View From The Bridge 1/4/2012

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
1/4/12

C.C.P.A.
Next week, Wednesday January 11th, the Vigilante Theatre will be in Fort Benton to perform. Put it on your calendar as you may get the River Press too late to attend that evening. Every Vigilante presentation has been thoroughly enjoyable. The story line, the singing, the acting, the costumes, and the humor make for a very enjoyable evening. See you there.

MORE C.C.P.A.
Last week when I wrote about the upcoming two events for the Chouteau County Performing Arts, I did not get to the second event. The Consortium will be held here in Fort Benton all day Saturday, January 28h. You can spend the day sitting in comfortable seats at the Fort Benton Elementary School and listen to 17 talented performances. The best part is that it is all free. If you enjoy music, musicians, singers, and other forms of entertainment…this is the ticket for you.

Several years ago when the Consortium was held in Glasgow, train travel was at a stop because of an avalanche in Western Montana. Many attendees were not able to get to Glasgow. The Committee decided then and there to have the Consortiums in a central location and that would be Great Falls. They also decided that it would be held one year in Great Falls and the next year in Fort Benton. This year, will be Fort Benton’s second go round on that schedule.

This event is a real boon financial to our town. The participants stay in town for two or three days in rented rooms, eat most meals out, and frequent our businesses for shopping. I’ll remind you again in the next couple of weeks with more details. The Consortium loves Fort Benton and the reason is obvious. We have the friendliest and most helpful people in the State of Montana. I am saying these things because that is our reputation. We not only are the most beautiful town in Montana, we are the friendliest. Of course, we always knew this didn’t we. The best part is that it is all genuine.

Depending on the number of people who attend the Consortium, there may be a need for Home Stay. If you have an extra bedroom and can accommodate any of the participants, please call Connie Jenkin’s cell phone at 406-750-2918 a.s.a.p.

CIVIL WAR SERIES
A note to Ken Robison: what great reading material to be looking forward to in the months ahead. For years, I avoided any material about the Civil War because it broke my heart, as a mother, with the thought of all those young men dying. It was not until this past year that I was able to watch the PBS Civil War series and even then had to close my eyes to some of the scenes. (I did that last week when we went to see the “War Horse” movie.)

I have since read some material about the Civil War. What you are writing about and how it affected Montana, is all new material about our own state. I know the research you have been putting into these articles and not only the Tuesdays that we are at the Joel Overholser Research Center. You also took the time to scan Veterans photos and often had to make 5 x 7’s for the project. It is a labor of love and I want you to know how it is appreciated.

MYSTERIOUS CAVERNS
What a great evening read that article was. It was from the Holiday edition of the River Press of December 28, 1881. That was 130 years ago. Can you even imagine living way back then. The other mystery is who wrote it…Jes? Tim, dig more of those articles out of the archives for us.

LONGER DAYS
I am enjoying my days more each day as they lengthen. On the Solstice day the 22nd, as I wrote last week, the sun rose at 8:10 a.m. and set at 4:36 p.m. On December 29th, a week later, the sun rose at 8:13 a.m. and set at 4:41 p.m. That is a gain of 8 minutes in a week. We will see next week if that trend of 8 minutes a week continues. If so, in a month, we should gain 32 minutes and by June, it will be light until almost 10:00 p.m. Of course, daylight savings time messes my timing a bit but whatever…the days are getting longer. Hurray!

Can you believe this weather? According to Tim’s article last week about the year in review, he said we had 40 inches of snow during November and December. I know we all well remember that. What have we had this November and December? Zilch. Nothing. Got the snow shovels out of storage for naught. It is more like spring out there. The forecast starting tomorrow, the 3rd of January, is for the upper 50’s. It is frightening though, if you think about global warming and what Mother Nature has in store for us.

I did not read the Almanac but heard that the whole country was supposed to have the worst winter ever. Is that still in store for us? We will just have to wait and see. In the meanwhile, enjoy what we have.

PARAPROSDOKIAN
“To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and then call whatever you hit the target.”

I have one Paraprosdokian left Folks and I am waiting to hear from someone out there. Dusty and Writers Group, where are you when I need you to write?

SO LONG FOR NOW
We saw a news report on TV about how to change your thinking about your New Year’s resolutions. I only remember one clearly and that was if you wanted to read more (which I do,) write a book instead. Now, isn’t that a switch. Even though I have always written a word or two, here and there, and belong to a Writer’s Group, (actual name Syntax Sinners,) I have never wanted to write a book. Who would want to read about my adventurers? On the other hand, in years to come my family may want to read it. Well, it is something to think about. I will think about it tomorrow, as it is another day Scarlet.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS.