Author remembers Camp Fire Days

A look at life in North Bend through the eyes of a local.

Spring is definitely on the horizon. There are pussy willows out along

the river, there are calves in the fields outside of town, and I saw three

robins last week. Another sign is your run into everyone you know at the

hardware store and the garden center, instead of the grocery store and the

post office.

PPP

I spent Thursday night at the Village Theater, watching their

production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” with a group of homeschooled

teenagers from the Valley. Our YA librarian Caryn Sipos organized the

outing. She has a regular Monday meeting for the homeschoolers called Lunch

`n’ Lit. The kids meet, read books they have selected and discuss them

over popcorn. Caryn recently won an award for this program from the

American Library Association. They read the book this past year, and were

interested in seeing it performed. For some of the kids, this was their first taste

of live theater.

It was a good production, although the actress playing Anne was a bit

too perky for my taste. Just a little too upbeat. And it was a surprise to

hear comments that indicated that some in the audience didn’t know how

the story ended. But it was an enjoyable evening, and the kids seemed to

enjoy it as well. I think they will have some interesting discussion topics

for their next meeting.

PPP

I ran into a very good businesswoman last Sunday in QFC.

Actually, it was Sunday the 13th. She was a blond girl in glasses selling Camp

Fire Mints. She had her table set up near the deli, where everyone was

buying Sunday papers and espressos to go.

Why was she such a good businesswoman? On this Sunday

before Valentine’s Day, she had wrapped several boxes of each kind of candy

in red and pink paper, with Valentine Decorations. Ready for gift giving.

I wish I had gotten her name because I am sure she will succeed in

whatever she does in life. That’s good marketing!

I was a Camp Fire girl in my youth, and I sold mints too. They were

bigger mints, and you got more of them, and they only cost a $1 a box. But

that was a long time ago. You also got a sticker inside every box that you

could put on your window. Other kids were supposed to honor the sticker, and

not bother someone who had already purchased mints.

My favorite customer was Mrs. Reese. She always bought

several boxes, usually from every kid who came by. And then she would give

you the mints back to take home. As a diabetic, she couldn’t eat them. But

she always bought whatever the kids were selling. Camp Fire mints, Girl

Scout cookies, Boy Scout magazine subscriptions, or band candy. It

didn’t matter. She was also a great source of free kittens, spare Band-Aids,

and drinks of water on a hot day. And I would like to go on record in

saying she never, ever, ever had to pay to

have her lawn mowed, her weeds pulled, or her leaves raked. It was considered

an honor to do it. We knew a good thing when we had it.

PPP

The First Tuesday Book Group is reading Charlotte Paul this

month. Copies are still available at the library. As you may know, Charlotte Paul

and her husband owned the Valley Record at one time and two of her books

deal with this ownership. “Minding Our Own Business” and “Four To

Grow.” Distinguished local publisher Jim McKiernan will be speaking at

the March 7 meeting on the differences in newspapers from then to now.

PPP

The ladies of the VFW Auxiliary are holding a Blood Drive at

the Mount Si Senior Center on Friday March 5. Why not stop by and

drop off a pint? The life you save may be someone you know. And the

cookies are good too!

PPP

Thought for the Week: I didn’t learn for years that you generally

find your self after you quit looking for

it. _ Peg Bracken.

Please submit items for

North Bend Nuggets to

Pat Simpson at P.O. Box 857,

North Bend, WA 98045,

or by e-mail to patsimps@hotmail.com,

or drop them by the library.