View From The Bridge 6/14/17

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
By Muncie
6/14/17

SO PROUD
How I love to read in the River Press the accomplishments of our Sports Teams bringing 1st place honors to Fort Benton, Geraldine, and Highwood. I am in wonder how some of them with small enrollment who must have every student involved.

Not only are the students involved with sports but they excel in academics. The scholarship awards, the Dean’s list, and other honors are so important to our community. Those students are our future.

Did you read the essays that received awards from the American Legion? The essays were about the American Flag and they said it so well.  It brought tears to my eyes. Would any of you take over the View from the Bridge?

I have been writing about buying and flying our American Flag for weeks now. Reading the essays that tell about honoring the flag shows love of country. You still have a few weeks to fly a flag before the 4th of July. Please make an effort and #1 on your list of things to do. Just do it!

SUMMER CELEBRATION
It is here again next week. Look for the schedules on businesses counters and in the River Press. I like to carry one in my pocket with check marks on those I especially want to see.

There will be a few major changes this year so check carefully. The t-shirts, hoodies, and sleeveless shirts will be here soon if not already. Invite your family and friends now so they plan on it.

It will be a very exciting time for our Forever Faithful Dog Shep. There will be many stories about him and I am sure that you have not heard some of the ones that have been discovered lately. See you there!

FIREWORKS
Donation letters will go out this week for the fireworks display. For me it is the high point of the celebration. You have always been very generous with your contributions.

This story came to light while a committee was working on the mailing. A woman said that he father had received a donation letter. She sent in a donation even though her father had passed away three years before. The reason was because he loved the fireworks. God bless!

GARTH and ME AGAIN
I am writing this story for you newcomers to Fort Benton. Six years ago my husband Wally and son Randy took me to Las Vegas for my birthday. Wally had purchased a package at the Toys for Tots auction.

I wanted to go to the Garth Brooks concert and Randy went with me. He was responsible for shouting Garth’s name when Garth had the house lights turned up for requests and questions. Garth pointed at him and Randy proceeded to tell him that it was my birthday; I was from Montana, and his best fan there.
Garth began strumming Happy Birthday and 2,000 sang to me. Then Garth said he should give me a present and took his guitar from his neck and wrote on it. “Muncie, God Bless, Love Garth, 9/10/11.” The security guards brought the guitar to me after the show.

I had my 15 minutes of fame and still own the guitar. Now we come to this past weekend. Garth returned to Montana, after a 20 year absence, appearing at the Rimrock arena in Billings. I was lucky enough to get four tickets.

In the meantime the Billings Gazette called me and interviewed me for a half an hour. The Gazette put out a supplement last Wednesday with a lengthy article and a picture of me with the guitar that was taken by Tim Burmeister. Bethany Monroe DeBorde sent the picture to the Gazette.

The purpose of my interview was that I hoped to meet Garth but he had to catch his place to return to Oklahoma.  Well, my best laid plans did not work out even though people from the Rimrock Arena and the Billings Gazette tried to make it happen. I did not get to meet Garth. I am a little disappointed but I have many happy memories.

We were on the second level and too far away for Garth to see the great sign my daughter Jennifer made.

Here are a couple of stories about signs that I heard from people who went to one of the other four concerts. At one of the concerts Garth sang “Mom” to an older lady that he called up on the stage and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. At another show a man’s sign said, “Garth, because of you I learned to play the guitar.” Garth gave him his guitar. Another sign held up by a man read “Help me to propose.” On the large screens it showed him giving her a ring and missing her. (They were an older couple.)

Another thing that amazed me was the many teenagers at the show. Four of them sat in front of us and they stood the entire time clapping, swaying with the music, and knowing every word of every song. Garth still has “It” and the audience loved him and he obviously loved the audience.

It was a completely different show than the one I saw in Las Vegas. The Vegas show was more sophisticated and only 2,000 people. Sundays show was very loud and it was not surprising with about 10,000 people were there. It was a great weekend and a good time was had by all.

You will see me around town with my Garth Brooks t-shirts now. If you want to make me happy sing “The Dance” for me. “I could have missed the pain but I’d have missed the dance. “That’s all for now about Garth and me.

I just got home tonight, Monday, at 5:00 p.m. and I am a tired puppy. I am getting a little too old for all this excitement of jumping up and down, clapping, screaming, and shouting. Once every 20 years is enough.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, THOSE WHO PROTECT US and WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS, HANG AN AMERICAN FLAG, PUT A GREEN BULB IN YOUR FRONT PORCH LIGHT.  JUST DO IT.