November began with a celebration at our house as Bill and Andrea hosted Johnathan’s fourth birthday party. Andrea’s family joined us, and her nephew’s first birthday was also celebrated. It has been interesting to observe our grandchildren when they are in a group with both sets of grandparents. Shortly after everybody was here, Johnathan came through the living room, looked around and excitedly yelled, “Two papas!” Naturally, I had to remark, “Don’t grandmas count?” Several times that day we heard, “two papas, two mamas.” When Jale wasn’t quite 3, we were going to church with Marty’s family and his in-laws were along. I remember as we walked into church how Jale, who was holding grandma Shirley’s hand, would keep looking between Shirley and me with a puzzled look on her face. November provided a variety of temperatures, causing one to wonder which jacket/coat to wear in the morning. There were a number of afternoons I wished I’d carried a lighter one along. A couple of days I regretted not having a heavier one with for the return home. Nov. 11, the Asian beetles fed many vacuums again. Ms. Welters and her third-grade students shared their smiles and serving hands at the dining center this month. Ms. Ostby’s class will be at the center the first three Wednesdays in December. Thanksgiving dinner was well attended Nov. 20. We set tables for 47 people. Four KEYS (Kimball Elementary Youth Service) members and Community Ed. assistant, Cathy, served the dinners. It appeared that they enjoyed eating and visiting with the seniors. Later, they cleared the tables and washed them off. KEYS members will return Dec. 18 for the center’s Christmas dinner. Speaking of which, Bingo will be played after the meal. To participate, bring an unwrapped, new item. Items should have a $1-$2 value. Reminder: Please make your Christmas dinner reservation by Friday, Dec. 12. A brunch will be served on Dec. 24 at 10:30 a.m. Hint, hint: Seniors enjoy receiving meal tickets for gifts. You may purchase the number you desire for $3 apiece or we have gift booklets of 10 for $30. Booklets are available at the State Bank of Kimball, the dining center, or by mail. If mailing works best, send your address and the amount of money for how many tickets you want to: Senior Dining, 11258 103rd Ave., Kimball MN 55353. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. If you don’t kiss, your lips will rust.” I had not heard that phrase or read it until I read an article about autograph books, also referred to as “slam books.” A number of the “wishes and thoughts” in the article were new to me, but there were a couple that are in the autograph book I had in school. Like, “Yours ’til Italy gets Hungary and fries Turkey in Greece.” Some packed powerful truths, “Deem it not an idle thing, a pleasant word to speak. The face you wear, the thought that you bring, a heart may heal or break.” A lady shared that one from her grandma’s book, which she had before she was married in 1890. Another from her grandma’s book was written in mine by one of my elementary school teachers. “When the golden sun is setting, and your heart from care is free, when o’er a thousand things you’re thinking, will you sometimes think of me?” I enjoyed reading the article. Made me want to go dig mine out. Does the younger generation still use autograph books? There will be a Christmas sing-a-long on Monday, Dec. 15, immediately after eating. The sing-a-long will be followed by “500.” Joke of the month: A married couple was celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. All during the party, the wife was beaming, but the husband looked miserable. One of the guests finally asked him why he looked so upset. The husband replied, “Fifty years ago, her father and three big brothers came to me and said that if I didn’t marry his daughter, they’d send me to jail for 50 years. “I just can’t help thinking that if I had chosen jail, tomorrow, I’d be a free man.” ‘Til next time, Rosalea Hoeft
