February 28

February 28.

Tell about other pets you had.

When I was perhaps 15 years old I
trained a pony for Arlin & Dwayne Plender.
She was Indian color white & brown. I went
on a run away 3 times up the road to the
East. After he got tired he'd stop. Finally
we put a jaw breaker bridle on her then
I could stop her runaways.

February 27

February 27.

Tell about the best pet you ever had.

I had perhaps 3 or 4 German Shepards - 
female dogs. They all were named Ginger.
This one Ginger was half grown when we
got her. She was scared of me so I could not
touch her at all. Until the whole family was on
the lawn and playing with each other and Ginger. It
happened that Ginger ran into me so I got to
pet her and from then on she was my dog only.
The rest of the family she wouldn't go to.
I trained her to chase cattle & hogs. But she
died of Pardo rabies a disease hogs had. 

February 26

February 26.

Tell about a favorite restaurant or public place where you and your friends liked to gather.

We had a restraunt in
OC called the Corner Cafe. Good
hamburgers & malts. Also a cafe in Sioux
Center called "Joes" very thick malts.

February 25

February 25.

Did you and your friends ever have a secret hide-out?

Yes, Rod Jiskoot and I had
a hide-out at the end of our driveway
in a clump of trees. We were neighbors
living half a quarter mile from each other.

February 24

February 24.

Tell about a great victory or personal success story from your school days.

I felt honored to be the boy
chosen to be the head usher for the
senior class, along with Lorraine Vanden Bosch
We were Jrs at the time.

February 23

February 23.

What is the biggest problem you remember having in Sr. High school?

I could drive the car but I still
had to take the Bus to school.
And gas was only .29 a gallon.

February 22

February 22.

What is the biggest problem you remember having in Jr. High school?

The high schoolers were
bigger than us.

February 21

February 21.

What is the biggest problem you remember having in Grade School?

We had two classes in
the same room which made it
hard to concentrat.

February 20

February 20.

What do you remember as your least favorite school subject?

Chemistry - too much to
remember.

February 19

February 19.

What do you remember as your favorite subject in school?

Typing class, one subject
I still use, all the other
subjects gone useless

(This is so close to being a haiku. So close, so poignant.) 

February 18

February 18.

Tell about family reunions in your childhood.

The Plender side had
family reunions. There would be at
least 7 uncles & aunts also some
40 cousins. The family grew each year
as cousins married and started having kids.
Only one Aunt & Uncle got a D*. That was
Aunt Bernice who later married Ray Faber.

*Divorce

February 17

February 17.

What was your favorite meal as a child?

Pork chop with white gravy
on bread

February 16

February 16.

Tell about your first kiss.

When I brought this date to
her door we were in the hallways of
her house. She put the light off just
before we kissed. I missed her lips
and planted a kiss on her chin.
No second date or kiss with this
person again.

February 15

February 15.

Tell about your first date.

The first date with your Grandma
Ardean was so-so. She used 
a skin cream Noxima which gave me a
headache. After I explained the effect it
had on me she discontinue using it,
then I knew she loved me.
 

February 14

February 14.

Tell about a special valentine  you once received.

A card.

February 13

Tell about a special valentine you once gave.

A loving card to my love
Ardean

February 12

February 12.

Tell about the Valentine Day festivities at your school.

Didn't have any.

February 11

February 11.

Who was your first girlfriend?

There was a Judy, a Laura,
a Jan, a Marla, a Ardean best of all. 

February 10

February 10.

Tell about your first favorite television shows.

Jack Benny, George Burns
Ernie Ford, Hee Haw
Lawrence Welk, Billy Graham Crusades 

February 9

February 9.

Tell about a big lie you told.

I told somebody I liked
coffee because I was at her
home. Just to be socialable.

February 8

 February 8.

Tell about another influential person in your life.

Bill Schalekamp.

He was my SS teacher when I was
a senior in High School. When I
started farming he was my feed dealer. He sold
Wayne feeds for my cows & hogs. I also worked
for him in the hatchery and didn't charge me
interest when I couldn't pay the feed bill till I
sold the hogs. 

February 7

February 7.

Tell about someone who had a big influence on your life.

Rev Henry Colenbrander
He was my pastor from my
birth till he retired when I was
21 years old. He was pastor in FRC
OC for 33 yrs. He did all the preaching,
teaching catechism, visit sick & shutins.
Convinced many young men to go
into the ministry,

February 6

February 6.

Who was the most famous person you ever met as a child?

Rev. Henry Colenbrander

see below. -

February 5

February 5.

How did you first smash a finger?

Frist finger with a hammer
missing the nail. Got my long
finger in a machine while at
19 yrs old I worked at Silent
Sioux in OC. The building they were
in is now Rowenhorst Student Center.

February 4

February 4.

What have been some of your very favorite movies?

Sound of Music, Secriterriant*,
 Fire-proof - Shrek

*Secretariat

February 3

February 3.

Do you remember the first movie you ever saw and who starred in it?

I don't go to very many
movies, the last good one saw
was Courageous

February 2

February 2.

Tell of someone you envied, and why.

I envy great speakers
because they're usually intelligent and
the words flow from their mouth.

February 1

February 1.

What extras did you use for your snowman's face, buttons, arms, hat, etc?

Yes - buttons for eyes, a jacket
& a JD. cap. also
a candy cane