In my lifetime, I have met a few ladies whom I refer to as great. One such lady was Verlaine Williams. She helped with Vacation Bible School, especially the evening meal for the staff served at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. She helped me in getting magazines delivered at the medical facilities in Albert Lea through her position at the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau. She wouldn’t let me rice her pink bicycle, but it was a hoot to think as an older lady she bought a pink bicycle!
Gene and I left Albert Lea in our car headed for Geneva by way of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church in rural Albert Lea. We left the church just after dark and it was foggy. In a few miles, it really got foggy. Between the fog and the road construction detour signs, we didn’t know where we were. After driving and driving, we finally came to the freeway, took a left on the freeway, and headed north. We took the first blacktop to the right that we thought was the road to Geneva. We drove and drove, but no Geneva. It was very foggy and we knew we were lost. Bright idea: use the GPS. So Genie entered Geneva as our destination. It worked! We followed the GPS instructions right into Geneva, IOWA. And now you know there is a Geneva, Minnesota and a Geneva, Iowa.
Seeing as how the date on today’s Star Eagle is Oct. 31, I guess you could say Geneva, Iowa was a Halloween trick or treat for Genie and me.
Five female relatives originally from Iowa hadn’t seen each other in years. They decided to meet at the home of Netha Brada in Iowa Falls, Iowa. The four others were Genie from Albert Lea, Minn., Sandy Meng from Harrison, Ark., Cheryl Farris from Garner, Iowa and Nancy Schroeder from Clear Lake, Iowa. Due to sudden health situations, Cheryl and Nancy were unable to be there. Ron, Nethan’s spouse, and I were there, making it five people (three talkers, two listeners).
As it was meal time, Ron suggested we go to the best down by a dam site. We would eat at the best restaurant in town by a dam site. The waitress was truly the best waitress at the best restaurant at the best town by a dam site. Crystal Burgin, we thank you for the great service and great food. In case you readers are wondering what the name of the town is, it’s Alden; Alden, Iowa, that is.
Short shorts:
A. Pastor Appreciation Month was October. Did your church honor your pastor? Central Freeborn Lutheran Church did.
B. Have you been peeping this fall? Gene and I have. Peeping is enjoying the fall colors.
C. Watch for details on the FROG bus going to Christmas by the Lake in Clear Lake, Iowa on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. from Wok-N-Roll in Albert Lea.
D. Ron Brada of Iowa Falls, Iowa has one of the most unusual retirement hobbies. He hunts golf balls!
E. Genie and I think we got on the I-90 freeway thinking it was I-35 and that is how we were in Iowa rather than Minnesota.
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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.