View From The Bridge 3/13/19

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
By Muncie
3/13/19

HAPPY SPRING
It will be March 20th, the 1st day of Spring, by the time you get next week’s River Press. I would like to pass along a couple of sayings that were given to me by a friend.

“In Spring at the end of the day, you should smell dirt” and “Spring is nature’s way of saying, “LETS PARTY.” Just do it!

ST. PATRICK’S DAY
I admire the way that the Irish through the years have continued to honor St. Patrick. I remember the story of how he rid Ireland of snakes and that is why islands today have no snakes. (If that is a true story, I would like St. Patrick to come to Montana to help us out with just the rattler problems.)

Whatever the case, we all become Irish on St. Patty’s Day and enjoy the corned beef and cabbage to our hearts content. Amy at the Square Butte County Club does such a tremendous job of doing so much to celebrate. Thanks Amy and I miss seeing you for many reasons the first of all is I’m not driving any longer. I think it would take me most of the day to GoGo from Fort Benton to Square Butte.

Have a great day Folks and wear green on that day.

PIANOS ALONG THE MISSOURI
What a terrific performance it was last week when Professor Steven Hesla brought his classical show to Fort Benton. This is at a time when classical music is dying out as I learned from a PBS TV show. With all the variety of music that has developed over the years since Chopin and Beethoven it is no wonder that the basics of music would be fading out.

It would be a tragedy if that would happen but after the performance last week, I do not think it will happen. Young and old people loved the show saying that they had never thought much about classical music.

Professor Hesla has taught music for forty years at the University of Montana. He began Pianos along the Missouri to promote classical music. Lori Benjamin and Amanda Robertson worked diligently to bring this program to Fort Benton. Amanda is the music teacher in Big Sandy and played a duet with the Professor.

There were four brave young women who were part of the program. Emmy Carrier, Halley LaBuda, Lexi Bahnmiller, and Sienna Stone are all musical artists. (I wonder how many hours of practice went into those performances.)

I know that there are many more piano students and want all of them to know that they are all keeping the piano and classical music alive.

Professor Hesla also brought a violinist and a cellist as part of the journey along the Missouri. Margaret Nichols on violin and Adam Collins on cello played several pieces. (People often say in conversation that they wished they had studied piano or violin. I am now adding the cello. What a great sound comes out of that large instrument.)

Whatever you felt about classical music before, I hope that you now love it thanks to Professor Hesla. He is a charming and humorous gentleman that added to the show.

BINGO
There will be NO BINGO GAME on next Monday, March 18th. There is something going on at the Club House called the Calcutta, whatever that is. Just joking.

I was not able to verify this with the VFW but I did get the news from the Club House. See the addicted players on Monday, April 1st, Fools Day, and I am not kidding about the date.

HUMANA 
The agent, Jill, has made arrangements to come to Fort Benton on Friday the 29th with the monthly birthday cake. She will have a table at the Senior Center from 11:00 a.m. to about 2:00 p.m. to answer questions about insurance. Her last two visits were not held because of the weather. (So what else is new?)

It is also cinnamon roll day at lunch that day so plan on lunch along with your visit with Jill. The cake is for the last Sunday of the month when the Seniors celebrate birthdays and anniversaries of the month. See you there.

AVALANCHE
On Friday evening, about 5:30 p.m., I was watching the world news when I heard a strange sound. I cannot describe it. I had the front door open all day because the sun was so warm. It travels from east to west in front of our duplex apartment building.

Soon after hearing that noise, there was what I called an avalanche. The snow that was piled high on the roof came down onto the driveway and trapped Norma and I in our apartments. I later tried to measure how deep it was but it had fallen hard as a rock. I could not put the yardstick into it. I judged it was from 2 ft. to 3 ft. deep.

The maintenance man, Mike May, only works until noon. I was able to get in touch with him through Connie and Tonya. He came to evaluate the situation in his vehicle. He retrieved the snow blower from Sunrise Bluffs and began working on clearing this lengthy snow pack but because it had fallen so hard it was like a glacier. I asked him to just clear enough so that Norma and I could get out of our apartments in case of an emergency. He did that but it was a difficult effort.

If anyone else had an experience such as ours, please tell me your story. (I’m in the phone book.) I see that snow falling off the roof over and over again. It was surreal. I am so grateful that no one was in the driveway because I would have hated trying to dig them out with my bare hands. (Can you picture that?)

Hopefully we do not have any more accumulation of snow this year. I think we have had enough to last for a while.   

Now all we have to contend with is flooding. Where can all that snow melt go? It will be interesting to watch the next few weeks.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREMEN AND WOMEN, VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, AND EMT’s.

VIEW from the BRIDGE
By Muncie
3/8/17

WHITE DOVES
I met Lyle McKeever in the Price Rite this past week and he told me that White Doves were in his farmyard all winter long. He said that this was the first time he had ever seen White Doves. Google information tells me that they are actually pigeons.

I did hear from the man, who called to report a robin, he left me a message on the answering machine. The connection was not good and I didn’t get his name or phone number. He may have seen a robin earlier than was previously reported. It is not too late to call me if you get this message.

AROUND TOWN
The deer are still visiting town. I saw their tracks in the snow in the empty lots behind my apartment. One late evening last week I had a phone call. I stepped into my laundry room that faces north so I could hear well. I had the TV on in the living room and the micro in the kitchen. As I looked out the window I saw two deer running across the field and disappear across the street. Since I am not out and about much in this winter weather, I have not heard any reports about deer. I would like to hear from you readers about your sightings of deer.

NEW REPORTER
The River Press has hired a new reporter. I look forward to meeting him and I want to say welcome him to Fort Benton. Another plus is that he and his wife have three school age children.  

I invite him to Pie Day on Friday. You will meet the faithful “pie eater’s association group.” We are forever faithful and devoted to the second Friday of the month.

PIE DAY
Yes, it has rolled around again and on Friday at 1:00 we will gather for coffee, a piece of homemade pie, and conversation. Come and join us and bring a friend. I have not seen many of my friends all winter and so I would like to see them this Friday at Pie Day. JUST BE THERE!

ST. PATRICK’S DAY
If I waited until next week to wish you a happy day you might not get the message on time as it is two days after the River Press comes out.

Even though I am not Irish I always enjoyed the celebration that those who are Irish enjoyed on St. Patty’s Day. (Isn’t everyone Irish on St. Patrick’s Day?) They are so proud of their heritage.  However, the thing I am most proud of is being an American.

LENTEN LUNCHES
The Churches in Fort Benton are sponsoring Lenten Lunches. I attended the first one last Wednesday the first one at the Methodist Church. The menu consisted of three kinds of soup, big hunks of bread, and white and dark cookies for dessert. It was a perfect kind of lunch.

What was more important was the gathering of women that attended. There were women from all denominations and they were as one group. I can only describe them as sisters in faith.

There will be a luncheon every Wednesday during Lent at a different church. There was a schedule in last week’s River Press.

In discussions about that day a very humorous story came up that I will relate so you do not have to put up with my “joke of the day.

A little Catholic boy just went through his first Confession before making his First Communion.  When he was asked how he felt about it he said that he was confused. He said that the priest told him to say two (2) Our Fathers for his penance. The child said that he only knew one. (Now that is funny!)

PINOCHLE PARTY
The party held a couple of weeks ago at the Sunrise Bluffs were a great success. Many asked when it would happen again and the date has been set for April 17th. All you Pinochle players put that date on your calendars.

DART TOURNAMENT
I do not know much about darts and you would not want me to try it with my double vision. I did speak with someone this afternoon (Sunday) that participated. She said that there were 25 couples signed up and the proceeds would go to the Cancer Support Group. It sounds like lots of fun and if you are interested you can start practicing for the next tournament. Good luck!

SUMMER CELEBRATION
The Committee for Summer Celebration met last week and set the dates of June 23rd, 24th, and 25th. It is the diamond anniversary of Ships being killed by a train that he so faithfully met every day while waiting for his master. It is such a beautiful story about being forever faithful. Those of you who owns a dog understands this. Most pets give unconditional love and are forever faithful.

I read an article not long ago that said having a pet helps you to live longer. I can understand why.

PONDERISMS
“What disease did a cured ham actually have?”

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

View From The Bridge 3/18/15

VIEW from the BRIDGE
By Muncie
3/18/15

ROBINS and SPRING
I received a call from Judy in Loma last week that she had seen a robin. I wrote the date down but have misplaced it. I also had a call about a robin from Missoula and the sighting was about 4 days earlier than Judy’s. Should we count Missoula? They do subscribe to the River Press. After thinking it over, I give credit to Judy because Missoula has a completely different kind of weather being on the other side of the Rockies.

Spring comes bounding in on Friday and the forecast said back into the 60’s. We cannot complain about the weather although it is scary. Not much snow or rain, the tulips are coming up, and the lilacs are budding. What is in store for us? Just wait and see I guess.

Birds are feeding again in my yard. I have not seen the feral cat for several weeks. The birds seem to know when it was around. On the sad side is that the deer tore down part of the high protective fence around the garden. It looks as though it was jumped into and the brackets broke. Like my Mom used to say, “It’s always something.”

PIE and Pi DAY
The Fort Benton Golden Age Senior Center Pie Day was last Friday the 13th while the National Pi Day was Saturday the 14th. I was reminded last week but forgot to tell you about National Pi Day. Of course you remember what “Pi” is, but just in case you forgot, as I did, I looked it up for you.

Pi is Math. a. The letter (I have no way to type the symbol,) used as the ratio (3.141592653+) of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. b. the ratio itself. (Of course b. explains it so we can understand it, right?)

The point of this explanation is that Pi day was on 3/14/15 at exactly 9:26 and 53 seconds.  A student from an Arrorhar high School (where is Arrorhar?)wrote an engineering dissertation and said that it only happens once in a lifetime, (I wonder whose lifetime.)

Now if that doesn’t make your day, I have no idea what would. I wish you a belated National Pi day and we will try to celebrate it next year.

BACKROADS OF MT
After that boring report about Pie and Pi days, I hope that you find this more interesting.  It seems again that I am the luckiest person in the world. I seem to be in the right place at the right time, most of the time. If you are a viewer of PBS of the Backroads of Montana, then this may be easier reading for you.

Are you familiar with the host of Backroads, William Marcus? I had met William twice before. I met him in Great Falls at a program that the Great Falls Library had organized.  He was present and after the program I saw him and my son Randy conversing. Randy introduced us and Randy told William that I was his best fan. (If you remember the Garth Brooks story, Randy used the same line there except I was Garth’s best fan in Montana.)  William and Randy graduated from the Journalism Department at the University of Montana at the same time.

The second time I met William was in Missoula when the U. of M. invited Randy to a reception of their new Journalism Building. I was able to tag along. The three of us had conversation on that occasion.

Time passes and last Thursday evening about 5:30 p.m. my phone rang. I say “Hello,” and a voice asks, “Muncie?” I answer yes and he says, “This is William Marcus and would you like to have dinner with me at 6:30 at the Grand Union?” My adrenalin pumped up about a thousand times and I said that I certainly could manage that. Randy had a very important meeting to attend and could not cancel.  =I then was the one William called because he did not want to have dinner alone.

Russ Albers was sitting with his wife in a nearby booth. He said hello to me, as well as our waitress Laurie and several other people. When Russ was ready to leave, he came over to our table to shake hands with William and told him how much he enjoyed the Backroads.

William had asked me just shortly before how I liked living in Fort Benton, a small rural area, after moving from the Tri-county area of Detroit, Michigan. I told him that I felt like it was family and Russ made it evident by first saying hello to me when we walked into the dining area and then by feeling comfortable enough to come to our table.

I had a wonderful evening and I told William that by morning many people would know that I had dinner the evening before with a very handsome man.

For you William Marcus and Backroads fans, I heard several weeks ago that he was going to retire. That was the first question I asked him and he said yes but not from the Backroads show. I was relieved to hear that as I have no idea who could ever take his place.

LOMA VS FORT BENTON
I checked with Mike Rawlins who is the Weatherman for KRTV Channel 3. For several months I noticed that Loma was being shown on the weather map instead of Fort Benton.  I checked various contacts early on and found that the weather station at the airport needed repair. KRTV picked up the closest city to Fort Benton from the National Weather Service.

I am glad to report that in the next couple of weeks Fort Benton will be back on the weather map. The repairs were finished a couple of weeks ago and now it is just a matter of paperwork. Mike was not available when I called but soon took the time to return my call. Well, another problem solved.

HOSPITAL/NURSING HOME
This past weekend I visited a dear friend in the hospital here in Fort Benton. She has the same room and bed as I had last April when I had my knee replacement. I saw a few of the staff and we had a few laughs about my stay.

I am mentioning this because I would encourage you to visit someone that you may know or actually not know. They love visitors and you could bring some of the outside world into their inside existence. It gets mighty lonesome although there are many activities going on. I learned today that they take their bingo games very seriously. You will feel good about going and you certainly will brighten up their days.

I would suggest you call the Nurses station to find out a good time to visit. There are hours for meals and time for activities. If you do not know who to visit, the desk may make some suggestions. Another suggestion is to walk the hall and check the name plates on the wall by the door. Please do not use, “I should have,” because it may be too late.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY
I cannot remember the last time I went to Square Butte for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. And it was a toss-up between that and the String Workshop. I said last week that I would be there. I decided that since Randy offered a ride, I would tag along. It was great fun as the parade was the high point of the afternoon. The rock to be auctioned off was the focal point of the parade, it was the usual 5 minutes long, 5 minutes more to turn around, and pass the Square Butte Country Club once again.

This event was held to raise money for the Ambulance Service out of Geraldine. Amy, as usual, put on a fabulous feed of more than corned beef and cabbage. Tim, our editor of the River Press, was there taking photos. I am sure he will have a report on the auctioning of the rock and the new mayor of Square Butte. If you missed this event you are invited for next year. It was worth the trip just to see Editor Tim’s costume. I’ll bet you won’t find a picture of him in the River Press.

SENIOR MOMENTS
Last year I joined a group of procrastinators.  We haven’t met yet.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR TROOPS, and WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS.