March 24, 2008 - Monday

Todays Gazette is being brought to you just 60 years after the flood
of 1948.
------------------------
The current temperature is 24.
Yesterdays H/L temperature was 26/11
Normal H/L temp for this date is 37/20
It was 78 degrees on this date in 1978. Evidently, Al Gore must have
missed that year for the movie.
==========================
GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
==========================
L O C A L news & stuff,.. mostly stuff.
------------------------
Pat and I enjoyed Easter Sunday dinner at Marketplace, as we have for
a number of years. The food was fantastic, as always, and we had the
opportunity to visit with many friends from throughout the entire area.
The temperature didn't set any records (still no sign of global warming
in Shivercity) but the sun was shining in a clear sky with just enough
breeze to carry the smell of fresh cooked turkey all over town.
Then,... Sunday evening, we had the opportunity to experience what I
consider to be a most unique presentation of the Story of Easter, in
song and verse, with our good friends from the Mennonite Community at
Mandt.
In the past, I have described their singing as if the sky had opened
up, allowing us to hear the angels sing. P. T. Barnum might have
described it as, A World full of Magical Musicale Musicians. Their music
carries a message so much greater than the mere compilation of the
words.
As we returned home and talked about our evenings experience, we both
agreed how lucky we are, to live in such a wonderful country, and that
we have such fantastic people to share it with.
-----------------------
I was also pleased to find this note from George and Diane Cox on my
computer Sunday evening. >>>
Gary, I never open my emails on Sundays. Guess the prayer requests
somehow pulled me to the computer. Michael Jensen and Kelly Andrews will
be in my prayers today. God Bless
George and Diane Cox <<< Thanks a million George
and Diane for your kind thoughts. Along with Mike and Kelly we spent
time yesterday thinking of Susan, Ione, Eleanor, Danny the Eikenberry's,
Farmer and so many more.
+++++
George sent another message yesterday too. He wrote >>>>
Speaking of the World Curling Championship did you know that Bob
LaBonte will be a sweeper of the first rock thrown at the opening
ceremony on Friday the 4th. I'm looking forward to the opening ceremony
with Bag Pipes, introductions of flags and teams, throwing of the first
rock all open to the public at The Ralph. After that, John Aasand will
be the MC at the opening banquet, what a day to fly Grafton pride!
George Cox <<< Thanks again George. It's begining to look like the 5th
thru the 13th is going to be a truly fabulous event.
-------------------------
Then,... to add even more to the glorious events of Sunday and Sunday
night. I received the following wonderful news from Christine. She
wrote. >>>
Gary, you have no idea how much I appreciate the fact you included
my request in your Gazette. I truly believe we received the news we did
yesterday because of all the prayers lifted up for my brother Michael.
We were told the surgery would leave Michael in a body brace and it
would take more than one year to recover. If the tumor wasn't benign,
they would have to close him up and work out a different plan. Doctors
were expecting to graph a portion of his hip bone to use on his spine.
Instead the outcome was better than we could have ever imagined.
Doctors removed a portion of the tumor for testing. IT WAS BENIGN!!
Thank God. They continued the procedure and were able to remove the
entire tumor and leave at least 50 percent of the bone which meant
they didn't have to graph. Instead of wearing a body brace, he was
fitted with a neck brace mostly for comfort. Recovery time is expected
to be one month. Oh, how God has blessed our family!! I want to thank
you so much and thank your readers for their prayers. It was truly a
miracle!! We started a caring bridge site. The address is
www.caringbridge.org/visit/michaeljensen Blessings to you always my
friend, sincerely, Christine Jensen <<< Thanks a million for caring and
sharing such great news Christine. Please tell Mike "Hi" from his "old"
agriculturist, and, tell him to hurry up and get out of that "dad burn
hospital".
-------------------------
Todays Gazette is "sponsored" by the Flood of 1948. Tom Kutz put
together a compendium of photographs from around Grafton that were
originally taken by Gerald Freedland of the Walsh County Record, Don
Rydholm, perhaps Harold Lunde and maybe some others. The 66 photographs
document the depth of damage to homes and businesses. They also allow
the viewer a glimpse of what life was like in Grafton in the spring of
1948.
Little did residents know but only two short years to the future, to
the day, Grafton would be again covered by flood waters. Deeper than
this flood, the 1950 flood would become known as "The Flood Of The
Century".
Thanks a million for caring and sharing Tom. I have already spent a
lot of time looking thru your "booklet". And, I'm sure, I will spend
even more in the coming days. The pictures from the top of the water
tower are especially interesting.
I am forever grateful Tom, that you were willing to spend so much time,
energy, and money to put such a "booklet" together. And, especially that
you were willing to share one with me.
========================
GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
========================
"Simply hold your hand out,... you'll be surprised how many people will
shake it."


Write if you can, call if you can't, and, tell your loved ones they
are,..... before it's too late.