George Counts

Gary, Dick (68) & Brenda Johnson have had so many success’. I am assuming you are referring to their band “Highway 43”? Dick and Brenda are such talented folks. I can not for the life of me figure out how Dick fits all that he does into each day. It seems as though he is everywhere all the time between St. John, Bottineau and all the place in-between. He has so many interests and is involved in almost every community activity and organization in the area. To top it all off, he has time for us with all his contributions. Dick, you are an amazing guy with a wealth of community history that we dearly love having you share with us. We have added a lot on new folks to our distribution since we posted the history, accomplishments and remembrances of your parents. I will repost all that on one of our slower days.

Bob, Are you still in Germany or are you back in the states now? Gary

The saga of the onion continues.My aunt always told a story of one of her experiences working as a waitress at the Crystal Cafe.It was her first time working alone at night.Old Joe Vanorny came into the restaurant usually every summer night about 9 o’clock and always ordered the same thing to eat.This night being no different he came in and sat down on the stool at about the center of the counter, in front of the milk machine. My aunt went up and asked what he would like and he replied that he wanted a glass of milk and a onion sandwich.So she gave him the glass of milk and went in the back to make the sandwich.She said she had never made a onion sandwich in her life, but how hard could it be, two slices of bread with something jammed between them, or is that a jam sandwich?Anyway she got out two slices of bread from the sandwich loaf.Remember the sandwich loafs made by Herman Martinson of the Snow White Bakery, made special for the restaurants. They were long and square with the slices cut a little thinner then a regular loaf of bread.

 

My aunt said she got two slices of bread, buttered them, and installed a thick slice of onion and placed it on a plate with a sprig of parsley.She then took that sandwich out to old Joe, proud of her accomplishment and knowing that it was exactly what he had ordered and the last minute addition of the sprig of parsely made it a masterpiece.Old Joe took one look at the sandwich and said in his astonished, gruff voice, ” What the hell is this”.My aunt replyed, ” a onion sandwich”.Joe said, ” I have never ate anything like that in my life”. He said, “I wanted a hamburger with onion on it”. She said she went back into the kitchen and made the hamburger with a slice of onion, but she couldn,t help laughing as she recalled the expression on Joe’s face when he saw that onion sandwich.Apparently Joe was no Norwegian?My aunt recalled and told the story often as she said that Joe and her would start laughing as soon as they would see each other, when he came through the restaurant door to have his glass of milk and hamburger with a slice of onion. May they both be still laughing and enjoying a sandwich together.

 

 

 

My dad, Clarence always enjoyed a onion sandwich too.His favorite way to make it, was to take rendered pork lard or the grease left after frying up some salt pork and spread that on two slices of bread, sprinkle, salt and pepper over the lard, install the onion slices, paste it all together, then enjoy. Remember, before we had electricity, the only way to preserve pork was to put it into the them wood barrels that were filled with water and a lot of salt.It kept the pork from spoiling in the summer and kept it from freezing in the winter.They also left the skin on the hog when they butchered. They scaldedthe hog after the kill and then scrapped the hair off, cut the meat up into chunks and put it all into the salt barrel. Remember the fried salt pork with the rind (skin) on.It was delicious.As a kid during the meal you would eat meat off the rind, saving the rind beside your plate,then after the meal you would take off outside, with the handfull of rinds that you had saved. You would then pop them rinds into your mouth one at a time, and chew, enjoying the salty fried flavor all over again.It was better then gum.

 

 

Thinking of my dad made me think of some of the greetings that he received from some of his old friends from the hills. He had MS so he could not walk for the last 20 years of his life.But, he was always in good spirits and enjoyed the people who came to visit him. I remember one fellow showing up and asking dad what he was doing for excitement.His reply, “I follow the shade around the house”.No air conditioning in them days. Another time a older fellow showed up and greeted dad with, “how is it hanging today Clarence?Dads reply, “head first”.Then they both laughed.Again, another fellow from the Turtle Mountians noticed Dad had forgotten to close his fly. He said, “Claence your horse is going get out”.Dads reply, “If it can’t get up it can’t get out”.Them old timers, of which we are now they, enjoyed life and loved to laugh didn”t they?

 

 

My favorite onion sandwich is to toast two slices of bread, spread the toast with butter (smart balance) install a couple slices of braunswiger (liverwurst), a couple slices of sweet onion,cover that with some mustard. Throw that second slice of toast on top of the pile, cut it in half and enjoy.God, this is making me hungry and I had the last of the braunswiger in a sandwich yesterday.I guess I’m going to have to go to the store before lunch. Maybe I better pick up another sweet onion too. yum yum.Must be the German?

 

 

I think Gary is right about the onion being the first, best method of birth control.Well, maybe first after garlic.Anyway eating either one before bed time will surely put a damper on things in the bed room.I also have heard and know that some onions can put a damper on things for up to three days after eaten.So the onion does work unless, of course both parties like to eat onion or both hate onion. But then, I have also heard that eating a regular diet of onion and garlic will also keep the mosquitos away.

 

 

Remember; laugh and the whole world laughs with you.

 

By the way.What nationality is Vanorny anyway?

 

Larry

Larry, This is great! You write such beautiful stories. You know speaking of story teller’s, we have not heard from Tim Martinson for awhile. It’s spring time in Alaska now, so he’s probably a pretty busy guy these days.