View From The Bridge 11/23/2011

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
11/23/11

FREE DINNER SUNDAY
The Thrivent Financial for Lutheran’s Organization is the sponsoring a dinner at the Golden Age Senior Center on Sunday, November 27th at 1:00 p.m. This Organization does philanthropy work and has chosen Fort Benton Golden Age for this free dinner.

It is strictly “word of mouth,” get it out to the Community, kind of invitation. Because it is a non-profit organization and it is a free dinner, there will be no other advertising. I made 9 phone calls this morning to research Thrivent Financial for Lutheran’s. Four calls were made to Wisconsin where I left three messages on answering machines. The fourth number hung up on me before I could explain what I wanted. I have no further information why they choose Fort Benton. Perhaps I will know by Sunday.

This dinner has nothing to do with the dinner on Thanksgiving Day at the Community Bible Church dinner. The Thrivent Financial for Lutheran’s Organization dinner is on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Come and join your friends and neighbors to enjoy dinner and conversation. It is a social event to visit with friends and neighbors you did not visit on Thanksgiving Day. Spread the word to family, friends, neighbors, and see you there.

TRINDLE FUND RAISER
Once again, the people of Fort Benton have shown love and generosity to a family in need. In that category fell the Trindles’. There were approximately 300 people at the Fund Raiser last Saturday afternoon and evening. Those who donated and those who bought at the silent auction and live auction were very generous. The “Boot,” the 50/50, the raffle for meat, and the Half-a-Card game were added means of fund raising. It was not only successful but a fun evening for everyone.

A serious illness can break a family financially. It is traumatic enough to go through such a procedure but to have to be concerned with “where does the money come from,” makes it seem as though you can never recover. We never know when something like that will invade our family. You just never know and that is where the generous thoughts enter our minds. Our family may be next… be it flood, fire, an accident, or an endless list or tragedies. Right now, we have a family that we can help and Fort Benton came through again.

We may never have had to ask for help, however somewhere down the road, we may have to. That is were a wonderful community like Fort Benton comes in with open hearts. Our merchants are the greatest people ever. They are called on countless times and never fail to donate generously. As the announcer said Saturday evening, “Be sure to thank them.” They deserve all the blessings that can be bestowed upon them.

POKER TOURNAMENT
Another fun evening was spent last Friday at the Grand Union Hotel. The Poker Tournament was a reminder of days gone by when the men of Fort Benton had little other to do evenings but play cards. Women were not allowed to watch much less play. Things certainly have changed. One thing I did notice was there were many young men. They are very aggressive and daring players. It was fun to watch them.

There were a few women playing and one actually came in the top “5.” There were also two women dealers. I visited with one of the women dealers who lives in Chester. I was curious about what her life involved besides dealing cards. She said that she was an accountant and enjoyed dealing occasionally. She fascinated me with what I knew about dealing. I have a friend who tried to learn to be a dealer but could not keep up. You have to be very quick, observant, and focused. You have to keep track of all the players’ cards and how much they bet. I would not last five minutes as far as remembering even my name.

It was a fun evening and everyone seemed to be having a good time. The weather did not keep anyone away as all forty players showed up. A favorite saying around these days is, “Well, there is always next year.”

THANKSGIVING
If you were asked, for one thing that you are thankful for, what would it be? I will not go to the obvious. My one thing would be that I am thankful to be living in Fort Benton. Our economy is looking up, there are the best caring people that live here, and its beauty is wonderful to behold. We are so blessed.

PARAPROSDOKIAN
A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

BUY AMERICAN
As you do your Christmas Shopping in the next few weeks, be sure to check your labels to see where the products are made. Let’s put our unemployed back to work. You have only 4 weeks and a few days to finish (or start,) your shopping. Do I have to remind you?

I had a very young person tell me the other day how quickly the time is flying by. I always reply with, “As you get older, it goes faster and faster.”

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, MONTANA, FORT BENTON, OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND EVERYONE WHO NEEDS BLESSING.