Our hearts go out to the people in north east Iowa who have had to battle high water during the recent rains. Remember 1993 when we got all the rains.

Many graduation parties are in progress. Now days, they go all over for these parties. We made it to five.

People who keep stiff upper lips find it hard to smile.

Two Boll Weevils grew up in South Carolina. One went to Hollywood and became a famous actor, while the other stayed behind in the cotton field and never amounted to much. The second one became known as the lesser of two Weevils.

The word for the week - desiccate. It means to dry thoroughly. Such as the desiccated fruit for the use in a fruit cake. Do you desiccate the dishes for your wife, or dry the laundry the same way. It’s a word hardly ever mentioned.

Congratulations to Merle D. Miller on his recent accomplishments. It’s great to see people succeed in their jobs.

Jesse Settles was the guest speaker at the Father-Son banquet at the Kalona Mennonite Church. From several reports, they said he was a good speaker. He says he is getting married in early June.

The answer to last weeks puzzle— what Paul has behind and Luke before, etc.— is the letter “L.” Go back and see if it fits. Alvin Stoltzfus was to first of many to call me to give the answer.

I was talking to Brandon Escher the other day, who is my great nephew. He was getting a kite ready to go outside and put it up in the wind.

Brandon is 12 years old, in 6th grade and has been hospitalized several times since his birth. This in due to a heart condition. When he plays, he gets tired easily.

In school, he used a wheel chair for quite some time, but several weeks ago, he got tri-cart or scooter he uses. He bought this in Wyoming, Iowa.

In school, he is in the band and plays the drums. He has been a Boy Scout. His favorite studies are science, social studies, and reading. His hobbies are building models such as airplanes, trucks or cars , and riding a four-wheeler. He also enjoys the computer, going fishing and hunting.

Tony Keifer is a close friend. Brandon does some baking— cookies and apple crisp with a little help from Beth. He does enjoys going to Coralridge Mall and shopping in Scheels Sports store. He is a Hawkeye football fan first, and Hawkeye basketball second. Pizza is his favorite food.

Brandon gave a good interview and tells me the family is going to Florida on a vacation. He does not pity himself, but at times he may be limited. All in all, it was fun to see all the enthusiasm he portrayed.