THE CROW’S
NEST-------------------APRIL
22, 2005
The “hole in my heart” just
keeps getting bigger and
bigger. We have lost so
many dear friends and family
since Thanksgiving. Mom
went “home” to be with dad
in November. Recently Lloyd
Gire passed away. Growing
up we used to go to the
lakes in Bemidji every
summer with the Gire
family. Cliff Hilde
succumbed to pneumonia and
cancer a couple of weeks
ago. Cliff not only was a
good friend, but a dear
relative. (Both of our
great-grand parents survived
an avalanche in Stryn,
Norway before coming to the
United States.) The last
blow was the death of our
dear, dear friend Marvin
Ulberg this past week. I
remember when we first moved
back to Edinburg and decided
to build a home. Marvin was
not very excited about the
location as it blocked his
view of Trinity Church. It
didn’t take long until he
told us he was glad we lived
across the street from him.
I hold dear all the fond
memories of Marvin’s onion
rings for me and his
home-made clam chowder for
Chuck. Many a summer
afternoon was spent on our
deck with Marvin, Effie, mom
and dad shelling peas from
our garden. Dad would tell
me over and over again that
he and Marvin had been
friends for over 60 years
and never had an argument.
These last few days have
been so bittersweet sharing
memories with Effie, Diane,
Ron, Sandi and their
children. Tonight I look
across the street again and
there is NO light on in the
window of the Ulberg home.
Life changes so fast.
Life is spectacular. We
mourn the loss of loved ones
gone, but rejoice in the new
life that is to be.
Excitement abounds in our
family as John and Christina
Monson are expecting a
baby! The whole Monson
family is thrilled as our
dad, Denis really emphasized
to John about keeping the
“Monson” name alive.
Congratulations John, you
have done your part!! This
means brother David and
Loretta will be
grandparents.
Speaking of brother, Dave,
he is like none other.
David is known around
Edinburg as the guy who
always misplaces
everything. When David
smoked a corncob pipe he
would “stick it” in unusual
places (like between the
bricks in the old bank
building) and then wonder
what happened to his pipe.
Finally he quit smoking.
Next were his eye glasses.
I don’t think I am
exaggerating at all when I
say David loses about 6
pairs a year. Well, Dave
was recently in Washington,
DC for meetings. To preface
this, Ruth, David and myself
have the Monson farm up for
sale. I needed to talk with
David about a possibility.
I called his cell phone. A
guy named Robert answered.
Long story short: Dave had
left his cell phone in the
cab on the way to the
airport. Robert, the taxi
driver, said he had answered
lots of phone calls for
Dave. Leave it to David!
Dave got his phone back and
everything is well.
I just got home from
Minot. I spent the last few
days there with 2 of my
grandkids while their
parents were in Las Vegas.
I so enjoy the drive from
Minot to Edinburg. I drive
Highway 17 all the way to
Rugby. There never is any
traffic. I especially love
the landscape around
Wolford. It is quite hilly
with lots of water ponds
along the road. I had taken
a loaf of Ruthie’s homemade
brown bread left from the
turkey supper last
Wednesday. I didn’t eat the
whole loaf so I packed it up
to bring back with me. When
I got to Wolford I noticed
lots of ducks sitting on one
of the ponds. I stopped and
fed them the rest of
Ruthie’s brown bread. I can
just hear those ducks
telling their relatives
about that wonderful
homemade bread they had for
dessert Monday afternoon.
It seems everyone has been
enjoying the unseasonably
warm and wonderful weather
by cleaning their yards of
winter’s blanket. I could
tell many yards had been
mowed. After our nice rain
last week the yards have
gotten so green. What a
wonderful time of the year!
We leave this weekend for
Ireland.
I know I will have many
things to write about when
we return. I will “kiss”
the Blarney Stone to receive
the gift of eloquence, and
try to bring a leprechaun
home in my luggage. Have a
good day.
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APRIL 22, 2005
