The very first “From the Round Oak Table” ever:

 

November 21, 1974

I have a new appreciation for anyone who has ever built a new house and must make all the endless decisions about all the paraphanelia [sic] that goes into a project of this magnitude.

We are redecorating one room – the kitchen.  Just about the time I think I’ve said all that there is to be said on the subject and made all the decisions necessary, the contractor brings up just one more point.  In the past few weeks, I’ve seen the insides of more wholesale and retail establishments then I ever dreamed existed.  And I’m not done yet.  I still have to find the right hinges and knobs to go on the cupboards.  This experience renews my resolution that my next home is going to be a Quonset hut, partitioned by curtains, that I can hose down each week to get rid of the grime and junk.

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Took three of my kids to see "Benji" this week.  It is a good show… very definitely one of the flicks that all the "anti-porno" advocates are asking for. As I sat enjoying this touching story of a dog's love, I wondered why the theatre built for so many was only one-fifth filled. Why don't the people who yell about an X-rated film, yell louder about a movie like “Benji” so the theatre will really be filled.  Only when movies of this type are supported, will they be produced on a regular basis.

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A friend of mine helped take a census of Altoona. Being the loving person she is, she not only took the census, but took the time to spend a few extra minutes visiting with people who seemed to need her presence. Result: She told the two gals she prays with each week about some of these people and they are now planning to visit some of the elderly in Altoona and Mitchellville on a regular basis.  Do you know someone in your neighborhood or community that would appreciate a visit from you?

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Before we buy another car in this household, we will talk to the mechanic who maintains the car.  More and more I am finding out that the salesman is only told the good features of a car… never the bad; therefore he cannot be objective.  The manufacturer of the car I drive is no longer making it in ’75 because of the bugs it has and their inability to get rid of them.  Ugh!!!!! In ’72 when we bought it, the sales man was enthusiastic, but the mechanic hesitant.

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Several people in Beaver Township were unable to vote in the November 5 election because of a rigid enforcement of a portion of the voter registration law.  It is sad that the instruction to the judges and clerks allowed no leeway.  Many people who had lived in Mitchellville all their lives were denied the right to vote by the election board because they had moved in the precinct since the last election.  The purpose of the portion of the law requiring voters to report changes of address is to prevent fraud… not deny a citizen his vote.

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Reminisced this week with Mrs. Hibbs of the YWCA (on of Dog Ragan’s daughters) about many of you.  She is a lovely lady.  She still gets the local paper and so keeps up on many of the local doings.  She told me about the first winter they lived in Mitchellville.  Said her dad was going to school and her mom was busy nursing the three kids who had whooping cough.  She remembers really being sick. Isn’t it great to know that in this day and age we can inoculate [sic] our children against whooping cough?

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We had our first snowfall of significance.  It looks so beautiful in the early morning or late at night.  But I always remember the year we were carrying papers and then it didn’t look good at any hour.  And I think of the school bus drivers who must have those yellow monsters on the road in the nastiest of weather conditions. And I think of the service station operators who get calls to start cards or pull them out of ditches. As the really bad time of year approaches, weather-wise, use caution and sense as you are on the road. And if you are lucky enough to be at home, say an extra prayer for all those who have to be out… especially those serving you.

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A sympathy award goes to Dr. Ellen of our community who broke her leg recently. She is doing just great and has her own cast now, after spending three days on her living room sofa waiting for the swelling to go down with her daughter’s used cast and an elastic bandage wrapped around her leg.

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The RAMPAGE from SEP that appears in our paper is quite well done.  Worthy of being read, with Chuck Platter of our community doing some good articles. Also notice that he is not afraid of getting into hot water.

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If you’ve ever been involved in a heated argument, you will appreciate this joke:  A motorist and his wife had gotten into a violent argument and neither would change his or her side.  They had not spoken for miles when the husband pointed to a mule in a pasture and asked, “Relative of yours?”  “Yes,” she replied, “by marriage.”

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Keep America beautiful… Smile.