View From The Bridge 12/23/15

VIEW from the BRIDGE
By Muncie
12/23/15

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Golly!  Baby Jesus will almost be in his cradle in the stable and Santa will be almost on his way by the time you read this. I hope that you were ready because I certainly am not. Days roll around too quickly and I am sure that you too can never catch up.

Everything is looking up and the days are getting longer. We only have to put up with this darkness a couple more months and I will be lovin’ the longer days.

So enjoy every minute of every day during the holidays and every day thereafter.

HOT POTATO BAGS
Since I wrote about asking for Potato Bags at Bridgeport Station, they have become a hot item. My order was delivered today and they are beautiful. If you would like to know more about them, please call Denise Marcussen at 622-3784 at home or her cell phone at 788-4747. Denise knows, “Everything you ever wanted to know about Potato Bags.” She and I are thrilled about what one little question brought about.

HAPPY RETIREMENT
Sharalee Smith is retiring after (blank-blank) years and I will sorely miss her for many reasons. I would like all of you to know that Sharalee is responsible for putting the View from the Bridge on the Fort Benton website. I have no idea who could ever take her place or do the outstanding job she has done for the community.

I wish I could clone her brain for her knowledge of the computer and especially for her knowledge of Fort Benton’s history. My one consolation is that I will be visiting with her at all the historic events that take place in Fort Benton.

So long for now and enjoy your retirement. You will be missed.

WHO KNEW?
Who is the very best male singer in Fort Benton? Well, it is Steve Vielleux who has sung with the Great Falls Symphony Choir for years.

How did I come across this inspiring information? Last Tuesday nights monthly dinner at the Golden Age Senior Center at 5:00pm, Steve was the entertainer. Since I had another dinner to attend at 6:30pm, I just went to the Center to hear Steve sing and how exciting it was.

Who knew that he played the guitar and that he had Mary Lee Bakker to sing harmony?  What a performance and I asked Steve when his CD would be coming would be available?

Their program consisted of five (5) songs and they were not the traditional ones. They brought back so many memories with songs like, “Silver and Gold,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” and “The Little Drummer Boy.” Awesome!  

Mary Lee Bakker is a Senior Citizen and at one time sang with the Sweet Adeline’s.  (When I called her she said that no one would remember the Sweet Adeline’s.  I think that many of you readers will remember. She and Steve became “The Singing Methodists,” because they belong to the same Church. Steve and Lee, I hope that you do not mind that I named you.

Steve sang at 5:00 pm because he had another commitment and that was great for me because I was able to listen to him and Mary again. See below.

RIVER AND PLAINS
At 6:30 pm the River and Plains Society had their Christmas Party. When I heard that Steve was going to entertain at the Golden Age, I suddenly became the Entertainment Chairperson of River and Plains because I asked the Director if we could have Steve entertain us. It worked out splendidly as that is exactly the way it came about. I was able to enjoy Steve and Mary Lee a second time in one evening.

My comment about these two events was that Steve should quit his day job and just get that voice of his out and about. He could put on a cowboy hat, jeans, and a denim shirt and become famous. (Do you think someday he might give me his guitar?)

LIONS LUNCHEON
I was invited to the Lions monthly meeting last Thursday. It was their Christmas get-together. It was very interesting about the work that the Lions do in Fort Benton. I was able to meet Mariam Smith (at last as I had stopped at the First Security Bank, where she is employed and could not connect,) who began writing for the River Press as secretary to the Lions Club which she did last month.

Of course, every organization wants more members and all of you out there, have a variety to pick from. However, the Lions are diverse in their activities.  I believe that everyone knows how I feel about volunteering so check out all the organizations and see what would fit your schedule. I would like to see everyone in town belong to at least one organization. Wouldn’t that be the greatest! Imagine how much more could be accomplished? After the holidays go for it please.

BASKETBALL
The Longhorns Basketball teams rumbled last Friday evening. It was the first games of the season and it was a great evening. Both the Longhorns and the Lady Longhorns won big time. As I walk in the school every day, I have been watching the practices. They work very hard and the best part is that they love what they are doing.

VISIT AT HELENA
I really enjoyed the article by Bethany about the High School Juniors visiting Helena High and Carroll College. That is what it is all about visiting, talking, and sharing with our neighbors. If that could happen in the world, what a wonderful world it would be. I want the world to be different for our youngsters and they are doing it a little bit at a time.

I hope that the juniors will include everyone in town to help you when the Juniors from Helena come to visit us. Please keep us posted.

OBSERVATIONS
A man climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks God, “What does a million years mean to you?” God replies, “A minute.” The man again asks, “What does a million dollars mean to you.” God replies, “A penny.” The man then asks, “Can I have a penny.” God answers, “In a minute.”

GOD BLESS AMERICA, MONTANA, FORT BENTON, OUR TROOPS, OUR POLICE FORCES, WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS and PUT A GREEN BULB in YOUR FRONT PORCH LIGHT.