Midwest Memo
Seren-dope-ity
by Alan Shultz

I've known Ritu and Sonjay for over a year now. We met at an open house and I was their agent when they bought the townhouse where they now live. I see them more often these days because they referred me to their neighbor a few doors down. At that neighbor's house I posted a "for sale" sign in the yard a few weeks back.

When I heard that Ritu was expecting their first baby I was thrilled.

Saturday I was showing the neighbor's place and I noticed many ladies headed for Ritu and Sonjay's. The women wore long colorful flowing dresses native to their country. Their promenade past my post made for festive viewing.

It seemed interesting to me that the ladies all parked their cars a ways away from Ritu and Sonjay's home.

Hmmmmmmm.

I was outside when Ritu and Sonjay pulled into their driveway. I yelled a greeting to them and walked over to shake hands with Sonjay.

"If a were a detective," I said as I grasped the father-to-be's hand, "I would guess that there's a ......"

All the ladies reading this who have ever given a surprise party are now yelling:

"Don't say it - no - we've got this far!"

I don't know if Ritu heard me or not as the words "baby shower" fell from my lips.

I did notice that Sonjay's lips did not move much when he replied:

"Well yes, that is what this is."

Open mouth, insert foot.

Lap dance

My wife made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take along in the car the other day.

I can usually position a napkin just right for "auto-eating," but on this particular day I misjudged. Who can argue with the folks in Maine who are about to outlaw eating while driving!

The raspberry jelly hit leather jacket, then grazed the seat belt and landed on my trousers.

I was on Route 12 just outside Gary when this mishap took place. I pulled off into the first driveway available so that I could minimize the damage. As I worked away on the jelly I looked up to note where I was.

So yes, that was me, the only car in the parking lot at the purple and pink "Pandora's Exotic Dancers" establishment at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Go figure.

Time's up

I have tremendous respect for the Habitat for Humanity cause. I corresponded with the parent organization over a period of a year over a bequest that a friend left the organization. The more I learned about Habitat, the more I respected the mission and the passion of the volunteers.

I can't reason then, why I'm annoyed by the big sign on the

house on US 24 in Reynolds

identifying that handsome new house as a Habitat for Humanity venture.

I think it's too big, or it has been there too long. I'm just not sure.

Maybe there's a policy, maybe there's a logic. I would even support the idea of a sign somewhere else announcing that the community is a Habitat for Humanity supporter.

Anyone else care to weigh in on this?

Read it first!

Sometimes the simplicity and brevity of a story written for children is packed with wisdom and lesson and vast space for imagination. Thus is the book by Katherine Paterson entitled "Bridge to Tarabithia."

In this very column I've quoted from the book wisdom I took from the story about change. Years ago I wrote to the author telling her how meaningful her story was to me.

The book has been made into a movie with Hollywood theatrics and special effects.

PLEASE encourage the youngsters in your life to read this beautiful, thoughtful book before seeing the movie.

* * * Happy snow shoveling to all.