Scene and Heard: Old spelling book conjures up images

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Going through some books one day, I came upon my brother, Rudy’s, spelling book from Union High School. I didn’t know they even had spelling in high school, though it was part dictionary as well. Rudy was 17 at the time and I was 5 months old, according to the date. I can imagine him coming home to study while a yowling baby sister disturbed his efforts. There’s something special conjured up by an old school book – the classroom, the performance, the student – even the teacher, or especially the teacher.

On the Hallmark Channel last week, there was a really touching movie about an Akita dog and his master. It became a real tearjerker, although I’ve seen better performances from Richard Gere. It took both “actors” through their entire life spans and the supporting actors were good too. If it comes around again, I think you’ll like it, though I didn’t get the title.

One thing about getting so old is that you sometimes forget things. I had seen the announcement at the Adventist Church and had planned to go to their piano concert. Getting bogged down in routine, I completely let it slip my mind and so didn’t get there. I could kick myself it I were a better contortionist!

Did I really get excited to see my first snail of the season? Scratch that. They’re all over the place now; in one’s path and squashable, especially the little ones. I have yet to see one of our slugs OD. Things which are always a sign of fall. I can wait.

A call came from Les Morris on Tuesday, announcing the loss of our mutual friend, Bill. He was sick for quite a while, though he had led a full life to his middle 90s. I’d never met him. We corresponded for years because he used to come to Seaside with his grandfather as a child and really loved our town as it used to be and liked to read about it in my column.

I was sorry to lose Diana Schafer too. She was a councilor who spoke for me. I appreciated her long service and felt deprived when she stepped down, not realizing that she was ill. She was my last link to an old Seaside family as well.

I attended her memorial at the Episcopal Church on Saturday, conducted by Fr. David Sweeney. I was barely able to find a seat. Diana’s sister-in-law, wife of her brother, Paul, gave an amazing eulogy, which revealed several things about her, which I didn’t know. We’ll miss her. She was an exemplary lady.

I almost went to Harold Sigurdson’s memorial the same day. Harold’s grandpa was a resident of Ocean Park Nursing Home for several years and Harold often came to visit with his mother. It seems so long ago. Larry Rydman from North Coast Ministries led the service.

Laugh line: Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

(Claire Lovell lives in Seaside and can be reached at (503-738-7215.)

Editor’s note: the movie Claire refers to is “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,” which stars Richard Gere and Joan Allen.