4/18/2007 – Editorials
My wife stood me up last week.
We had a dinner date, but she was a no-show.
She went to the home of her son and daughter-in-law and the grandsons in Grand Forks. She called me at work Thursday and said she was going and that I should come to Grand Forks Easter Sunday to take everyone out for dinner.
"Ya," I said. "I guess so." I always follow orders from on high.
So on Easter Sunday I left for Grand Forks. It was pleasurable to be alone because I was able to turn the radio up loud enough to hear it.
As a matter of fact, I turned it up higher than necessary just to be rebellious and since I was alone, I didn’t hear "TURN DOWN THAT RADIO" once.
When I got to my destination in Grand Forks, I was surprised to see that Hollys’s car wasn’t there. Neither was the car of my stepson.
When I knocked on the door, no dog barked. At that point I immediately knew something was wrong.
If they went to church, they wouldn’t take the dog. If they went shopping they wouldn’t take the dog. The only time they take the dog is on trips to Minnewaukan.
So I turned around and came home to Minnewaukan. When I got home I found a note was in the kitchen stating they had gone out to Thompsons’ for Easter dinner.
It was mid-afternoon and I hadn’t had an Easter dinner. So I treated myself to a dinner of bread smeared with Cheez Whiz and olives and a donut on the side.
When she got home she accused me of being at the casino. Good thing I bought a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts, which was proof I had been in Grand Forks.
She insisted our telephone conversation on Thursday included instructions that I call first. I don’t think so, but it’s obvious that I should have. Next time she gives orders like that, I certainly will. I don’t want to be stood up again.
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Proof that it’s a small world: Bob Hunter of Maddock was visiting his son, David in California and they went to the Pac-10 Basketball Tournament in Los Angeles March 7-10. They stayed in a Comfort Inn and took advantage of the continental breakfast offered at the hotel.
They sat at a table with a retired couple. In making small talk Bob mentioned that he was from North Dakota. The lady asked what town in North Dakota and Bob answered, "You’ve probably never heard of it — Maddock."
The woman replied, "Heard of it? I was born there!" It turns out she is Grace Cote of Nordland, Wash. and Yuma, Ariz. and points in between in their motor home. She and her husband, Don, were at Maddock for the city’s centennial in 2001. She is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Casper Evenhus and she was delivered in 1939 by Dr. D.H. McKeague.
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Warwick native Duane "Duke" Chance left his home at the age of 20 for Hollywood, Calif. where he pursued a career in the entertainment industry. "Starting at the top, I worked my way down," Chance says.
Hollywood was smaller in those days and rubbing/bending elbows with personalities was not uncommon. He currently lives in Houston, Tex.
and is "pretty much retired."
"I appreciated the Paul Newman story (in last week’s Farmers Press) and if I may, would like to relate a similar situation, in which I was involved," Chance said.
"In my Hollywood era of aspiring entertainment achievement I lived in a boarding house on The Boulevard along with such notables as George Cleveland, Edgar Buchanan and other stars of waning twinkle. One such, Percy Kilbride of Ma & Pa Kettle fame, enjoyed companionship with us young guys as opposed to diatribes on ‘when television runs its course’ with those of his generation.
"After an evening of communal prime time TV viewing and before the 10 o’clock news, a group us, including Percy, would go out for coffee.
"On one such occasion, with our little clique ensconced in our favorite booth, two young ladies in their upper twenties, obviously tourists, entered and seated themselves at the counter. Before long it was apparent that the subdued twitters, whispers and quick glances were directed at our booth. After a period, they became aware that we were aware they were looking at us and one mustered the nerve to approach us.
"Without uttering a word she pointed at Percy, nodded her head and displayed facial consternation to the effect ‘I know you, but who are you?’
"His answer, uttered in pure Pa Kettle character, ‘Tyrone Power.’ "
Chance adds this: The co-owner of the LA Sparks women’s basketball team is Carla Christofferson. Her mother, Edna (Gleason) attended Warwick High School. The attraction of a community with the cosmopolitan appurtenance of a water tower drew Carla to Tolna for her education.