Random Thoughts

5/18/03

By Paulette Tobin

Random thoughts are the only kind of thoughts I have time for in May. So here goes.

Why are there so many things about computers that seem specifically designed to make me crazy? For instance: My internet service provider, because of some business changes, required me to change my e-mail address. Then we bought a new computer with an "upgraded" Netscape program for sending and receiving e-mail. Why do they call it an upgrade when it is harder to use than the old system? Then, my bank changed its Web site, so now I can no longer find the page where I went to read which of my checks had cleared. Despite all this, I still receive TONS of e-mail offering me free porn, help to enlarge my penis, lose weight and get out debt, as well as messages from friendly Nigerians who want to give me hundreds of thousands of dollars -- if I will first send them the name of my bank and my bank account number.

Today I went to my first graduation open house of the season. In church this morning we honored the graduates. Pastor Jennie gave a wonderful message, taken from the scripture about Jesus the vine and his people the branches, telling the graduates that where ever they went, they would remain connected to God and to their church, just as the vine was connected to the branches. Then she had all the graduates kneel for a blessing at the communion rail, and asked all the little children, who had been up front to sing, to put their hands on the graduates' heads during the blessing. It was a very fine moment. And why do I still need two hankies for honor-the-graduate moments when I don't even have a graduate this year?

Last week our daughter Emily learned she won a $500 English department scholarship from UND. Three days ago the headline in the Grand Forks Herald said: "UND raises in-state tuition by $500."

I made a quick trip to Eureka for Mother's Day where I ran into several classmates, including Gary Krein, Elaine Spitzer and Cindy (Neuharth) Hofland. Cindy, who lives in Veblen, S.D., was in town for some family stuff, including a baby shower for one of her nieces. Cindy had just returned from Denver, where she helped chaperone the senior class trip. She's done a lot of those trips, and she said this was the best ever. It also will be the last one for Veblen High School, as the school is closing this year. Next year Cindy will be back teaching at Sisseton, where she started her teaching career. It's always sad to hear about school closing, but they are a fact of life all around North Dakota and South Dakota these days.

The registrations for our class reunion are still coming, slowly but surely. Remember to RSVP whether you are coming or not, and don't forget to include a little note about what you are doing these days, so we can put it in a class booklet which we'll hand out at the reunion Saturday night, July 12. I'm taking vacation to be in Eureka from about July 3 to July 14. I already have an engagement party, a family reunion and a class reunion to attend during that time. Sounds like it's going to be another vacation where, at the end of it, I go back to work exhausted.

It's been a beautiful spring here. There are trees and bushes blooming that I've never seen bloom before. The air smells so sweet, like lilacs and apple blossoms and spirea all mixed together. The other night I sat outside, drinking a Michelob and watching the sun set. The following evening we gathered outside to watch an eclipse of the moon. These are good days, but the mosquitoes will be here soon.

(Paulette Haupt Tobin graduated from EHS in 1973 and now lives in Grand Forks, N.D.)