75 Years in 75 Days: 2006-11-05

mount carmel highway

Follow the Mount Carmel Highway into Zion National Park in Utah, and you'll see a small gravel parking pull-out just before the east end of the tunnel. Pull off and park. Climb the spur trail to the rocks above. Point your camera back down at the car and take a picture. It's tradition.

the brave firefighter and his warm nose

I understand per Mel And Vernita Messner that one time the fire department was called out to search for a man that was missing on a farm site between Winthrop and Gibbon. Norm, being the brave man he was, was a member of that fire department. Anyway, as Norm was walking through the old barn with Mel a few steps behind, Mel let go with an audacious “BOO”!!! Mel loves to relate this tale and how Norm almost jumped out of his boots.

Norm also liked to go trick or treating on Halloween. He managed to get by with that by getting down on his knees and staying behind the “real” kids.

Norm, do you still have that nose warmer you received for Christmas one year? That must have been your all time favorite gift that year as you so enjoyed showing it to everyone.

From: Mel and Vernita Messner and Sandy Ulrich

vote of confidence

Since it's election day, here's a brief story of polling opposites. This is a story of perfect balance, although not the one you might expect.

The usual trajectory of a young person's political awakening: first, noticing that your parents talk about politics here and there; second, realizing that they actually have opinions, hold positions on issues, and cast their votes accordingly; third, noting that your parents agree with each other on every issue and represent a unified, monolithic voting bloc; and fourth, immediately, instinctively, and often permanently taking the exact opposite position. And as long as we're rebelling, let's throw in staying out late, driving fast, and making questionable fashion choices.

Our experience was different. Mom and Dad had a politically mixed marriage from the start. That's not to say it was like Hardball every night around the dinner table; it was always more red-fish, blue-fish in our house than red-state, blue-state. Their political differences were quietly stated, more of the let's-agree-to-disagree variety. Their long-standing joke was that they cancelled out each other's votes every election, so they were both obligated to go to the polls. Score: Republicans, zero; Democrats, zero; democratic process; two. What we culled from all this joking and cancelling out is that you can disagree with someone's choice for governor and still love them, and that our voting choices were our own to make.

life is so confusing

March 15, 1961

Hello Honey,

With any kind of luck this should reach you before you leave Saturday. I am going to mail it this evening, and address it West De Pere and we will see "was ist los mit der" mail service.

Tonight is our first rehearsal for the singing group I have gotten together. I am afraid this is not going to be a successful venture since too many people are the busy-busy type, and I can visualize problems just getting them together.

I feel bad about stealing your brother's cord for the razor. Saturday night I put it in my case, and saw it, and took it out. I guess I wasn't feeling that sharp Sunday. The cause of the whole problem is my continually leaving mine at home. If he hasn't gotten it yet, tell him I mailed it today.

Things are dull around here. Nothing exciting at work or at home. I spent the last two nights catching up on my sleep and reading. Willy and Don can't see how I can manage up here alone. They are always out to the bars, or with their women, and rarely spend an evening in. Must be that I am getting old, or maybe I found what I am looking for and have gotten out of the rat race.

It is unfortunate that you won't be able to take your vacation during July. I would suggest that you go in August, since September begins to get a bit chilly, especially ifyou intend to do any traveling in the northern part of the county.

Speaking of travel, if you feel real energetic, you could come to Kiel Saturday afternoon, hang the curtains, wash the dishes, and then we could take a little spin out to the Altona for the evening meal. If you don't show up before about 5:00 p.m. I will eat in town. It makes little difference if you bring someone with you or not, although a single person might complicate matters a bit. Do what you like, since seeing you with people around is better than seeing you two weeks from now (something got lost in the translation). Anyway, come down either with or without company, and I will be happy.

I am having problems writing gay, witty letters to you. Maybe I have a mental (this presupposes I have a brain) block since you mentioned that letters can be used in court. One of these days I will write a real sloppy one, and I will actually write it so no one will know what I am saying except my mother and myself. The only thing she understands about me is my handwriting.

Back to the letters again. One of the reasons they were delayed in getting there was that I mailed them from the plant. This will not happen again since when I made up the package for your brother's cord I had to have the girls put the postage on it, and they began making jokes about sending presents to my girl's father. They seem to have remembered the name and address, and gave me a good hard time. From now on I will be putting your letters in the mailbox myself.

It is time to go to the choir rehearsal, so I hope to see you sometime Saturday. I don't have to ask you to be good, since you don't know how to be bad. I am going to have to get another sports car. I have a TR-3, and I am in love with an MG. Life is so confusing.

Love,

Norm

homewreckers

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