Dear Shirley,
It was snowing Sunday, and I heard the honking of a long string of geese overhead. It was a beautiful sight to behold. They were stretched out wide and winging their way south. I did not see Philip the fly, but my guess is he also has gone south for the winter.
Everything is white and bright around here for Thanksgiving. It's so nice, but the snow has been wreaking havoc with travel plans. That's the way it usually is around here at Thanksgiving time. We get our first blast of winter when people are heading home or going to join the relatives for dinner. We hear the scraping of shovels on the sidewalks and driveways. We hear the roar of the snow blowers.
Dot.Com the dachshund has an aversion to snow on her belly. Because she is built so close to the ground, I have to go out and shovel a path for her in the backyard. Otherwise, she balks at the idea of going out through her doggy door.
There is a certain feeling of peace when the whole landscape turns white, Shirley. While older people might cringe at the prospect of snow, children love it. They like to throw snowballs and make angels in the snow. They get out their skates and go to the rinks. They gather up their sliding gadgets and crawl up to the top of the dikes at Lincoln Park near the Red River.
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I've heard of people making ice cream out of snow. But never until just recently did I hear of them studying snow. There was a story in the Dakota Student newspaper at UND telling about students in area schools as well as UND taking part in research. The project involves UND students and middle and high school students.
They will be observing the snowfall events in the Grand Forks area. Maybe that will help with planning for plowing roads and laying down sand.
The study is going on into December.
Meanwhile, the Ski and Bike Shop is offering to pick up and tune up bikes and store them for the winter. But we have a band of bicyclers who don't let the snow stop them. And the bike racks in front of UND Memorial Union were still in use this week. Some people just pull their winter caps down over their ears and keep wheeling.
As you know, I am traveling this week. I should be in Pittsburgh by the time you get this letter.
I have been wondering how it will be with the new security measures at the airports. I didn't wear any jewelry, and I didn't have much more than a Mr. Goodbar in my purse. I don't like the idea of those X-ray machines. And I am not crazy about the idea of body searches. Still, I keep telling myself it is all in the interest of national security.
I know it was 60 degrees in Tucson this week. That seems cool to you, doesn't it? I hope you enjoy Thanksgiving in your new surroundings at Manor at Midvale. It sounds as though you have settled in permanently after moving six times after the fire that devoured your house in May.
The Canadians already have celebrated Thanksgiving. Now they are into Canadian Football League playoffs for the Grey Cup on Saturday in Edmonton. The team from Regina, Sask., with two former UND players (Weston Dressler and Donovan Alexander) on it will be there. They played in a blizzard up there Saturday. It was 24 degrees, and Marilyn Alexander said she kept warm with the stuff she bought at Home of Economy.
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Well, the Roughriders won again over Calgary, even though they had Dressler, a standout receiver, pretty much shut down that day. You may remember they also won the game I went to with the Alexanders in Regina in September. It was cold then. Now, it's frigid. The Canadians are kind of crazy, but they are also hearty souls.
The women who play hockey for UND also are hearty souls, Shirley! I found that out when I went to the game they played with St. Cloud State's women Saturday night. It's open seating at the women's games. The place is not packed, but there were several hundred people there. I found a place right behind the goal. It was interesting to watch Sioux player Stephanie Vey tend the goal. The game was a lot more exciting from that level than it is for me when I sit way up high.
I am looking forward to more of the games between now and the time the snow melts!
Love from your sister, Marilyn, tackling turkeys and cranberries in Pennsylvania.
P.S.: So far, I have no invitation for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in late April. I am counting on Queen Elizabeth to put me on the list. She probably
hasn't had time yet.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.
