MARILYN HAGERTY: 'Dear Shirley ... the whole world went crazy'

• Marilyn Hagerty

Marilyn Hagerty
• Marilyn Hagerty at the Olive Garden

Marilyn Hagerty at the Olive Garden

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Dear Shirley,

Not even in my wildest dreams could I fathom all that has happened in the past week.

You see, here I was finishing up my Friday column last Thursday and getting ready to go to bridge club. Then the whole world went crazy. It started with an email from afar declaring that my recent Eatbeat review about the new Olive Garden was — in a word — pathetic.

I braced myself and responded with a “thanks for your interest. I appreciate your input.”

Then... whoom! The messages started flowing in from all over the country. Kind people were telling me not to pay any attention to the naysayers. It seemed people wanted to protect me and buck me up.

The local TV station called and asked if I could meet with two of them at the new Olive Garden — the place I had written about. I said OK and went over there. The Olive Garden couldn’t allow the TV cameras without orders from headquarters. So I suggested we go to the Ground Round nearby.

The manager there said, “Fine.” They gave us some free popcorn and they asked questions and took pictures of me sipping a Diet Coke. When the Village Tattler or whatever called from New York, I didn’t understand who they were. I didn’t understand that I had gone viral. I didn’t know that meant it was like hits on the Internet.

After that it was unbelievable. Early Saturday morning, the ABC show sent a driver up from Fargo. I was driven down there to answer questions. It was fun seeing the innards of the TV station. I don’t know exactly what I said.

This week I have been interviewed by a raft of national television outlets. I have had phone calls from people all across the country. I have bouquets of flowers from friends and — best of all — a dozen roses from my colleagues at the Herald.

Not sure where all this is taking me, Shirley.

Thank you for sending along the news of Tucson. It was interesting to read that beer and wine are flowing again at the Arizona Wildcats baseball games. I see it is through the fifth inning and started with your opening game when you beat North Dakota State.

Carol Anderson and Bob and Pat Wood were pleased with the turnout of more than 200 people for the annual Grand Forks breakfast in Mesa last Thursday. Five former City Council members in attendance were Dave Beach, Tom Hagness, Gerry Joyce, Ann Sande and Arden Shores.

Donated gifts went to Joy Bostrom, Norm Bisgard, Gerry Joyce, Marlene Johnson, Dale Koppelman, Joe Litzinger, Arden Shores, Colleen Abar, Larry Foss, Yvonne Syversen and Don Lindgren.

The sponsors are encouraging me to come down next year. Well, who knows? I sure never thought I would be on national television answering questions about my Eatbeat column.

Love from your sister Marilyn on Cloud 9 in New York City!

P.S. This, too, shall pass. I soon will take my hammer named Margo and go down to the river. There I will meditate on the 15 years that have passed since the flood of 1997.

Reach Marilyn Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or at (701) 772-1055.

Tags: marilyn hagerty, dear shirley, gf and egf, new york city, grand forks herald, updates, columns, life, lifehead, food, eatbeat