Dear Sandy Mason,
Shopping and eating out must be easier down there in Arizona now. The winter visitors we call snowbirds are showing up as the snow melts. They have tanned skin and big smiles.
Things are looking better around here, too, with the slowly melting snow. But the Red River is full to overflowing. The Sorlie Bridge downtown is closed. And on Monday they were talking about closing the Point Bridge.
You and Earl certainly remember the anxiety of spring time. It was there in the years he was teaching civil engineering at UND. The Red River of the North sometimes has more than it can handle on the way to Winnipeg in April.
Life goes on
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Come hell or high water, as they say around here, life goes on. I don't know if the Easter bunny can swim. But he better find some water wings to get him around low lying areas to the north.
This is National Library Week. The library in Grand Forks was full of children on a scavenger hunt Sunday afternoon. There were 78 signed up before 3 p.m. At the same time, dozens of people were using the computers. I talked to Dean Larson, who was sitting in a comfortable chair reading "Trade Off Secrets" by Steve Martini.
I spent a while looking at magazines. There was one on bicycling and another called "Fine Gardening." Mark Dominguez, who was reading magazines, said he finds a lot more here than in the Fargo library. And Toni Vonasek, who is the retired reference supervisor, was in the library as a patron.
She just smiled and said, "I like books."
Hot cross buns
The Grand Forks Library is a great place for browsing. I like to hook up to the long, long ago, Sandy.
When I checked out 100 years ago in the Grand Forks Herald, I found the Metropolitan Theatre was featuring the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. And hot cross buns were being featured before Easter at Kaufmann's Bakery in East Grand Forks.
Hotel Dacotah downtown was advertising an Easter Dinner for $1.50. With it, there was orchestra music. And people were advised to make reservations early.
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Omigosh, Sandy. You should have seen that menu. Everything from consommé to potatoes au gratin, filet of beef mignon and chicken a la king. There was roast lamb and prime ribs of beef on the menu. And strawberry shortcake for dessert.
In those days of 1919 there were Model Six Touring Car and Roadsters selling like hotcakes. They were $1,295 at Henry Motor Company here in Grand Forks.
Well, I hope you find it easier to shop now that your winter visitors are leaving. I guess by now you know how to keep cool in your hot hot cars.
Last year you said you went through your hottest summer on record. Then you had the coolest autumn ever.
Best regards from the north land.
Your friend, Marilyn
