We are well into the new year and Old Pokey is just getting around to writing a column for the beloved (by me) Dixie Press.  I have been pleased to hear from some faithful and  usually patient readers that the column is missed…. AND FOR ME TO GET ON WITH IT,  ALREADY!

Dave, many years ago...

        I  have chosen as my “special note” person our first born son, David.  He was named David (for his grandfather, David Leander Nordstrand), second name Peter, (just because we liked the name), and Nordstrand for the obvious reason.
        A story I have recently written about him is included here.. just for fun.

FUSS ON A BUS

        When my first child was about two, I took him on a bus for downtown Seattle one day.  When we slid into the only empty seat, I saw we were directly behind an attractive, well dressed lady whose skin was like black silk.  She was dressed in a well cut dark suit and was wearing a fox fur piece over her shoulders. 
        I glanced down at my son, whom I was pretty sure had never before seen a black person and was not surprised to see that his bright, all-seeing eyes were riveted on her.  Concerned with what might come out of his mouth, I tried to distract him with the view out the window, but, even then, he was Mr. One Track, and was not to be diverted. As I knew it would, his little hand came up and he pointed at the lady.  His mouth opened and his shrill, little voice pronounced, “Kitty?” ………….and I realized he was looking at the fur piece.
        The lady turned her head and smiled at him and he smiled right back, while I melted into a relieved blob on my side of the seat.  He saw nothing out of the ordinary in her color, or wasn’t even slightly concerned about it.

        My dear sister, Florence, was born January 1, 1909.  I am so grateful for the many years we were able to share.  I miss her every day.

        Others with January birthdays are:

        Our nephew, Ralph Nordstrand
        Grandson, Jeremy Daniel Lightfoot
        Granddaughter-in-law, Leslie Cunningham Nordstrand
and   Florence’s Great-grandson, Joseph (Joey) Osterfeld

        I have been anxiously awaiting the small reminders that Spring is on its way… the tiny tips of green emerging from the flower beds that mean daffodils in the not-too-distant future.  They are there, even though sometimes poking through an inch of new fallen snow!  We have had a truly weird winter.  One day last week showed the thermometer at 40 degrees one afternoon, and everything covered in white the next morning.

        A note from Lee Stark in Tiger, Washington (east of the Cascade Mountains) makes me realize how lucky we really are, here.  In her area, roofs have been collapsing from the weight of the snow
 Our Nordstrand cousins in International Falls, Minnesota tell about temperatures as low as 26 below zero.  I cannot imagine!!  The coldest day I can remember was one day when our family was skiing at Stevens Pass and someone said it was 10 degrees above zero.  I felt frozen stiff.

I’m thinking it was a good thing for me that my family decided the Pacific Northwest was where they should settle.

I like this thought for the day:

        Happiness is like jam.  You can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself.                                                            -Anonymous-

Dixie/Dorothea, Senior Editor

        A funny thing happened on the way to a quiet New Year’s Eve.  Thought I would set my alarm to wake me up in time to see the fireworks on TV from  the Space Needle. Son John asked if I would like some company, so I assumed he and Nan might drop out to watch with me.  Sure, say I.  Then I see the following “invitation” on my computer screen.

Hi All!!!
You Are Invited!!!

To A…
 Slam Bang, Hotsy-Totsy, Hoity-Toity, Katie-Bar-The-Door
“Blowout 2008 – Breeze In 2009”
New Year Eve Party
@ Gma Dorothea’s House /Green Lake

Exciting Details: Nothing in Particular really
Theme: Mellow
Please Arrive Precisely Sometime between 5pm and Midnight
Bring: Whatever you want to..

• eat, snack on or drink… maybe bring a little extra.
• Also, maybe your favorite board game or whatever…

If enough show up we’ll make spaghetti or something (otherwise everyone is on his own)

• Just show up and hang out with Mom and me for a while or stay overnight (Bring your own overnight gear)
• We’ll probably:
  • make a fire and some popcorn
  • maybe play some games
• or you can
  • watch the “House” marathon if there is one
  • nap till midnight
  • read
  • talk
  • play with laptop if you have one
  • whatever….

This invitation is open to anyone - family, friends etc. so if you don’t see somebody’s email address in the header who should be invited above please forward this to them.
RSVP to John cougarmt@nwlink.com  if you can - but it isn’t really necessary. 

... 3 of our kids with spouses, plus 4 grown up grandkids brought odds and ends of something to eat and lots of the stuff left over from Christmas.. cookies, candy, nuts, popcorn, etc. John made an enormous kettle of spaghetti. Liz brought a couple of trays of croissant sandwiches. I didn’t see who made the dips, but they were there with lots of chips.   Hildy and Dan brought all the soda that was left over from the Christmas party at Norse.  Paul brought his newest electronic game which involves drums and 2 guitars. We played Scrabble, Ticking Bomb (which we played without knowing the rules but nobody cared. It was hilarious); a jigsaw puzzle that had been kicking around in a closet for years....It was a real barn burner! Everybody was a little nutty…. Leftover exhaustion from Christmas, I suspect.   I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.  I'm still tired but happy on the 2nd of January.

Fun and Games

Watching the count down on TV

H A P P Y   2 0 0 9   E V E R Y B O D Y

Dixie/Dorothea, Senior Editor

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