Tuesday, November 15, 2016

View From The Bridge 11/16/16

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
By Muncie
11/16/16

PIE DAY
There will be no Pie Day in December. On the 2nd Friday of the month, that will be the 9th, there will be a COOKIE WALK. I have enjoyed these Walks the past few years as I do not bake a lot anymore. If I remember correctly, I bought 5 dozen cookies and I had cookies a day for 2 months. It was a light and wonderful dessert after dinner with my cup of tea. So you can see why I am looking forward to the Cookie Walk.

It begins at 10:00 a.m. and goes until the cookies are gone. See you there and I will remind you again.

CALENDAR
Don’t you keep a calendar? I do but my problem is that I forget to look at it. I have been doing better and have been calling friends to remind them of events. In the last few months I have heard, “I forgot about it,” and “I didn’t know about it.” I have used those excuses in the past and the problem is that you and I are missing out on a lot of events.

The River Press puts out every week a Community Calendar and that is the first thing I look at and mark my calendar. It is a great help and my only problem with that is when 2 or 3 events are on the same night or day. I do not like having to pick and choose.

Last Friday was an interesting day. I was at the Old Bridge at 11:00 a.m. for the Wreath throwing into the Missouri and the Salute to the Veterans. It was an absolutely beautiful day and the nicest one we have ever had for the 11/11 at 11:00 a.m.

Ron LaMont had the honor of throwing the wreath into the water. The wreath also had attached the note that if anyone finds it, to call the River Press. The Press received one phone call last June that the wreath had been found 6 miles downstream. The finders threw the wreath back into the water and it was never heard from again. I hope that we have better luck this time.

ORGANIZATIONS
There are so many worthy organizations in Fort Benton.  They all do non-profit and charitable work. Please read about them in the River Press and decide which one is the most suited to your life style. I am absolutely sure that there is hidden talent out there and could be used to advantage to some organization.

Please consider taking on some sort of project during the long, cold winter days to come. Don’t let cabin fever get the best of you. Join some group after reading this reminder. I assure you that it will make your life a lot more meaningful if you give of yourself.

CHOUTEAU COUNTY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
It is only 3 weeks from Saturday so put it on your calendar. The volunteers who put this show on have been working for weeks to gather vendors, including food, and entertainment.

Please support these events and invite all your family and friends to attend with you. Let’s make this one of the best Christmas events ever. See you there.

I have heard that there will be no Parade of Lights this year but the Tree lighting at the circle will be bigger and better. Read more about it in the next few weeks. (It is getting to be like the Hallmark movies.)

On Sunday will be the biggie, the Christmas Concert with local talent, a Choir, Bell Ringers, and of course Santa and his poem of the year. If this doesn’t give you the Christmas spirit of love and family, nothing will. See you there.

BASKETBALL
The season is about to start and it should be an exciting one. The youngsters are practicing and toning up their skills.

The first game is scheduled for Thursday November 17th. I know that the games will be well supported. See you there.

THE BIG MOVE
Yes, it is true.  I moved from my beloved Morger House where I lived for 23 years. I now reside at the Sunset apartments.

It is quite a complete change from big to smaller, from many street lights to one on the far corner, from the middle of town to the north end, from paved road to a gravel road, and many other changes. My favorite thing is the view. I can see Signal Point and have a 180 degree view of the Bluffs. When the sun sets the Bluffs are golden and I stand by my kitchen window until the sight disappears. I really enjoy the setting sun.

I wonder how I could accumulate so much “stuff.” My advice here is down size now. You don’t need half of what you are living with and do not leave it for someone else to do.
I have what I think is a strange story. I lived in the house in Melvindale, Michigan that I was raised in for 23 years. I lived in Walled Lake, Michigan for 23 years and now have lived in the Morger house for 23 years. That, to me, is a strange story.

I have 4 bird feeders hanging but in 3 weeks do not yet have any visitors. A friend told me it was because of the warm weather and the birds could fend for themselves. She said when it gets cold I should have lots of enjoyment watching them fly in and out. I can hardly wait.  I am looking forward to seeing if there will be different species of birds at this end of town.

NOVEMBER MOON
I would like to have known this fact last week when I wrote about the November Moon. I hope that you heard enough about it on the news casts and weather reports that you were able to catch the full moon on the Monday the 14th. It was closest to the earth since 1948 and 30% brighter. It should still be large and bright by the time you get your edition of the River Press.

My hope is that on Monday evening it is not overcast. Happy mooning and not the kind you may be familiar with. (My joke of the week.)

VETERANS DAY DINNER
It was a different format this year at the Veterans Day dinner held at the Ag Center on last Friday evening 11/11. There was no planned program but we had conversation during dinner. It was very enjoyable for me, with my hearing aids, to have the 7 other people at my table to converse one at a time. We heard some wonderful stories and I didn’t have to strain to hear.

I enjoyed the company of Marge, Randy, Joe, Bob, Vi, and her husband. We were served a great dinner of roasted, ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, and corn. There was also water and lemonade on the nicely set tables. There was a large cake for dessert with the creamy frosting that I love. Pitchers were being filled constantly and coffee cups.

It was a very pleasant evening and was an evening much like the Tuesday night dinners once a month at the Golden Age Senior Center. I arrive there at 4:50 p.m. and I am home by 6:15 p.m. That is my big night out during the month.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
I mentioned this program many months ago when I saw it on TV. You would purchase green light bulbs and put it in your porch light. On TV it showed an entire neighborhood with green lights on their porches.

I purchased 2 light bulbs and 2 floodlights. The light bulbs burned out quite quickly and the floodlights are still lighting up when someone walked up because they are security lights.

Now advertised are light bulbs that are half white and half green. I think those will service better because the total green lights were too dark.

I heard this story about the green bulbs. On the Music Awards, on TV, the program has expanded. I do not watch that show but a friend, who has nothing to do with the Military, went out and bought a bulb.

I haven’t put my new light bulb in yet because no one wants to see me up on a ladder. If you would like to stop in for coffee and cinnamon toast, you would be welcome to put the bulb in for me. (Just joking!)

So get to your True Value and get your “Support the Troops,” green bulb. Just do it this time. I drove around town the last time and only saw about 3 or 4 green lights. I will be checking it out again along with the Christmas decorations in the next few weeks. (I think if it was said that Santa only stops a homes with green bulbs on the porch, it would be a more successful project.)

That is the least you can do to show your support. Our Troops deserve all the support we can give them. They are putting up their lives for us. We don’t want them to think we do not care or indifferent to what is going on.

We have nice warm beds, good and warm American food to eat, and do not have battles going on around us. If you do not agree with me then please let me know.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, THOSE WHO PROTECT US and WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS.