Dear Shirley,
If you would like to see the University of North Dakota softball team in action, you should go out to the University of Arizona this weekend. The UND team will be in your city of Tucson playing five games in the Arizona Hillenbrand Invitational tournament.
I know you love watching golf. You might like softball!
I guess the team would rather go down there and play ball. They would have a tough time of it here, although the snow has been shrinking. The cautious people among us say, "Just watch out for March." And the carefree souls say, "Well, even if we have blizzards in March, they don't last too long."
One thing for sure, Shirley: The days are getting longer.
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Still, many people are getting away for a little break. Glenna Leedahl figures she had a good omen on her side as she was getting ready this week for her buying trip to Las Vegas for Jack's Shoes. When she looked at the mileage in her car right before she left, it said 77,777.
As winter winds down, so do the sporting events. It's turning into tournament time all over the Red River Valley. This weekend its regional high school hockey in Grand Forks. And it looks as though the UND women hockey team will be involved in post season play here.
Hallelujah!
Tuesday night was the last scheduled home game for Coach Gene Roebuck who is retiring after 25 years of coaching the women's basketball team at UND. He doesn't look too tired, but I get tired just watching him pace up and down during games.
Maybe his team will be involved in some post season play. The women who played here in the past looked hale and hearty when they came back for a farewell reception for Coach Roebuck on the weekend.
Meanwhile, he said a formal goodbye to his seniors Tuesday night after the last scheduled game for him here in Grand Forks. The seniors include twins who came from Arizona -- Charnay and Charnise Mothershed. I think they have come to enjoy the snow and the cold of North Dakota. We will miss seeing them next year.
Some people count sheep when they can't sleep at night, Shirley. I suppose if someone was bored they could count birds. I read in the paper the Great Backyard Bird Count begins Friday and runs for four days. All you have to do to take part is spend at least 15 minutes counting birds and going online to Birdcount.org with your number. Dave Lambeth, a lotal bird expert, says it is more of an informal follow up and not as structured as the Christmas bird count.
Seriously, now, Shirley. What birds do you see in Arizona?
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I think I will go over to the Washington Street underpass and count pigeons. They are fluttering around there lately. And they have lots of one and two birdroom apartments.
Love from your sister Marilyn watching the snow retreat from the west bank of the Red River of the North.
P.S. I got your phone call saying it snowed Tuesday in Tucson. You say it happened so fast that nobody could see the snow hit the ground. But I am sure it was high adventure.
P.P.S. I think we were born a couple generations too soon. Here in Grand Forks they are holding daddy-daughter dances. They call them "A Knight for a Princess." I can't imagine our dad taking either one of us to a dance. But times have changed. It's a great idea. And the first dance is this weekend with another coming up in April. Mgh
Reach Marilyn Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or at (701) 772-1055.
