MARILYN HAGERTY: Life goes busily along as dikes hold Red River away from our doors

Dear Shirley,

There's nothing like seeing real live people on stage. And I had a chance to do that this week when I attended Sam Shepard's "Curse of the Starving Class" in the UND Burtness Theatre.

It's running there through Saturday evening. It's a funny, though sad, commentary on life. As they say, there are no holds barred. They even have a live lamb in the show.

Tonight, "Music Man" is playing at the Chester Fritz Auditorium. Over at Warren, Minn., the Agassiz Swedish Society is meeting to do what Swedes do best -- eat meatballs.

As always, there is a myriad of activities going on in April. It's hard to keep track of everything.

But I can tell you one thing for sure, Shirley. The South Forks Lions Club won first place in the service club competition to donate blood. Mark Jensen of the DakMinn Blood Bank was at their meeting bright and early Tuesday to present them with a traveling trophy.

This is the first year of the competition, and the challenge was thrown out by this service club. They donated 25 units. The Optimist Club was second with five units.

Maybe you can't get blood out of a turnip, but they have found you can get it out of service clubs. They plan to keep the competition going. Doesn't seem like such a big deal until you are some day stretched out on a cart and you hear the medics asking for more blood.

Then, from the bottom of your heart, you say, "Thank you, blood donor." I think those people deserve a special place of honor, Shirley. Most of them won't even mention it. They just quietly, faithfully give.

I suppose you have people like that in Tucson, too. I was glad to get your letter this week and know that you are planning to write a little diary of your life.

That is such a great thing to do -- not only for yourself but for others who want to do. The stories of peoples' lives are history, Shirley.

I just had a chance to thumb through a book called "My First 80 Years" by Jack Gaddie of East Grand Forks. It's a delightful story of this well known man and describes life in his time.

This week, I have been thinking of the life of Bev Wavra. She really brightened the corner where she lived. They called her "the Queen of Buxton" and I always will think of her when I pass that fair city on my way down Interstate 29.

Bev grew up there and never lost her love for Buxton.

Love from your sister, Marilyn, staying away from the dikes along the swollen Red River of the North.

P.S.: The dikes are keeping the river away from our doors. Mayor Brown announced big fines for anyone climbing on the dikes. It's just too dangerous.

I don't suppose you can imagine a flood time like we are having because your imaginary Santa Cruz River rarely has water.

P.P.S.: I just noticed they are having a Walk to Defeat ALS here April 30 in University Park. I have seen firsthand how much the ALS people do for victims of this horrible disease, so I will be there. They had a walk in Denver last August for Carol and others.

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