The Reindeer Keeper

Most every Saturday night when growing up in the country, my cousin and I slept over at our grandmother's house. One of our aunt's lived there too. Lucky for us, she never married. On those Saturday nights, cushions were removed from the sofa in the living room so we could pull our bed out. It might as well have been a sleepover at the Waldorf Astoria. We felt like royalty on that sofa in our flannel nightgowns covered in warm blankets with puffy pillows. It was the perfect night for a sleep over because it was the best night for TV watching-starting with The Lawrence Welk Show. Our grandmother and aunt loved that show and to be honest, so did we-from the Lennon Sisters to Myron Florin, Bobby Burgess to the Champagne Lady herself, Alice Lon. But that was just a warm-up to the main event of the evening-Gunsmoke. I can still hear Marshal Matt Dillon's spurs as he made his way along the boardwalk to the Long Branch Saloon to see Miss Kitty. I always thought Matt and Miss Kit

      Years ago Chubby Checker was part of the entertainment lineup for an annual July event held in my hometown. For those of us of a certain age that was monumental. Most of us bought his 45s. Most everyone could do the Twist-not as good as Chubby Checker but it didn't matter. Way back when there were two high schools in our community. The one now torn down used to hold great school dances and the Twist would get everyone on the dance floor. We'd twist the night away! I worked on the committee organizing that July event along with my friend, Elaine. We were more than excited when that night rolled around. Because my friend was beyond organized whatever the occasion, we were the first ones at the hall where Chubby would be performing. And because of her, we were the first ones to spot his bus. How exciting! We were going to meet Chubby Checker. And we did! Because of Elaine, we were the first ones he and his entourage met. Beyond exciting! Chubby was a huge presence. Ve

When my oldest child was 3 or 4 years old we'd play Old Maid all the time. Usually my younger brother played along with us. It was always a fun time-full of laughs and jokes-until it got down to less and less cards held in each hand. That's when it became very quiet as the maneuvering and shifting of cards became the game instead of the game itself. All eyes would be on the backs of those cards and how each card was positioned and how each player played the waiting game. That was usually when my daughter blew it-especially if she was the one holding the Old Maid. And if she was the one holding that most unwanted card, she made it obvious by sticking it in the middle of her cards and holding it way above the rest. Of course she was only a little girl but she repeated this strategy every time-and every single time she'd end up with that horrid card and every single time she'd throw whatever cards she had left and go screaming to her room. Funny thing though-she'd alw