The cold snap we’ve had recently very much discouraged me from doing much besides venturing out to work. The forecast for warmer temps for the weekend started my wheels spinning. I called up Esther and invited myself for a sleepover Friday night before I continued on to Sioux Falls on Saturday to take my granddaughter out to lunch for her 17th birthday.
I was in for a surprise when I got the mail and discovered an envelope from Lamoine Torgerson. I debated opening it ‘cuz I was sure it boded no good. My instincts were correct ‘cuz it revealed an advertisement for a “Love Connection” and a quote to “Get in Gear”. Lamoine, thank you for your concern, but the portion of my body from the neck to the knees is on an extended coffee break.
Esther and Dave served up a steak supper, and I had to relate to them that I had made a stroganoff and had used canned beef that my Aunt Elsie had made. Gay had kept it in the cupboard since 1999 and declared it safe. Esther was horrified and said, “Do you realize that was 17 years old and you are all lucky to be alive!?” (I was never good in math, so I had never thought of it that way.) That is far worse than the eight-year-old corn Gay served us that one holiday.
They were so wrong about the weather forecast. The interstate was slick and traffic was 60-65 mph. Of course, there are always those that ignore the conditions. I passed two pickups in the ditch. Admit it; a person is secretly glad it isn’t you and the other half thinks, serves you right for going so fast in a ground blizzard.
I was going to gift Aysia with money, but ended up buying her paint for her bedroom and bedspread to match. The guy at Home Depot raised his eyebrows at her color choices—lime green and blue. When she said goodbye to her childhood pink frills, she went to the whole different spectrum.
Still not willing to call it a weekend, I once again stayed overnight at the Buck Bed and Breakfast. When I related that I would be going to church the next day, Esther was very surprised and asked why? I informed her I have a lot to be thankful for or the alternative, that I was going to check out single men in church. She dryly replied, “That is the Dee I know. Try not to swivel your head like the exorcist when you’re looking and don’t pounce right away ‘cuz their wife might be in the bathroom!”
I chose the church right across from Taco John’s. I was warmly greeted immediately and what a surprise to find they have a coffee shop atmosphere in the foyer for everyone to enjoy. I was also amazed they had a band with modern music plus big screens. (I was relieved I didn’t have to sing.) I totally enjoyed the whole service.
I ended the day by taking in the movie “The Revenant.” I had heard mixed reviews. Janet said none of their group in Arizona cared for it. She described it as “crawling through the snow for three hours and listening to grunting.” I had to see for myself and found it to be pretty gruesome, and I felt I had been drug through a knothole by the finish. Those mountain men were tough S.O.B.s. Leonardo DiCaprio deserves the Oscar. I met a married man at the movie—thanks, Jerry Zastrow, for letting me sit with you. I’m blind in a crowd and he related he had waved at me three times, and I still didn’t notice him!
Happy Birthday, Aysia!
Dee Baby

    We thought you’d like a short bio of one of your many avid readers, Ed Christensen, a former resident of South Dakota. He grew up on a farm in a “Dane” community six miles north of Henry and just west of Watertown. He now resides in Wooster, Ohio, and is a good friend of Karen and Don Hartshorn.
Ed was born in South Dakota on July 30, 1919. His father, at the age of 14, came from Denmark with his family to settle in the area. Ed and his parents, two brothers and two sisters, attended church at North Graceland Free Methodist and many are now buried in Graceland Cemetery. This community had a school and town hall. The town hall was called Dane Hall and nearly every family name ended in “sen”.
After joining the Navy shortly into WWII, following his older brother, he was off to see the world. In Ohio, where he resided after the war, he married and raised a wonderful family.
Upon visiting him at Danbury Senior Living, you will usually find him sitting at his desk reading his Bible, having read it through three times so far. This fine, 96-year-old gentleman is especially fond of the Sanborn Weekly. You should see him smile when Karen hand delivers his copy.
He shares stories of his childhood, and this is a favorite: Clark Gable owned a hunting cabin at Sassy Slough, near Henry, where Ed and his brother often spent afternoons fishing. He states that water would flow from any stream into pockets and end at a slough, fish included. The next time you went, it might be completely dried up!
If there are any readers from the vicinity where Ed grew up, he would love to hear from you.
Ed Christensen
%Danbury Senior Living
939 Portage Rd. Rm 1123
Wooster, Ohio 44691

January is always the “Let Down” month. Your holiday spirit is shot, you face New Year’s resolutions (that you know you’re going to break), and it’s always the worst for a time dragger when you yearn for spring. Notorious as the bitterly cold month, one yearly event redeems January—Dick’s mountain oyster party. This past Saturday night it took place in the worst cold snap.
Soop is to be counted on for the party reminder, but on Wednesday I was trying to chase down my nephew, Garth, (it took three stops) and popped in at Dick’s Welding. Dick inquired if I was coming and I replied, “I’ll be there with a dip, and that’s the kind in a bowl and not a man.”
I like to take credit for boldly going where no woman went before (except Barb). Bartending made me fearless of walking into a shop full of men. Gradually over the years, we have carved out a niche for a women’s table. Sometimes we get thrown off when the card players increase, but we will regroup in another corner. We are strong enough to bend. Our women’s table was an angry hive of bees when we witnessed an inconsiderate husband take a chair to sit comfortably and just left his very pregnant wife standing! A.L., we are calling you out!
Garth brought a stranger to the party, who was showing him the ropes in his new fiberglass business. Georgia exclaimed, “He looks like a little Al Pacino.” She yelled for Garth to bring him over for introductions and she repeated whom she thought he looked like. (I think he was hurt that she said “little”!) Georgia then told Joe Dise he could be Robert DeNiro. Joe replied, “I can be anybody you want me to be.” I chimed in, “Especially after three beers.” He-he. Georgia then told the stranger he could have his pick of our group of 50-70s women, and I think he kinda shuddered.
What a surprise to find out Dick has two sisters, Carol and Donna. Carol attended and was quite a fun addition. When we were introduced, she said her best friend in parochial school had been Helen (Peterson) Baysinger. She wants to say “Hello”! Carol kept her cell phone in her bra like a concealed weapon. I told her I could try that, but it would fall out to the floor.
Once again, I never saw hide nor hair of brother Soop ‘cuz he was planted in the inner sanctum office playing that mystery card game “Sheephead.” A lot of the card players behind us had bags full of quarters. (Isn’t that kind of announcing that you plan on losing?) Thanks to Rich Jensen for being our male waiter and keeping the food flowing to our table. Big thanks to Terry Hill’s son, Eric, who took on the vile job of cutting up those grizzly-looking mountain oysters! Big thanks to Dick and Barb for hosting a community party annually where we see old friends and new. Barb, you are the best for staying awake and being a designated driver to the very end!
Shout out to our best pal, Bobby Nielson! We can never attend without thinking of you and your humor. Hope you are manning the “Sheephead” table in heaven.
Hope to see you next year.
Dee Baby