By: Jim Dittmann
Well here we are – Volume 2 Issue 6
Wie geht es dir?
This time of year is when we begin to get a little sentimental – this year perhaps more than ever. I had the good fortune of celebrating my 60th birthday in September (is it a particularly popular month to be born?) anyway – I made it! I’m thankful for all the good fortune – friends – family and great experiences. BDAO made it to 60 as well – all my best!
November brings the Wisconsin tradition of deer season where everything else drops a notch or two in priority – but this annual event provides a unique type of benchmark for shaping many young peoples lives – did mine at least. Fifty years ago – too young to be at the huntin’ shack but in the fifth grade at the Rockfield school, two rooms – first thru fourth with Miss Piater and fifth through eighth with Mr. Farenkrug. How come I remember these names – do you recall your fifth grade teacher’s name? Mr. Farenkrug was a pretty cool guy – had a Chevy Corvair – I think it was a 2-door coupe – it was a beautiful blue (Horizon Blue?) – before safety questions distracted the Corvair.
It was during the gun deer season 1963 when Mr. Farenkrug announced the frightening news from Dallas – President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. It may have been the first time I ever heard that word spoken – scary – confusing and forever imprinted into the soul of a ten-year-old. Blur forward to the state funeral – the caisson – John Jr.’s salute. The photograph of Mr. Kennedy’s rocking chair being removed from the White House seemed to me at the time hurried and disrespectful. It’s been said that everyone alive on November 22 1963 – remembers exactly where they were…
Many memories are still benchmarked by the November tradition – sections of LocaLeben were influenced by the many “characters” who visited physically or became legends through their stories being told at the “huntin’ shack.” My dad framed a portrait of JFK and hung it at the shack – where it remains.
That Christmas a friend of dad’s gave me a book titled The Balance of Nature. It had a green cloth cover and my first thoughts were – a science book – I’m a fifth grader and I’m building model cars! I don’t think I ever finished that book – the idea of balance seemed to stick though.
Special thanks to all of our advertisers, contributors and friends – you can never say thank you often enough.
As LocaLeben embarks on its third year, I hope you will join us to celebrate with an Anniversary Party at the Wayland Academy Lindsay Gymnasium. Come to enjoy the music of The Mad Polecats and bid on the original arts and gifts of the silent auction while enjoying some local cuisine as well. I look forward to seeing you there!
LocaLeben Anniversary Party
Saturday, January 11, 2014 | 06:00PM
The 2nd Annual LocaLeben Anniversary Party benefitting BDAAA will be held on January 11th at 6 pm at Wayland Academy Lindsay Gymnasium. It will be an evening of Hors d’oeuv… Read More
Cheers!
