From Connie Zorn Landsverk: Bottineau, ND
I would like to wish everyone a healthy & happy new year!! Connie (Zorn) Landsverk
From Rhonda Hiatt (75): Battle Ground, WA
Have a Safe and Healthy Happy New Year Everyone, and my condolences go out to all who have lost a loved one this year.
Rhonda Hiatt
ND Snow storm:
Message from Neola Kofoid Garbe: Minot & Bottineau, ND
I just got off the phone with one of my friends in Eastern North Dakota.
He said that since early this morning, the snow is nearly waist
high and is still falling. The temperature is dropping below zero and
the north wind is increasing. His wife has done nothing but look through
the kitchen window. He says that if it gets much worse, he may have to let
her in.
From Mel Kuhn (70): St. John, ND
Gary,
Stories–I’m part of a morning coffee group of 10-12 guys. We gather every morning at the little cafe in St. John that used to be Mel’s Diner. One day one of our younger members [early 50’s] asked me what happened to all those old guys that used to sit around in the mornings having coffee and telling stories when I used to own the place. I looked around at the faces and said–uh we are those old guys now. We sit around telling old stories and new stories that if good enough will become old stories. We tell jokes and we prank on one another and if one of our group is missing for a couple days we wonder where he is. We wonder if he is sick or what is wrong–or worse yet did one of us in our story telling or pranking do something to offend them and they may not come back. We tell stories of those old fellows that used to be the coffee group that was ahead of us that we have now graduated into. Sometimes the stories are embellished upon to improve the content shall we say, and sometimes they need no embellishment to make them a good story. As the guys get up and leave we discuss how full of crap he was today and then I wonder what they say about me when I leave the table. I know that I wonder that if those younger fellows sitting having their breakfast off in a corner are talking about all of us old farts. I wonder what they will talk about and do when it’s their turn to be part of the group. Will the stories about us have to be jazzed up or will they be good enough to make it on their own. Will the story tellers like Dick Johnson and Larry Hackman be able to be replaced by someone as good or will they be another story of their own. I myself know that I could never replace them. Mostly for the simple fact that I can’t stretch the truth or spread the bull nearly as thick with a staight face to fit in with the likes of them.
Well this is enough for me for this year. If I try to say any more I’ll probably have to start telling stories and I wouldn’t want to be accused of doing things like that.
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone and may all your stories for this coming year all be good ones.
Mel Kuhn
Reply from Keith Pladson (66): Stafford, VA
Gary,
Thank you to Bonnie Awalt Houle. I found your input, Bonnie, on your son’s interview of your Dad most interesting and entertaining. For me, it brought back memories of when I was young from about 7 or 8 until I started high school. We heated with wood, and for many years it was my job to chop the wood and bring in the daily supply. I also remember us using a thrashing machine for several years which involved cutting the grain with a binder hitched to a team of horses and putting the bundles of grain up in shocks to dry. We also did a lot of other things on the farm with horses. Of course, we also had a tractor for plowing, seeding, etc. We also did a lot of sledding on one big hill in particular and found many other ways to entertain ourselves throughout the years. Thanks again for refreshing my own memories.
And to you Gary, congrats on your 200 plus. I’m not bowling this year (the first time I’ve not league bowled in many years) as I hurt my throwing shoulder last spring and it still isn’t properly/completely healed.
Keith Pladson (66)
Happy New Year from the Philippines
Folks,
We had a wonderful New Years eve celebration in the Ball Room at the Marko Polo hotel here in Cebu with friends. There were 21 of us with two tables. There were 500 guests in the Ball Room. The buffet was set up at 7:00 PM, followed with music, dancing and fellowship until Midnight. At Midnight we all were escorted to the roof top for a huge fireworks display.
The Marco Polo is a 5 star hotel and they most certainly served a 5 star buffet meal with unlimited drinks and beverages the whole evening. Below are several pictures taken last night.
Gary
I
I toped off my meal with a few desserts. Now it’s time to go on a diet
Before After
