds. We see the cat almost every day in the yard and apparently has had a feast on some birds. The word went out again amongst the birds and they avoid my feeders.

I have two friends who also feed the birds and they said there has been no letup with filling their feeders. I am asking once again, please put a very loud bell around your cat’s neck. I know that helps to let those tiny birds know a cat is approaching.

Are you thinking that I should have better things to be concerned about then feeding the birds? Perhaps that is true; however, I did enjoy watching the birds in the lilac trees. Now that the feeders are near the garden, I cannot see them as well from the house. I can only tell if the birds have been around by checking the feeders. I filled them last Thursday and today (Sunday) one has not been touched. One of the feeders has about one third of the seed gone and another that is the smallest, is half-empty or half-full as you would have it. There is very little activity and I want my birds back.

BASKETBALL
We were only able to attend the games on Friday and Saturday evenings. We wish we could have attended the Big Sandy on Thursday game but could only read the final scores the first thing on Friday morning. There were very exciting outcomes of all the games and made for a very enjoyable evenings. The High School Band entertained us both evenings and the Cheerleaders were there on Saturday night. All did a great job.

FOOTBALL
I try not to talk about religion, politics, the Grizzlies, or the Bobcats in the area. However, I can talk about The Saints from Carroll University in Helena. I believe that every football fan in Montana was rootin’ for the Saints on Saturday. However, there may be some migrants from North Dakota who are loyal to their state team. They would have to muffle their cheers as they were overwhelming outnumbered.

Thankfully, we were able to watch the game, courtesy of our TV provider. It was a great game right down to the last few seconds and again Montana has a National Championship Team.

I have to admit that I have a stake in the Saints Football Team. I have a grandson, Bryan, who is a freshman at Carroll and was red-shirted this season along with all the other freshman football players. Because of his attachment to Carroll, I have become a “Saint.” I contributed to a fund and that is probably the only way I will ever become a “Saint.” Do we have any other Saints in Fort Benton? Let me know if you see me on the street.

SO LONG FOR NOW
Again, Merry Christmas to all of you. “May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmas’ be white.” (Actually, I think we have had enough of that white stuff to last for the next three years but after all is said and done, it is very beautiful as long as you do not have to go out in it.

Enjoy every minute of every day because these are the memory-making times that last forever.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.