California girls invited to join Ramona bunch for breakfast
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
I set my alarm for the occasion, it was that important, and extracted myself from the cozy pleasure of my down comforter at what seemed like daybreak (it actually was 7 a.m.), pulled on my workout clothes for yoga, and by 8 was dressed and applying my brightest lipstick so I'd look perky.
Come 8:45, Pat and I were at the Bura house to pick up Miriam Riddle, then on our way to Tampa to join the weekly gathering of Ramona ladies who convene at Butch's Diner for coffee, a roll, and some titillating conversation. In the weeks that the Ramona ladies have been gathering at Butch's, this was the first time Pat and I have been able to join them.
We were the first ones to arrive at Butch's so, like pioneers settling the frontier, we claimed the big round table in the back and decided to splurge and order a complete breakfast. Miriam really celebrated by adding sausage to her eggs, hash browns, and toast.
"So where is everybody?" we asked Marvin Meisinger, owner of Butch's, when he delivered our breakfasts. It wasn't like we were bored — between Pat, Miriam, and me, we still had to raise hands to get a word in edgewise. But the big round table did look terribly bleak with just three of us sitting there.
Marvin looked at his watch. "Well, you're 30 minutes early. The Ramona ladies don't arrive until 9:30."
The three of us were well into our breakfasts when the rest of the group showed up. When I told them that I thought they met at 9, Yvonne Brunner quickly explained. "We do meet at 9," she said. "That's when we meet in Ramona. Then we drive together to Tampa."
The table soon was bustling with several conversations at once. The circle included Orvell Brunner, Yvonne Brunner, Betty Ohm, Paula Fike, Marge Hanschu, Treva Schneider, Gertie Schubert, Miriam Riddle from Texas, Pat, and me.
It was an exciting bunch — we stayed at that table until close to 11 and some of us contemplated staying for lunch. Conversations ranged from fun and friendly gossip, to sharing recipes or stories about one's family.
"Don't your kids just amaze you?" queried Marge Hanschu as she embarked on talking about her family. "My kids never cease to amaze me. When they were little they tried new things and accomplished so much in school and now that they're grown with families of their own, they still do all these wonderful things."
"Like my youngest grandson, David. He's one of Daniel's four children and they're all musically gifted," said Marge. She went on to tell how David tried out for State Honor Choir at the Neosho, Mo., high school. "He made it and he's just a freshman." Then he tried out for National Honor Choir and made that, too. "In February they're going to New York to sing in concert with other outstanding students from around the nation," said Marge with justifiable pride.
Marge said she and Lowell are leaving on Tuesday for Joplin, Mo., to be with son Daniel, daughter Martha, and their families on Thanksgiving.
Betty and Harold Ohm took off on Tuesday, too, for the Kansas City area where they'll be celebrating Thanksgiving AND Christmas with their children. "Well, we have Thanksgiving on Thursday," explained Betty, "and then on Saturday we celebrate Christmas since we're all together already." This year the celebrations will take place at the home of daughter Brenda and husband Steve Heuton in Platte City.
So what are your traditions at Thanksgiving, I asked the ladies of the coffee klatch. I figured while I had them around the table it would be an easy way to collect news.
"Some hunters bring sweet potatoes from Louisiana every year. I'm in charge of fixing that," said Yvonne Brunner. "I fix a six-layered Jell-O salad," said Orvell Brunner. "Oh, it's wonderful," added Yvonne. "The kids really love it."
I was so intrigued by this Jell-O extravaganza that I had to call and get the recipe from Orvell. "It takes some time to make because each of the six layers has to set before you add another one," said Orvell as she gave directions. "Well," I thought, "since the recipe takes patience, I'll probably be the one to make it." My sister isn't long on patience — she likes recipes you can whip together in 15 minutes or less.
The Brunners are having their Thanksgiving on Friday this year. "Well, Mark's daughter Chelsea couldn't be here until Friday, so that cinched it," said Orvell.
The Ramona Senior Center was bustling with activity Nov. 20 as 44 folks gathered for an early Thanksgiving supper. After the meal, the following new officers were elected: Norma Bird, president; Marlene Anduss, vice president; Evelyn Strecker, secretary-treasurer; Paul Jones and Larry Rudolph, directors; with past president Kim Antoszyk as member-at-large.
Noreen Weems, director for Marion County Department for Elderly, who has roots in Ramona, thanked Kim Antoszyk for serving as Ramona Senior Center president, especially in light of her other roles as a working mom. She presented a certificate of thanks to Kim.
Incoming president Norma Bird also presented a gift of thanks to Ramona Mayor Connie Smith. "Norma gave me a plant in thanks for my support of the senior center," said Connie. "It really touched my heart!" Connie was on hand to help serve dinner, but couldn't stay for the entire evening because she wasn't feeling well.
Mark your calendar for the next party at the Ramona Senior Center — Thursday, Dec. 19, at noon will be the annual Christmas party. "During the winter the monthly meetings will take place at noon so people aren't having to get out at night," said Norma Bird.
For the Christmas party, folks are invited to bring food and donations are appreciated. The donations help cover the utilities and insurance for the center. "If you wish to participate in gift exchange, bring a $5 gift," said Evelyn Strecker. "There'll be Bingo, too."
The Ladies Aid of Trinity Lutheran Church brightened the afternoon last Friday for residents of the Lutheran Home in Herington. "Once a year we put on a birthday party for those having a birthday in November," explained Orvell Brunner. "It's everything but a clown," teased Treva Schneider.
"We play Bingo," added Gertie Schubert. "There's prizes, cookies, and punch, too," said Paula Fike. Other Ramona ladies helping with the event were Marge Hanschu and Yvonne Brunner.
The Ehrhardts had company this weekend. Leonard and LuElla Bartel from Marion came for a Sunday afternoon visit. The Bartels and Ehrhardts got acquainted nearly 60 years ago, when both couples attended the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Durham.
Warren and Paula Fike had visitors too over the weekend. Their son Dennis with his sons Derek and Nolan were in Ramona and went hunting. Paula also was seen at the Saturday night performance of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," presented by the Centre High School Drama Club. Pat, Tooltime Tim, and I also went to see the play, which featured kids from Ramona.
Raschelle Jirak, daughter of Steve and Jackie, and a junior at Centre High School, was perfectly cast as Lucy, the know-it-all lass from the famous Peanuts cartoon.
Especially charming was the scene called "Little Known Facts" where Lucy teaches Linus some of life's little known facts about nature, like fir trees are where we get fur.
Amanda Kleiber, daughter of Lynn and Peggy, played Sally, who did a lot of skipping across stage with her pig tails bouncing.
"What was your favorite scene in the play?" I asked. "When I got to tell Lucy that she was crabby," said Amanda. It was indeed funny, for as Amanda (Sally) explained to Raschelle (Lucy) that she needed to improve her disposition, Raschelle's face looked like the Kansas sky when the thunder storm clouds roll in.
"That was my favorite scene, too," said Raschelle. "I got to scream and let it all out. It was fun!"
Amanda also is a junior at Centre and has been in five plays. "This play was especially fun because it was less rigid than most. The script left it loose so we got to come up with a lot on our own; we could decide how our character could act."
Amanda's sister Andrea, a sophomore at Centre High School, was stage manager for the production. "This was my first time as stage manager," said Andrea. "It was great that I didn't have to memorize any lines, but being a stage manager is quite stressful."
I learned that a stage manager prompts the actors when they forget their lines, opens and closes curtains, and instructs when lights go up and down.
Other Ramona high school kids involved in the production were Nichole Ryff, who did lights, and Jennifer McCafferty and Rebecca Brooks, who were ushers.
It's Christmas in the air. Paul Jones was out bright and early Saturday to hang the Christmas wreaths on the light poles. Then Mayor Connie Smith, Pat, Tooltime Tim, and I set out to decorate the town tree.
"I don't want to do this another year," I moaned as I perched high up in the tractor bucket trying to remove old lights from the tree. "I'm losing my Christmas spirit fast," said I, afraid of heights.
To cheer on the decorating team, Betty Ohm came by with a plate of cookies. The encouragement kept us hanging lights until dark. And Norma and Don Bird's granddaughter Katrina, who used to live here in town, wandered over to help untangle strings of lights. Her relatives were across the street starting the decorating at Norma's Attic Antiques.
Reign Anduss spent the afternoon applying a new yellow coat of paint on the Ramona Cafe. Yep, things are getting spiffed up just in time for the holidays!
Norma and Don Bird are going to Kechi for Thanksgiving. "Rachel and Jay (Fenskey) have a new home and it's their first big meal," said Norma. "Rachel keeps calling and asking, 'How much will this make?' " laughed Norma. "They all call me because I've been the cook in the family."
"Would you be interested in having the old Ramona switchboard?" asked Bill Novak of Lost Springs. Bill had heard that Pat and I had started the Dirt Gambler's Museum in Ramona and decided to make a contribution.
"Lee Remy saw the old switchboard at one of his sales," explained Bill. "He bought it and said that if I stored it, we'd eventually sell it and split the profit. But when we heard you'd started a museum, we decided you should have it."
So on Friday, Pat and I arrived at Bill's barn to load up the dusty old treasure. The minute I saw the Stromberg-Carlson switchboard I had to put on the headpiece and "plug in a few wires." I've always had a thing for old switchboards.
"Give me a ring when you get it all hooked up," hollered Bill as he waved good-bye.
And that's the news from Ramona where we don't have party lines anymore, but a traffic jam is still two parked cars and a dog in the road.
Future Events in Ramona:
Saturday, December 21 —
Santa comes for lunch, noon. A hamburger luncheon at the Senior Center (sponsored by the Ramona Improvement Committee, California Sisters' Bed & Breakfast, and the City of Ramona) for Ramona kids 12 and under and their parents.
CollinBelt Railroad Open House, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Collin Bailey opens his home (red house at the corner of 4th and D) for tours of his train display which travels from room to room. He's preparing special winter scenes and opening the last room in the upstairs of his home, which depicts the town of Ramona. Also new is a train trestle that spans the stairwell. A great treat for kids!
View the Festival of Lights at Dark where downtown Ramona and houses in town light up for the holidays.
Oh, Holy Night!, 7-7:45 p.m. Traditional nativity scene enacted by the kids in the Ramona area with local musicians adding the sparkle of music. This is a community event being held at the Trinity Lutheran Church at 4th and E, and sponsored by Ramona Festivities.
Refreshments, 6-7 p.m. and 8-9 p.m. Reign and Marlene Anduss offer Marlene's famous pies and coffee at the Ramona Cafe. This is a fundraiser for Ramona Festivities. Donations accepted.
Come share your holiday cheer in Ramona on Dec. 21!
