MARILYN HAGERTY: Surely, Shirley, we can round up more Shirleys

Dear Shirley,

Surely, there are scores of Shirleys floating around out there in reader land. So far, I have heard from one who will join the get together for people named Shirley or Marilyn for lunch at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Green Mill in Grand Forks. I think there is a Marilyn coming, too.

It's not that they will all let me know. And it doesn't matter. This is a Dutch treat situation.

I feel sure if they can muster up Shirley clubs all over the country, we can muster up a table full of Shirleys from this area. After all, your name was big in the days when Shirley Temple was the darling of America.

Shirley Brown founded the original Shirley Club in 1996 in Australia. And they say the rest is "Shirley history." The first Shirley Club in the USA was started four years ago.

Needless to say, there are few babies named Shirley any more. But Shirley was among the top 10 female names in the U.S. from 1927 to 1941. We all know you were born in 1929, Shirley.

And life goes on.

With this cooler weather, the swimming pools aren't as busy as they were. And the stores are full of back-to-school bargains.

This is the height of the picnic season in city parks through August. And Teresa Orr at the parks office says they are hoping for good weather through September -- since May was rather lousy.

Lincoln Drive and University are the most popular parks for groups. People go to the Park District office at 1210 Seventh Ave. S. to reserve picnic shelters. The cost is $40 a day.

Children are enjoying the spray area of University Park for birthday parties. And there have been weddings almost every weekend in the park.

Frisbee golf is a big draw for Lincoln Drive Park. The park people say the dogs are still finding their way in droves to their own area of the park.

I tried taking Dot.Com over to the area for little dogs and she couldn't behave herself. If I put my black and white dachshund in the area with larger dogs, she doesn't know she is little.

And so it goes in Grand Forks in August. Hope all is well in Tucson.

Love from your sister Marilyn savoring each day of summer and the beauty of the flowers in the city parks.

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