View From The Bridge 10-31-12

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
by Muncie
10-31-12

SOME ENCHANTED EVENING
If you did not attend the Chouteau County Performing Arts evening last Wednesday, an enchanted evening is what you missed.  What a professional performer, what a gentleman and a scholar, and musical genius is pianist Mike Strickland.  The whole evening was filled with beautiful music, both well known and his own very enchanting melodies.  We did not want the concert to end.  My favorite piece of the whole evening was Clair de lune by Debussy. Mike played it because that was his mother’s name and one of his favorites...  What a wonderful tribute it was to his mother.

I would like to adopt Mike.  I told his lovely wife that I wanted to live next door to them.  Why?  So I could listen to him practice, of course, because it was so relaxing just to have the music flowing over you.  I watched a movie once that the main character was seeing a shrink who told him to listen to Braham’s to relax.  

When I was about 8 or 10 years old, there was a boy, who lived down the street, who was an excellent piano student.  I would sit on his front steps and listen to him practice.  I barely can remember what he looked like but I still remember his music. 

The other enchantment of the evening was the honoring of our precious music teacher for 65 years in Fort Benton, Doris Rowe.  She blushed at every compliment said about her and her long career in music.  She and Mike played Nola as a duet and the song that everyone knows how to play, Chopsticks. We all love you Doris and you are one of Fort Benton’s treasures.

MARY ANN
This week many of Fort Benton’s old-timers lost a dear friend.  Mary Ann Hampton is gone from us physically but not from our hearts.  She was such a blessing to our community.  For those of you who knew her gentleness, we shall never forget.  For those of you who did not know her, but only heard about her, it was truly a loss for you.  Women like Mary Ann made a difference in lives of others.  We will miss you Mary Ann and guide us from that far away place you are in called Heaven.

GRAND UNION CELEBRATION
Can you even imagine what Fort Benton looked like 130 years ago?  I have seen pictures of the hotel at different stages of its life however not so clearly as on Backroads of Montana last Saturday night.  Early pictures show chimneys above every room releasing smoke from the fireplaces.  I wonder whose job it was to build fires and keeping them fed with wood.  Were they stoked every evening to keep the room warm all night?  The cooks must have prepared meals on wood stoves.  That is an art in itself.  Did the bedding get changed every night and how did they handle laundry?  Was it a “gathering place,” as it is now?  Perhaps someday in the distant future, we will be able to go back in time.  I am very sure though, that I would want to come back as quickly as possible.  I am too used to my modern conveniences.  How about you?  I am also convinced that it was much harder on women than men way back then.  Let all women now take a moment of silence that we are living today.

POKER TOURNAMENT
If you have never attended a Poker Tournament, do drop by the Grand Union on Friday evening to see how it progresses.  It begins with 40 men and women and they are eliminated one by one until the final table of eight.  It really gets exciting then but about this time, it is after midnight.  We have not reached home until about 2:00 a.m. because we stick it out to the very end.  You can watch poker tournaments on TV but there is nothing like actually being there.  Come on over and sit with me to the excitement of the final card being played.

RED FRIDAY
I am still asking for a sea of red on Fridays.  Now that it requires a coat when you go outside, it is difficult to see if people have red on.  At the “What Women Want Show” a couple of weeks ago, my daughter bought me a pin that said, “Support Our Troops.”  It was attached to a card that was titled Red Friday.  I am going to pass on one paragraph each week and perhaps it will help to make you realize how important it is to support our troops.

“THE REASON? 
Americans who supported our troops used to be called the “silent majority.”  We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for country and home in record-breaking numbers.  We are not organized, boisterous, or overbearing.  Many Americans, like you, all our friends, and me simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops.

IMPORTANT MEETING
Please Folks, try to attend this meeting that will impact Fort Benton.  On Thursday, November 8th at 7:00 p.m. at the Golden Age Senior Center a meeting will be about possible recycling with the United States Department of the Interior and the Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center. The core committee working on this project have been to most businesses and organizations, however will return sometime in the next few days with posters.  They will urge you to come to the meeting or to send a representative.  We want your imput and even the smallest suggestion is helpful.  The only dumb question is the one that is not asked.  Put it on your calendar right now and just be there.

FALL BACK
It is that time of year again. I have one clock that I do not change.  It is too heavy and I have to take it to the World of Time to have it changed.  I have not wanted to do that for several years and so I am just going to have to remember that it is an hour ahead.  However, it is better to be too early for an appointment than too late.  It is just a matter of a little concentration that I do not have much of these days.  Whatever!  I wish you a fun Halloween, a thankful Thanksgiving, and lots of luck with your Christmas shopping.  Remember to shop local.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS.  WEAR RED ON FRIDAY.

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
7/4/12

STEAMBOAT MAGGIE
Several weeks ago, Maggie showed up at the Joel Overholser Research Center.  The Center’s fame is beginning to be spread far and wide although we have found that most of the people in Chouteau County do not know of its existence.

Maggie is completing a book on “Steamboats on the Missouri,” of which she was only supposed to edit.  Her friend, Jim Pyle, had done a great deal of research and writing, but passed away in 2006.  She decided that she would complete the book and came to the “First Best Place,” on the Missouri to do more research.

I was called to get right over to the Center to chat with Maggie.  I asked if she had arrived on the airlines but she said that she had driven from St. Joseph, Missouri.  I was amazed and said, “You drove by yourself?”  I drove across the country from the Detroit area to California, to New Mexico and back home in seven (7) weeks in 1985. However, that was twenty-seven (27) years ago.  Maggie is younger than I am but still.  She replied that she had driven a truck for 30 years and the drive from St. Joseph was just a short haul.

She was delightful to chat with as the conversation evolved into a broad view of why she is finishing the book and her research.  She would like to have stayed longer but because of Summer Celebration, there was no place for her to stay.  As it turned out, she actually had to leave on Thursday morning quickly because her new baby grandson was to be operated on for an obstruction.  She got back to Missouri in two days and then other 100 or so miles to where the baby was.  (Just a note…the little one is doing fine and recuperating.)

Maggie wants to return to Fort Benton as she wrote me on a recent e-mail, she only touched the tip of the information that the Research Center has.  Maggie also has a period costume, (perhaps some of you saw her walking around the Old Fort area,) and she portrays a captain’s wife.  It was the only woman that Maggie could find research on in the early days of steam boating.

If you history buffs would like to know about Maggie and her upcoming book, you can learn more on her web site.  It is www.moriversteamboats.com  Come back soon Maggie and we will arrange for you to do a “Steamboat Captain’s Wife,” story.  After all, what better place.

RED ON FRIDAY
Sometime in the last few weeks, I acquired a photocopy of a notice that was to be spread by word of mouth, press, TV, and every way possible.  The message is, “On Fridays and every Friday until our troops come home, wear RED.”  Let our troops know that the once “silent” majority is on their side more than ever.  The first thing a soldier says when asked, “What can we do to make things better for you?”  They would answer that they need your support and your prayers.  Get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something RED every Friday.

Would the person or persons who gave me the flyer, please identify themselves?  This reminds me to ask if you have been to the Sunrise Bluffs yet to see the Memory Wall.  However, seeing the Wall should not be the only reason that you remember the Veterans…they should be on your mind all the time.

It also brings to mind that I have not heard from any families who have sons or daughters in the Service.  I believe that all readers would be interested to know who they are and where they are
RIVER PRESS

It was such fun to read the River Press last week.  The photos were great, the stories (especially about the cleanup,) were very informative, and the stats on the contests were so interesting.

I know several people who read the Press on-line and said that it was a little like being here.  They would love to be in Fort Benton for Summer Celebration.

WEATHER
I have not talked much about the weather but I have to say that it was a great relief when the wind stopped blowing after five (5) days of it.  My real problem with it was that I had picked up all the small sticks and twigs around the yard in preparation for Summer Celebration and lo and behold, there are twice as many now.  I know they call the wind “Mariah,” however, I think it should be changed to “Marauder.” “Mariah” is too gentle a word for what it really was.  What do you think?

4TH OF JULY
Here is a wish for a happy 4th of July.  If you are at a parade and the flag goes by, put your hand over your heard and thank God, you are living in the United States of America.  Sing out the National Anthem if it is played.  I know that I am a fanatic about it but I am tired of professional athletes who do not put their hand on their heart, chew gum/tobacco, spit on the ground, and act like it is no big deal to honor the flag.  They make big bucks in our country and the least they could do was return a little respect.  I am not picking on professional athletes in particular because I see it everywhere.  Watch the upcoming Olympics and see how many of them put their hands on their hearts.

Well, I said my piece and I would close off with one last piece of advice.  Teach your children to honor the flag and teach them the words to the National Anthem by example.  I am sure that Kiddos do not know the words so how can they sing.  It should be a requirement in kindergarten and then they could teach their parents.  It is always great to let them sing louder than you do.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS