Interesting weekend
It's been a rather interesting weekend, starting with a ride on the Eagle Transit ride in Columbia Falls. There is a crowded parking lot at North Valley Senior Center and I decided a $2 round trip bus ride would leave room for one more car. Night of Light festivities were underway.
Lisa is a great bus driver, on time, conscientious, and would not leave until our seat belts were fastened. One passenger resided near Meadow Lake Golf Course. Her trip home was delayed as the cross bar on the railroad tracks on Second Avenue West North had malfunctioned.
Malfunction was not immediately repaired. Lisa had to back up, turn around and check crossing at Seventh Avenue E.N. It was also not working. Solution was to return uptown to pick up two passengers, one en route to the Montana Veterans Home and one to Hungry Horse. Lisa radioed the Eagle Transit dispatcher to explain the delays.
Rides on the Eagle Transit are to be made a day ahead by calling 758-5728, which is listed under the county section of the CenturyTel phone book. Destinations in addition to the Columbia Falls area and the Veterans Home include Martin City, Coram, Hungry Horse, Columbia Heights at Junction Gas.
It was Christmas gift wrapping time for 110 members at the Montana Veterans when VFW Auxiliary ladies gathered Sunday. Volunteers attending included Dianna Bennett, Bigfork VFW Auxiliary president and Veterans Home contact person; Mary Beth Arnold, VFW state treasurer, Linda Sieler, Mary Parkhill, Linda Torman, Lavern Johnson, Irene Barnhart, Sue Haverfield, Sherri Wendlick and Gayle Reeves.
Gail Linne and I enjoyed attending the surprise retirement party for Stu Sorensen Saturday.
It was especially enjoyable because it was truly a surprise for Stu. Peg explained he had been told it was a retirement event for a friend and they hid the Hungry Horse News.
Frankly, after 10 or 15 minutes when I asked Stu where his friend was, he said to the effect, he wondered why he was not there.
We watched Stu advance through the years to become an Eagle Scout in Troop 41 and knew his parents, Esther and Fred Sorensen. It does not seem possible Stu and Peg are now parents of three Eagle scouts and he has retired from the highway department. Appropriate table decorations at the party included his favorite hats and other paraphernalia along with Mel Ruder photos of Stu and a variety of pack strings.
Early Saturday morning, well, 9:30, found me at the United Methodist Church bazaar buying their famous pasties. Ladies in each church have specialties at their bazaars such as the sauerkraut soup, my favorite among the many varieties at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and the many enticing raffle prizes at St. Richard's Catholic Church.
Of course those attending all enjoy shopping and lunching with friends. Another benefit of a small community.
Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.