Christmas 1961 and then the class pictures...Finally Class

As per the Mesabi Daily News the picture read something like this. . . "With the Christmas basket they plan to donate to a needy family in their area.  The girls purchased a turkey with the 25 cents each contributed instead of thier usual gift exchange, and also donated canned goods of various kinds. They met after school (Midway community room) and filled the baskets, Brownies pictured include Rachel Arpi, Gail Babiracki, Ruth Culbert, Sarah Dargan, Lynn Erickson, Debbie Esala, Melodie Hoffman, Cassie Holmes, Peggy Irwin, Rene Johnson, Connie Holmes, Barbara King, Mary Ellen King, Janis Lingo, Rae Ellen Lundquist, Wendy Maki, Susan Meinzer, Gail Monacelli, Barbara Nelson, Susan Oliver, Linda Richter, Christine Robillard, and Pam Sponnick.  Leaders are Mrs. George King, Mrs. Eugene Lingo and Mrs. T. C. Oliver

So the turkeys of the early 1960's cost $6.00.
I prefer to think we were Brownie pioneers:  Among the first to send frozen poultry to anyone.  I choose to believe we all remain "Humanitarians."

First Grade 1959-1960

Back Row:  Paul Anderson, ?, Cassie Holmes, Diane ?, Sarah Jane Carlson, Lynn Erickson, Pamela Geary, Susie ("Tootie") Oliver
Nancy Voxland, Peter (twin)?, Debbie Gentilli, Peter Fleck, Laura Givens, Wendy Maki, Ricky (Dinosaur) Olson, Me, Mrs. "Kanervia" Anderson,  Did she get all the King children in first grade?)

Steven Allen, ?, Bruce Nordling,  ? (lived next door to Laura Givens), Richard Kinnenan, Steven Robillard.

Any corrections are a welcome addition to this rambling and out of context Blog. With the notification and the passing last week of Pam Sponnick I went walking down memory lane.

These pictures are over 50 years old!  I amazed myself with how much I had remembered as someone who today seldom gets the names of her own offspring right and is on occasion mildly accused of forgetting to water the dogs and feed the plants.  I have been accused of reading the same gothic romance the summer before.  I would never brag I have the mind of a steel trap, but instead the trap of a steel mind.

Here's one I will make a little attempt to ID:

 Julianna O'Grinc and Mary Ellen?

Christine Weiss, ?, Martha Rowell?. Theresa Lewandoski?

Mary Jane Paznonovich, ?, Janelle?. Michelle Klima, Arnette Lassilla (Guess)?

Sally Galbraith,.Margo Spehar, ?, Michelle Oakman, Joan Novak, Yours truly. ?.

?. ?.

MIA Mary Tuomi, Katie Hoffman, Kaye Anne Carlson,& Andrea Bradish to name a few.

Fast Forward to August 2012. . .As "Empty Nesters," We just returned from a two week hiatus to meet Rylie Jo (the first grandchild) in Missouri, visit 'the Smiths as in Mr. Smith (Martha and Girls) Goes to St. Louis,' and even spent some northern Minnesota time. These days I only get as far in to northern Minnesota as the Fredenberg Minnowette.  Not being more frequent visitors of the Northland, I did not have enough hornet 'shooter" to hit all the paper nests of the not so elusive hornets. . .but one sting is not too too bad.  Even if the "sucker" got me through my new, got it in MSP: GAP hoodie.  I am too old to be wearing a hoody anyway. But still quick enuf to hose myself down with all his friends in attack mode!

And the hot tub is performing like "Ole Faithful  ' in Yellowstone so I feel like I am still in Montana or places west. It is always an adventure returning to "Into the Woods."  This morning I told Ron he could stay home and fix the tub...
"Only if you go see 20 people." he replied.
"Deal! But it will be "social,"  I said.
Instead, he breakfasted on 'nuts and berries. . . I steamed the wrinkles out of his jacket, using more water than steam;  forcing him to wear another coat and called the "Maytag" repair man for the fourteenth time.

The Olympics of London came just in time to sync with Dish networks new 5235 channels.  Ron has a love of sports, reading and "drinking fine scotch whiskey all night long so I call him Deacon Blue.. . "  Then I made him clean and scrub the sauna.  Vacation was officially over!             Classy