View From The Bridge 2-22-12

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
2-22-12

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Florence King is 90 years old today, (February 20th.)  Her bowling league is having a party for her at Jack’s Lanes today while they bowl.  Can you believe that one?  She is 90 years old and still bowling.  I do not want to hear any excuses from you 60, 70, and 80 year olds any more.  Get over to that Jack’s Lanes right away and you will not feel an ache or pain any longer.  Added to that is you will make it to 100 years old.  I heard all of this on “The Fort Benton Hotline.”  O.K.  Whatever!  Know you had a great day Florence.

PANDEMIC WORKSHOP
New information came to me about the workshop.  Tim’s article last week was a great resource for getting to the public exactly what was going on.  In the Sunday’s Great Falls Tribune (front page,) there was also an article and if you have read them, you are well informed.  I am going to save both articles.  On Friday the 17th, I received an e-mail from Linda Williams that was a quick follow-up to the workshop.  “The IOS personnel relayed that the workshop exceeded their expectations.  They were so impressed with the level of participation and obvious community spirit of cooperation.”  Those are very complimentary words.  When the final report is completed, it will be forwarded to a website location and you will be notified.  Take an interest in what is going on in your community.  There may come a day when it will save your life, your families, friends and neighbors.  It is that important.

RED HATS
To be or not to be is the question.  A Tea Party was scheduled last Thursday as a Valentine Tea.  Phyllis Jewell and Joan Albers spent a lot of planning time into the event.  Phyllis did the phoning and Joan did the e-mails.  The decorations were lovely and there were many trays of yummy cookies and cakes.  What went wrong?  There were only 6 Red Hatters that showed up.  The first Tea Party, held a while back, was very well attended and everyone said that we should soon have another.  Red Hats very well attended Edna McSweeney’s birthday party in January.  We now come again to the question, to be or not to be.  Do you want to continue having Red Hat events or not?  Those that have worked on Red Hat events are very discouraged with the last turnout, previous turnouts, and cannot continue with the time spent and the expenses incurred.  If you want to continue with the events, please call Phyllis (622-4380,) or Joan (622-5083,) and let them know.  New ideas, event planning, and executing of those events are needed from other Red Hats.  What is the problem here?  It is too little doing too much.  I feel very sad for Phyllis and Joan because of the effort they put into the second tea party.  I frankly told them to forget the whole thing from my Red Hat experience a few years ago.  I tried to generate a $10.00 yearly fee for such things as birthday cards, (I had a friend who volunteered to sent the cards,) money for a brick in the Shep Courtyard if a member passed away, and to pay for the tea, coffee, and cookies.  If there was money left over, the following year’s fee would be less.  It is called a Slush Fund.  Perhaps there were women who could not contribute but they certainly would be excused and it would be confidential.  The suggestions went over like a lead balloon and as a result, I no longer make suggestions.  Now it is all up to you women.  Is it yes or no and you all can vote?  You know we are all allowed that privilege since 1919.  I have all former members’ phone numbers and e-mails and if Phyllis or Joan does not hear from you one way or another, then I will call for your vote.  I am sure you are all really afraid of my wrath. I have spoken with several of you and do excuse those who are employed or ill.  Of course, you would have to have a doctor’s letter stating that you have to stay in bed.  Perhaps one of the suggestions would be to have events in the evening or the weekends.  Please share your ideas because you are all very clever women.  Honestly, I love you all but someone had to do this scolding and I was chosen.  Does that mean I am the “Chosen One? I am a Saint, did you know?  My grandson plays football for Carroll College and the team’s name is The Saints.  It cost me to contribute to the football team, however don’t you think it was worth it?  It is the only way I will make it.

C.C.P.A.
Wasn’t that the greatest show last Wednesday when the Presidio Brass entertained?  Good job Chouteau County Performing Arts.  They were also the nicest guys you would ever want to meet.  Three are family men, one just married in August and one is single.  Yes, they do not like leaving their families to travel but that is their way of earning a living.  I am really into music that I am familiar with and those songs I can hum along with.  The C.C.P.A. committee does such a fabulous job of choosing the entertainers.  They will soon let the community know what will be on the program for next season.  I can hardly wait, as the program gets better and better with each performance.  Since I attended the Consortium, I know which performers I would like to return to Fort Benton.  I also enjoy their reactions to Fort Benton from those that have never been here before.  They are amazed at our beautiful town and the graciousness of the people.  If you see Robert Boettcher, Ruth Carlstrom, Becky Engellant, Evan Goldhahn, Connie Jenkins, Wendy Kamm, Cynthia Lenington, Dottie Meehan, Randy Morger, Peggy Ramono or Margie Schuler around town, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts.  Next month on Wednesday, March 14th Phil Fortenberry and Rebecca Spencer will be our guest performers.  Phil has been in Fort Benton before performing but not with Rebecca.  Phil plays the piano, Rebecca sings, and the combination is electrifying as they do Broadway show songs.  Try not to miss that one and see you there.

RISE and SET
Date          Rise Set
2/9/12 7:42 5:37
2/15/12 7:31 5:48

There was another glorious 22 minutes of light last week.  The difference between the rise and set time at was 1 hour and 42 minutes from the time I started keeping a record in December.  At solstice time, it should be about the same time.  I try to watch out the windows to see when it actually is dark but have not yet been able to determine what that time is.  It should be easier when the sun has shone but when it is overcast it is hard to tell.  All I really know is that it is still light around 6:00 p.m. and not at 4:30 p.m.  By the time you get this weeks River Press, it will be 4 weeks until spring.  I know that we can handle that with those pictures of April showers and May flowers.  How time flies when you are having fun.

GENEALOGY
I love writing the “View” because I always get answers to my questions.  I feel “out of it” because I have been in Fort Benton 19 years come May, and I did not know that our Latter Day Saints Church is the place to go on Wednesday evenings to check out your family history.  Who knew?  I know that you can contact Salt Lake City but to find out that you can do the same thing right here in Fort Benton, Montana is incredible!  The place to do this research is the Family Living Center L.D.S. Church and use the door directly across the way from the Expedition Pizza.  The Center is open from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. You can also call Judy Remick (622-5770) for an appointment.  Come and join me and perhaps we can find that we are related to someone famous or perhaps someone infamous.  I do not really want to know that, do I?

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS.
The Morgers had three grandsons in Afganistan, however one returned to the States last week.  Thank goodness.  Glen and Darcy Morger Grovenstein had two sons there and the youngest, Zeke, returned after having served two deployments.  Their oldest son, Whitney, is still there and he flies an Apache helicopter.  Also still there, is Randy Morger’s son, Dashiel.  We pray for their safe return as well as all the other troops in that God forsaken place.  Since I have been working on the Servicemen’s Photo Project, it has brought me in touch with so many people.  I would like to hear about your sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters or other relatives who are deployed or whatever they are engaged in the service.  Call me at 622-3217 after 2:00 p.m.