Thanksgiving
We're going to get the jump on Thanksgiving this weekend with a Sunday dinner in Sargent, Nebr., with a daughter and husband.
It will be a five-hour drive and I'm afraid my passengers won't be much company as they are located someplace in the vehicle where they can comfortably snooze.
We helped the couple move to Sargent last summer and "recruited" some help from the younger set. They did just great, worked with dedication, handled furniture and lamps with about as much grace as you'd expect and made me proud of the labor force.
But — coming home was something else. We turned in the U-Haul truck at Kearney and headed home. My "helpers" awoke when we crossed the railroad tracks at Dunbar.
And it just slays me when sleepy-eyed they say.
"Gosh, it sure didn't take long to get home."
Meanwhile, back at the dinner table no one has asked me about the menu. I don't know if that means they don't want my expert advice anymore, whether they plan to surprise me with fine dishes or whether they just are being polite and giving me the ole' GI quiet treatment.
No. 1 daughter has one of those high-speed cooking ranges and I can be assured that there will be many dishes prepared in that device to challenge my judgment.
There was a time when preparing such a delicacy as goose or turkey required an evening of stuffing and an early awakening to get the fowl in the oven and cooking.
Nowadays, it's all quickie stuff. Dunno if I'll like it that way but I'm sorta anxious to see how it goes.
Besides there's always this attitude — One of the tortures of the big family meal is standing around for hours smelling it and getting tossed out of the kitchen.
The Dunbar Review
Officer Bill Winkler - speaking to the driver of a car that jumped the Wilson creek bridge railing and landed in the creek bed.
"Are you drunk?"
The driver: "Sure I'm drunk. What do you think I am — a stunt driver?"
Chamber board
The slate for the 1978 Chamber board has been offered for consideration at the November 22 annual banquet at The Lodge.
And, if the election is conducted with its usual move, it will be like the ole Mop Eagle passing through town.
The committee has what appears to be a fine selection of officers with Jim Olsen as president and chairman of the board.
Jim is owner of Otoe Concrete Products and Materials Co. and DECO Division. Jim is a second generation Olsen to be president. His father, Viggo headed the Chamber about 20 years ago.
Others on the slate are Bill Dawson, vice president, owner of Dawson Oil and Transport Co., Jerry Platt, manager of Hinky Dinky, Mrs. Willard White, owner of Electro Gas, Marv Penning, assistant vice president, Farmers Bank, Dennis Kennedy, executive vice president of Otoe County National Bank, Gary Friesner, manager of Brown Shoe Fit, Rev. David Troxler, pastor of First Christian Church and Bob Taylor, site engineer for the OPPD power plant south of town.
Holdover directors are Harold Rowe, owner of Rowe Motors; Mrs. Maxine Fitzekam, manager of Tober's, Mrs. Gene Obbink, owner of Credit Bureau and Ivan Boerner of Jessup's.
The Duffey Watergate
A summons by District Judge Raymond Case ordering the appearance in court of Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Duffey (Dorene is our society editor) to testify in the Beers murder case could have only one result — the end of privacy for a reporter, the unveiling of her secret life and the publicizing of "Life With Floyd" before a jury and the whole wide world.
If you didn't read "One Person's Opinion" in Wednesday's paper, you better dig out a copy and read it. As Mrs. Duffey reported, "my husband and I have separate bedrooms . if I tried to explain why no one would believe me."
And folks remember that you read it in the family newspaper.
The teachers
A lot of organizing with the help of Mrs. June VanderVeen resulted in a weeklong display of pictures and news stories on teachers during Education Week.
There were a lot of familiar names, but one stood out for us — Mrs. Dave Curtis of Sidney, Ia., NC Junior High teacher.
Mrs. Curtis used to be Suzanne Slemp and she was our babysitter for many enjoyable years. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marland Voltmer.
Picky-picky
Didya ever notice how the telephone takes precedent over a conversation?
It will interrupt your meal, cut in on a conversation or ding-a-ling its way between you and a business man or a customer but try to do without it in today's mass communications world.
George Spires returned home one evening after another busy time at his Sidney Meat Plant and Murray Lockers. He was greeted at the door by a tearful wife, Judy.
"I've had a terrible day," she said. "The baby cut his first tooth, then he took his first step."
George interrupted, "Why, that sounds wonderful!"
Judy continued . "and then he fell down and cut his lip .and then he said his first word."