A week ago, at our neighbor’s annual soup and pie dinner that I try not to miss, I scored the ultimate. The first thing past the trays and eating utensils was the bread. I like bread a lot. They are all homemade, with choices of wheat or white and there was even a platter of raisin bread. I was a lucky guy and I knew it. There were two heels on top of one of the stacks. What are the chances of getting two? I was happier than the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl. My ultimate score achieved! I almost forgot to get my soup, but a fat man doesn’t miss much in the chow line. It was chili and a barbecue, then I savored the raisin bread with bowl of ham and bean soup. I topped the meal with a piece of raspberry pie. Living next to the Presbyterian Church in Fulda would make you think we would be at the front of the line but no, we always just make it under the wire. The benefit and our strategy, if we have one, is there is always room and seldom does a church woman, any church, run out of good food.
The second blessing of the day was that they were selling some soup and bread to take home. I was in hog heaven. There were two loaves, that is four heels, of raisin bread in my hands right away. I added wheat buns, lots of crust, with the hope that Louise would eat them. I also picked up some chicken noodle soup and chili. Then I paid the bill. The next day, with joy, I sliced the heel off thick enough so it would just fit in the bagel setting on the toaster. Adding crunchy peanut butter and a touch of cherry butter and life doesn’t get better. It was a good day. Yes, I know who the baker was and only if tortured would I reveal her name. You can ask Lloyd Winter, he knows her well.
Actually, life does get better. Saturday, I marked forty-seven years, six months and one day as publisher of the Fulda Free Press. If you add in the other four publications at fifty-two weeks per year, I have well over nine thousand weekly additions that I have had the responsibility of publishing. We never missed a week and we had one extra addition. I retired Sunday on 02.02.2020. It’s called a Palindrome and it hasn’t happened in nine hundred and nine years and won’t happen again for another one hundred eleven years. The retirement is going well in my second day. The new publisher is big on voluntary help. In my case, she has okayed it for my continuing with this column as long as it’s free, which gives me a true sense of self worth. I will also be allowed to have the occasional cup of tea. Any knowledge that I have retained over the years will be picked from my brain as needed. I will be showing up at the occasional meeting. She is going to be very difficult to volunteer for, but then I have known that for years.
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The names of the couple in the wedding photos published in last week’s Bridal Supplement are: 1. Elmer & Judy Brake, Slayton (formerly of Wilmont); 2. Curt and Kristy Taylor, Adrian; 3. Joselin (Schwarz) and Lee Pals, Henderson, Nevada; 4. Joyce and John Jans, Fulda; 5. Chuck and Carol Benda, Slayton; 6. Hub and Marilyn Sandman, Slayton; 7. Roger and Sandy Hartman, Okabena; 8. Tom and Darcy Busch, Brewster; and 9. Dean and Judy Schumacher, Heron Lake.
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Have a good week!
