View From The Bridge 1/11/2012

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
1-11-12

LONGER DAYS
I am obsessed with the days getting longer. It is just my thing at this time but I have found many people who share my eagerness for longer days instead of longer nights. I could never live in Alaska during the winter but I would enjoy the summer. My one trip to Alaska was in June and I did not have a bit of trouble sleeping when it was light. I checked my new calendar and found that Daylight Savings Time begins on March 11th. That is only two months away. I have not heard from anyone about the pros and cons of the sunrise and sunset times. If you see me and like it…do thumbs up. If you do not…thumbs down. I promise we will not debate the subject but I just would like a general poll.

I found in checking last weeks River Press for these figures that I had Wednesday as the 29th instead of the 28th of December. No one noticed. So back to the days getting longer, I found that we gained another 7 minutes this past week. The sun rose at 8:13 a.m. on Wednesday December 28th and at 8:12 a.m. on January 4th. The sunset on the Wednesday December 28th was 4:40 p.m. and on January 4th it was 4:46 p.m. Now I am hooked on watching those times each week.

CONSORTIUM
Just a reminder to put Saturday January 28th on your calendar now, if you have not already done so. Plan to spend the day at the Fort Benton Elementary School Auditorium. If you enjoy music of all kinds and being entertained, then that day is for you. There will be more details available next week. The big attraction for this Consortium is that it is FREE. What a bargain. Each participant gets 12 minutes to showcase his or her act. It is just a small part of what is usually a 2-hour show presented by the Chouteau County Performing Arts Committee. There is a presentation almost once a month this season, including refreshments provided by the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs. You do not have to have a C.C.P.A. seasons ticket to attend the Consortium. It is a great way to be acquainted with the program. Another attraction, for me, is to see which acts I liked and which ones the committee invites to Fort Benton for the 2012-2013 season. See you there.

PETE
On Pete’s 70th birthday, he left his family and friends. He was a well-known and loved person in our community. As a teacher and coach, he will always be remembered. He had a ritual of meeting his friends every Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at the Club House. It was called the “4:00 o’clock Club.”

There was a small Irish flag on the table this past Wednesday. Walleyne, his wife of 45 years, walked into the Club House and asked if they would like Pete to be there one more time. She had the urn with his ashes in tow. She felt it would be some kind of closure for his friends. I thought this a delightful story and Walleyne said that I could mention it in the View. This is typical of the Flanagan family. They have a true Irish sense of humor for every event of life. So long Pete, we will miss you.

PARAPROSDOKIAN
This is the last one on the list. “Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.” A definition is “A homesickness or longing for family and friends.” How true. With families living far apart as they are today, even far in Montana, it is not like the old days when you went across the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house. Grandparents are living longer these days but are hardly in the position to entertain their families as many live on Social Security, are in retirement homes, and nursing homes. Perhaps nostalgia will encourage you to do more visiting and communication with your family and friends. Now, how did I get off on this tangent from one thought to another thought?

REMINDERS
Are you still saving and turning in the Labels for Education and the Campbell Soup labels for the Fort Benton Elementary School? Are you trying to recycle as much as you possible can? An idea that I saw on TV was to fill your plastic trash bags as full as you possibly can. If everyone could have one bag a week less, it would help lessen what goes in the landfills.

AROUND TOWN
Another day I really enjoy is when the Christmas lights are lit along Front Street. This year it was shortly before Thanksgiving. I had not noticed until tonight that the lights are not on. Couldn’t we leave those lights on a little longer…at least until the end of the month? If they are turned on the month before Christmas, why couldn’t they be on until a month after Christmas? I realize that it was a nice day when the decorations were taken down and I agree 100% with that. However, the other lights are left up year round and could be left on a little longer. It is very cheerful to have them on and we need all the cheer we can get. Please Santa…leave the lights on longer.

There are many meetings on schedule this week. Mark your particular meeting on your calendar so you do not miss it. Check your River Press Community Calendar and cut it out and place on your frig.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS