Following is how an old guy enjoyed the week before Christmas 2017.
On Wednesday, Dec. 13, I was one of the Readers’ Theater group that play-acted “Sleeping Beauty” at Hawthorne School in Albert Lea to grades kindergarten through 3. Genie played the role of Sleeping Beauty and I was the prince. The most interesting (to me) is how the students all get along regardless of race or color. This is most certainly a step in eliminating segregation.
On Friday, Dec. 15 Genie and I enjoyed the 45th Annual Albert Lea Service Club Christmas Luncheon at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The First Lutheran women served an excellent meal with Bonnie Schneider in charge. I’ve been involved in various volunteer activities and she shines at everything, including her bowling average. The luncheon was followed by the Albert Lea High School Chorale, directed by Diane Heaney. It was an excellent performance that made many moms and dads in the audience beam with pride.
Genie and I hustled from First Lutheran to the end-of-year Senior Citizens Christmas Party at the Skyline Mall in Albert Lea. We got there in time to hear the last few songs by the entertainer, followed by the drawings for door prizes (both of us were drawn for a prize). As usual, Paula and her crew were most gracious hosts.
On Saturday, Dec. 16, we attended the wedding of Maggie Bruder and Kolin Kelly at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea, at 10:30 a.m. (yes, a.m., in the morning!). The wedding was followed by a brunch and fun games. I must say in all the weddings I’ve attended this was a close second to being the best. The best was Sept. 28, 1963 at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake Iowa when Genie said, “I do” and I said, “I do” too.
On Sunday, Dec. 17 we attended the Sunday School program at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea. Genie was a teacher’s helper and I sang in the choir. A young lady named Teri (who doesn’t like publicity) got the youth to sing by practicing her slogan, “If the bell is ringing, you better be singing” as she softly rang the bells. The Christmas program was followed by grazing as you walked by all the goodies and made too many good selections — like key-lime pie.
How good was the grazing? It was so good that a number of Vikings fans who grazed missed the third and fourth quarter of the Vikings clinching the division championship. Yes, I was one of the guilty nappers.
Monday, Dec. 18 and Tuesday, Dec. 19 were get-ready days for Christmas and New Year’s.
The first 12 days of December were a bit different than normal. I saw people golfing, mowing lawn, tree trimming, walking around in shorts, even road crews mowing the ditch. Per our daughter in Winston-Salem, N.C., they had more snow on the ground than Albert Lea on Dec. 12.
In summary, this is most certainly true: “Weather will be weather, whether you like it or not.”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.