Mom's Award!

"A Night of Coincidences and Success!"
(The annual meeting of the Oconto County Historical Society at Irish Greens Golf Club)

Dan, what do you think the odds are that I would drive 300 miles to a banquet dinner and end up sitting next to a man who had purchased, and lived in, the house that dad grew up in on Pecor Street in Oconto, WI, before it was moved to another location?
Well, that's exactly what happened!

And what would be the odds that out of 80 people in attendance, the man who sits across from me, Dave Retzlaff, is the son of Arlene, Uncle Clyde's wife. And further, that he is also receiving the same "Kay Stewart" award as mom, for recently purchasing a building in downtown Oconto that had mostly burned down in the 1950's, to restore it and sell Stanley cast metal Toys. And also, that he would happen to have large print aerial photos of the smoking building taken at the time so long ago. I asked if he knew who took the photos and he said Bob Jubin! WOW! (Uncle Clyde added that John Larson was probably with Jubin taking the pictures while they flew over). WOW again! Naturally I pulled out my books "Bob Jubin - Aviator" and "Airplane Rides" by John R. Larson, to show Dave the books I had published earlier this year. He took my bookmarks to order them later.

This was followed by the "Success" part of the story.
Uncle Clyde did a great job giving the acceptance "speech" (the letter from mom to the board and audience). It was a great feeling hearing the laughs from the big crowd at my few attempts at humor, as the speechwriter for mom. So, success for mom and success for me!!

I should mention that Uncle Clyde confided in me that Arlene is scheduled for another heart pacemaker surgery next Thursday. Her body will have a very hard time handling it, but there is no other alternative.


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Congratulations! You have just read words from Russ Bridger; the "family tree guy", part-time Minneapolis bus driver, & novice book publisher. Contact me at rbappraiser@comcast.net or phone 763-561-2432. (See my blog for current books at rbappraiser.blogspot.com). If you have anything to publish (at no cost), or questions on the family tree, contact me!