From this Chair...
By Cloann McNall
While clearing off my desk I found a note from former resident Arlene Anderson referring to a New’ year’s resolution I had published several years ago.
In it I resolved to find a
husband who will let me do what I want, when I want to do it with no questions
asked.
Arlene wrote “I thought
here’s a lady who knows what she wants in a husband!! So-o- now that you’re
married does thus still hold?”
Yes, Arlene, my off-the-wall
resolution was fulfilled when I married the Phantom two years ago. I had no
hopes whatsoever that the resolution could ever come true. I wasn’t even
looking.
I refer to him as the Phantom
as after being single for 25 years out of nowhere came this handsome,
sophisticated, intelligent successful man striding into my life. After two years
of getting to know each other we were married two years ago in
Even though we had lived 42
miles apart for years we never knew the other existed until our chance meeting
Dec. 2006 at the Mexican restaurant meeting in Orofino.
It appears, Arlene, dreams
can still come true. Sorta like winning the lottery!
Arlene was one of the first
persons I met when I moved here in 1969. She was working as a psychiatric nurse
at State Hospital North and I joined a county mental association group of which
she was an officer. I recall we met at the
Arlene and I were both young
then. Working wives and mothers. She had four young sons, Chris, John, Scott and
Skip. I had three young daughters, Lynette, Diane and Marcie. Arlene had auburn
hair (natural, I think) and mine was dyed red!
Long ago Arlene moved from
Orofino to
When I attended these meeting
I was looking for a few answers of my own and have learned the answers down
through the years simply by living life.
A few of the things I know
now that I didn’t know then are:
A person should never get
married at age 18 thinking it will last forever because chances are it won’t.
People change with maturity.
A woman should never try to
take care of someone else until she learns to take care of herself.
She needs to get her
education and career before becoming Mrs. Anybody.
Base your behavior on logic
not emotions. Emotions change. Logic doesn’t.
Try to stay humble. According
to the Good Book pride goes before a fall.
Live your life according to the Ten
Commandments, which are there to keep a person safe not spoil their fun.
Remember the Golden Rule. Do
unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Try to have at least one
amazing daughter, three is even better!
I’m sure Arlene and persons
reading this column could add a few thought of their own to this list. Things
they’ve learned along life’s rocky journey.
Quote: Knowledge becomes wisdom only
after it has been put to practical use.