View From The Bridge

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
By Muncie
3/27/13

EASTER
A Happy Easter Day to all of you.  Predicted is warmer weather for the Kiddo’s to have a great Egg-Hunt in the Old Fort Park.  I am not that old that I do not remember how much fun it was to hunt for eggs.  We had real eggs, hard-boiled and dyed.  Nowadays, when you find a plastic hidden egg a few weeks after Easter, (or longer,) the candy is still good.  In the old days, it was not fun to find an egg several weeks later.  Do not laugh.  It happened.  It was always fun to have an Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it.  We used to have a ham dinner and then go to the local movie theatre for the afternoon.  We always saw a newsreel, a cartoon, and two full-length movies.  I wonder if you can match that on TV.  Whatever!  Just enjoy your holiday and have a great time with your family

RECYCLE
That day, March 30th, is coming around again to make a trip to the Fair Grounds with your NEWSPAPERS, OFFICE PAPERS, MAGAZINES, AND CARDBOARD.  I capitalized those recyclables because questions had been asked as to what to take to the fairgrounds.  Remember that this is a pilot program and we started with what we thought would have the most volume.  On Saturday, the 16th, there was 2,400 plus pounds collected and the committee feels that the program is catching on.  Another positive was that there were 10 volunteers and some of them were males.  There were 19 vehicles that brought the poundage to the Fairgrounds.  GO RECYCLERS 

RESEARCH CENTER
APPEAL TO YOUNGSTERS
Do you like history?  Would you like to know about your family history?  Do you realize that you are making history at this time and place?  If you say yes to those questions, then we need your input at the Joel Overholser Research Center in the Schwinden Library at the Ag Center.  I will bet you did not even know it was there. 

I have asked many times before with some response, however, not nearly enough.  This is what I would like you to do.  When you are finished reading the River Press, would you please cut out (carefully,) any information, article, or story about your family.  Please be sure to write the date of the article on the back of the piece.  This is very important.  Place them in a vertical file so they are not wrinkled and bring them to the Center.  (We are across the street from the High School.)  You do not have to bring the file over every week but when the file has a fair amount of material in it.  There are four volunteers that are cutting, pasting, putting in alphabetical order, and filing every Tuesday for 5 hours.  We are involved with old files and just beginning with obituaries.  We have not reached a point were we could start with current publications.

I believe that once you get started, you will find it very interesting to look through the River Press to see if there is anything about you and your family.  I cannot believe that I did not think of this before.  I am quite sure that this is the answer to keeping good family records.  If you remember, I have told you that there is a vertical file for each of your families.  I wish I could impress on you that in 100 years someone in your family may be looking for information.  It would be the greatest thing if those files were filled with material.  Perhaps you could make it a school project connected with your English or History classes.  How awesome is that!

RECYCLE
I came across an article about a man who wrote a book titled, “More is Less:  Creating a Lifestyle of Excessive Generosity.”  When Jeff Shinabarger began getting rid of his excess stuff, he learned that defining “enough,” let him see the greater good.  He as a program, GiftCardGiver.com, that has funneled $150,000 to people in need because $8 to $10 billion goes unused on gift cards every year. 
A woman he knew decided to wear every item of clothing she owned just once and went 156 days before she needed to repeat.  (I say,”This must be back east because it certainly does not pertain to Fort Benton.  Jeans are our “dress code,” and we wear them until they wear out.)  To get on with it, she donated to the homeless or a thrift shop. 

(I say that the YWCA in Great Falls has a great program for both men and women’s used, clean clothing.  They also take household goods.  This is my personal preference however; any charitable organization is the way to go.  A plus for a donation is a receipt that you can use for your income tax.”) 

Once, Jeff says, you start living with less, it can change other areas of life.  Give it a try and let me know what you can come up with.

“WHAT LOVE MEANS”
19.  You really shouldn’t say “I love you unless you mean it.  But, if you mean it, you should say it a lot.  People forget.”  Jessica – age 8

The next one is the final of this series.  I must warn you though; I hope you have a box of tissue beside you.  If not, go and get a box just in case you need it.

20.  A 4 year-old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.  Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.  When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

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