Following is one week in the life of an Octogenarian and his CEO spouse (referred to as: both, her, she, he, they, them, or their).
Monday, Nov. 19: They enter the dining room of the Palace Hotel in Cass Lake, MN for breakfast. Two men are standing with no sign of an employee. The one guy says to them, “They are closed because of salmonella.”
A waitress appears and says, “We’re short-staffed this morning. Sit where you want to and I’ll take your order.”
They order and the breakfast is very good. They ask for the check and the waitress says, “He paid for it,” pointing to the guy that mentioned salmonella. They leave, bewildered, as the guy waves and says “Goodbye.” As they leave, the waitress lets them know the guy is president of the Local Liar’s Club.
Back to their room, they do some packing and he takes her to Bible Study and crafts at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cass Lake. He returns to the motel, finishes packing the car, checks out, and returns to Trinity for coffee and rolls prior to them leaving at 11:30 a.m.
On the road, after bumper-to-bumper traffic around Minneapolis, they arrive in Albert Lea in time for the free pie on Monday at Perkins before going to their house in Albert Lea and unloading the car.
Tuesday, Nov. 20: Sort mail, make telephone calls, do laundry, and catch up after being gone for 19 days.
Wednesday, Nov. 21: She goes to get haircut by Ellie; he goes to Clear Lake to get items for “Christmas by the Lake” bus trip. She goes to coffee with other CEOs; both go to Thanksgiving church service at East Freeborn Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea.
Thursday, Nov. 22: Both volunteer to help serve Thanksgiving dinner at Alstad in Albert Lea.
Friday, Nov. 23: She goes to show off her new haircut with other CEOs. Both go to Milo Madson remembrance at Bonnerup’s in Albert Lea.
Saturday, Nov. 24: Both go to four-year-old grandniece Allie Grace Hanson’s birthday party at El Molino restaurant in Waseca. Once again the food is excellent, the service is great, and the quartet in tune as they sing “Happy Birthday” with a sombrero to Allie Grace for her pictures. The fried ice cream dessert is a must when you’re in Waseca. (The quartet needs a little help to speak with a Norwegian brogue while the food and service are top shelf.)
Both enjoy a duck Thanksgiving evening dinner at home. (The leftovers lasted longer than the meal.) Many thanks are given.
Sunday, Nov. 25: Both go to Sunday church service at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea. Chelsey Johnson gives the sermon as information about her year in Cambodia through the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Chelsey is an easy-to-follow recent college graduate, a “speaks-to-you-not-at-you” and “doesn’t-just-stand-there-reading-notes” kind of young lady. She does an excellent job of being at ease while speaking. On the way back to Albert Lea they see three adult bald eagles and one juvenile enjoying a feast of road kill raccoon as part of an eagle Thanksgiving dinner.
At 2 p.m. Chelsey gives a presentation in the Fellowship Hall at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. This is more of a slide presentation with audience response. The Octogenarian and his CEO serve the coffee, pop, cookies and Cambodian candy.
It is observed that not only parents, but also grandparents (Gene and Diane Wangen) are beaming with pride after Chelsey’s presentation. Have you figured out who the Octogenarian and his CEO are who enjoyed their Thanksgiving week?
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.