08/22/2010

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Reply to Lola Metcalfe Vanorny (68):
From Diane Larson Sjol (70): Minot, ND
 
 
Lola,
I absolutely loved reading your post…you made me smile…ah, the
memories of Dunseith. Whenever I smell garbage buring, I think of
sitting outside Debbie Morinville’s house next to Aunt Lee and Uncle
Bob Hosmer’s…looking rigt at the back entrance into the Crystal
Cafe..with Debbie’s dog Queenie at our feet…and garbage burning in
the old drums…love that smell….

Diane Larson Sjol

 
 
 
Reply to Maria Parlade (62):
From Diane Larson Sjol (70): Minot, ND
 
This message is for Maria Parlade,
Angelina and I were very good friends shortly after you all arrived in
Dunseith. I remember your mother and visiting at your house.
Angelina told me about your trip from Cuba….I remember your mother
made Angelina and I matching red cordoroy skirts…I believe I was in
the 4th grade at that time…in Mrs. Conroy’s class or else in 5th
grade with her. We moved November of my fifth grade year (1962)…do
you have any contact information for her so that I can get in touch
with her?

Thank you . Diane Larson Sjol

 
 
 
Happy Birthday Cathy Campbell Springan (73): Stanley, ND
 
Phyllis, Alan & Cathy
 
Cathy, this is a beautiful picture of you with your parents taken in the Bottineau Creamery. You all look so nice. There was a message that came across my screen that said, tomorrow, August 22nd is Cathy Spingan’s birthday. With that I wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Gary
 
 
 
 
Reply from Aime Cassavant (66): Jamestown, ND
 
Thank you, thank you to Maria Parlade Corral, Allen Richard, Dick Johnson and Kenny Nerpel. What is great is you all had the same answers so it was quadruple verification of the right answer! You are all co-winners of the “not losing your memory test.” Keith, thank you for the compliment but, uh, in our house, so many visitors have asked about that “Buddy Holly” the “big bopper” picture and my children have had great fun in telling everyone it is my graduation picture. Now maybe, go look at a picture of Ed Asner and it will be a better reflection of how I have aged.

 
Without wanting to bore anyone, I had the question about our political science class in a file of things to look up. The reason: Years ago in college English, I found writing to be a subject I enjoyed. Years later I decided to write and keep notes on experiences and events in my life and maybe – write something social/historical/political/autobiographical someday. Not that felt I had anything that exceptional to tell the world, but I have often read that grandchildren and great grandchildren take much interest and joy in reading information written by their forefathers. I know I wish I had more information – for example, on what my relatives might writing about during times like the Civil War, Industrial Revolution, World War 1 and all.

Well, one time as I thought of the current events the the day, I was reflecting on the changing times – the America of the 1950’s and 60’s and the America of today. At the time, we had a foreign exchange student from the Netherlands living with us. She mentioned how “patriotic” Americans” are – she has traveled much and said Americans are probably the most patriotic people she has encountered. I thought about my own political awakenings and some of that took me back to the political science class we had in high school. If I recalled correctly – it was referred to as “POD” which was an acronym for “Problems of Democracy”, but I wanted to make sure.

I thought about this some more. During that time period – it seemed unusual to question our government and the democratic way of life. While acknowledging the democratic form of government is the best ever devised to date – it is not uncommon to question- as a matter of fact, it seems like the norm to question everything our government does. Then I thought back to the title of our political science class “Problems (of, in) Democracy and thought – “Gee, that was a rather radical title for a political science class of that time period and in a conservative place like North Dakota. Sort of an acknowledgement that there in fact could be problems in a democracy. I thought it would be interesting to find a Political Science textbook of the 1960’s and compare it with a book that is presently in our school system.

All of this is perhaps a small point – maybe even an irrelevant one. As Allen Richard pointed out, there are many classes in high school with similar titles. So I was just doing a bit of an evaluation of my own – was our political science class more a teaching of the status quo or more on the cutting edge of our political system as the title suggests? I do recall learning of the “intern camps” of the Japanese and being cautioned that in our own lives, it is likely if our country is at war, we might see the same type of thing occur and should be ready to recognize it when it happens. Of course, I’m not making any political statement, just reflecting on our political science class and some notes I have been keeping.
 
 
 
Pictures taken in July at Gary Stokes’ Birthday party.
 
Folks,
 
I thought I’d add a few pictures for filler material today. After getting these pictures ready to send, I’ve received several more postings, but since I’ve already got them pasted in this message for posting, I’ll include them.
 
We’ve installed a permanent roof over the area between our work shop and office. It’s a great area to have parties and entertain in an outside setting. It’s roughed in, so now we have to add the finishing touches. After installing the roof, our plants all died without the sun. We have a friend that will fix us up with some new ones though.
 
Gary