That Dad Of Mine!

(While the following may seem mere hero worship, you should note several bits of youthful wisdom in it. Karen attacks current cliches about youth. Her father is frequently absent from home. He demands, and apparently gets, obedience.—Editor)

"That Dad of Mine" ,,
Hi! I'm Karen — eldest daughter of the above. Dad has given me permission to write this article for him. Therefore, I am going to take this opportunity to crow over a favorite relative of mine—Edwin B. Petersen.

The thing I admire most about Dad is how much he has accomplished with as little an education. Oh, yes, he did spend a year at Dana college. There he learned how to flood bathrooms to make swimming pools, find watermelons, and flirt with the girls—all of which must have prepared him for a future of great responsibility! However, for the most part Dad has gained
an education on his own.

As you probably know, Dad is an excellent farmer. Being the oldest son of a hard working homesteader, he gained his first lessons by following example. Then in college he majored in agriculture. The next step was practical application.

Like anyone else, he made a lot of mistakes in his first years of farming, but he learned from his mistakes. Also, he looked at the mistakes and abilities of other farmers. Later on he became active in Farm Bureau and local agricultural committees. They added the latest facts and figures he needed on how to make farming profitable. When Dad showed a real interest in new farming set-ups, the agriculturists worked all the more closely with him.

On our 280-acre pig farm, Dad is still learning something new every day. Three summers ago he found that eldest daughters make for very poor hired men. Today ha found a new antiseptic to cut down on disease hazards.

Last night we went out to the farrowing barn to do chores. As we entered we stepped into a pan of antiseptic. Dad explained that the sows were brought in to farrow. A heater in the back kept the barn at 50 degrees while lamps keep the chill off the litters.

The newborns had their ears notched for future reference and their teeth clipped. Their navels were touched with iodine to reduce infection. Chores didn't take much effort nor time because of the efficient set-up. Perfect records are kept of these litters.

Politics, church and civil affairs have always got a great contribution from Dad. There never seems to be a breather for him. He's always attending a political meeting or something else just as important. Right now he is "President Petersen" twice over. He always holds a position in our church. He is willing to extend a helping hand when he sees need. Dad has given a great deal of service to both God and man. More people than he knows love and respect him.

All these and many other virtues does he have, but the position I like him in best is what is called "Father". Here he excells by demanding obedience and respect while giving an abundance of love. That's my Dad.

Just Short Hops, These

HELLO FOLKS — "That's what I hate about these locals," complained one jet passenger to another. "We've stopped at Chicago, Minneapolis and now Salt Lake City." When a girl starts counting on a guy it only means that his number is up.

—o—

My wife is on real friendly terms with several fairly handsome males. Calls them her boy friends and they seem to feel the same way about her. One big "Stand - up and - bawl - for- mush' even goes so far as to say that he likes to kiss her because her lip stick tastes good.

I am not the jealous kind or I might not stand for it, but I do have a solution. I figure that what is good for the goose is good for One gander. So — I have a few choice gal friends too. Let me tell you about some of them, I won't give their names, for that would be telling.

There is one who is a real beauty. She is graceful as she is shy. Her kisses are divine and she is pretty generous with them.

She has a good friend who I am on good terms with too. She has a perfect figure and loves for me to put my hands around her waist so I can tell her how slim her middle is. Also is proud of her muscles and wants me to feel them.

One other that I must tell you about is a real petite blonde. She has natural curly hair and is a real joy to be around as she always has something to have fun over. She is seldom unhappy and loves to tease.

As you may have guessed by now they are all our children. They all love to tease and are all very lovable.

Census Bureau Must Know

HELLO FOLKS — It's time to take the farm census and the enumerators are out doing their job. There are a lot of questions that might seem of no value to anyone but I suppose they do make sense to the Census Bureau.

—o—

BEFORE HALLOWEEN is too far past, let's think a bit about it. It's the one time in the year when blackmail is legal for the junior league. It is still punishable by prison terms for the rest of us.

It is a good thing for the young ones to get out and "unbend" but I question the advisability of encouraging them to tricks or treat in the manner which it is done. I know of one man who leaves town for Halloween. The hords of children who come knocking and threaten tricks or treats gets him plenty upset. It isn't that he is not generous enough; he is as kindly a man as I know but he is getting up in years and it is more than he can stand.

Wouldn't it be a lot better if we taught the children to 'trick and treat' in a different manner? For instance parents could teach them little tricks, songs, jokes or stunts. They could go around from house to house showing off their talents, entertaining instead of being pests, giving instead of receiving. Surely that would be more uplifting and character building. We did it this year as a church group and it was a heap of fun. What say we give it a try on a community basis next year?

—o—

I THINK this Halloween was the most fun I have had at home. The children each got themselves a suit. They needed some nighties anyway so Vera made them each a different one. Mark got a leopard suit. Adell a bunny suit. Zina a Chinese suit and Dana a skeleton.

Randy made a costume out of cardboard — he called it Randy the Robot. Ann was a Devil and Jared a tramp. Karen was a cloak and dagger spy and Vera a Gypsy.

What gave me the most laughs was Adell. I hid my face when I saw the cotton Vera had sewed on for the bunny tail. That was signal enough for Adell, who has been teasing me a lot lately. Every time she got a chance she would wave that tail in front of me just to get a 'raise'. She is really proud of it and I guess she has a right to be; it isn't ever one who can go to bed at night with a 'cotton tail'.

Another Easy Week

HELLO FOLKS – Last week I got by letting Karen write. So, this week I will let Randy say something he has been trumpeting around here for few weeks.

I might explain that Karen is home.  She has been away for two years except for a week last year.  Karen is going to school at Weber College at Ogden, Utah.  We are glad that she could be home for Christmas.  She didn’t make it last year and it shook her up pretty badly, Karen is one of my favorite daughters.  I have six favorites.  We are very proud of her.  I hope we can be as proud of all our daughters.

Randy is 11, He is the 6^th grade.  Spends every spare minute in the encyclopedia or other books, studying every subject possible.

Randy is also a dreamer.  As you will soon guess.  Here is what he wrote.

SANTA IS OLD FASHIONED

BY RANDY PETERSEN

Santa Claus is getting very old fashioned for this day and age.  He uses old fashioned ways of delivering presents.  Instead of driving a sleigh and reindeer he should be riding in a rocket powered by atomic fuel.

Instead of coming down the chimney into the fireplace (which most homes don’t have any more) he should put presents into a machine that would break down the elements of the gift into radio waves.  When the radio waves reach the receiver, which would be the tree itself, the radio waves would be received at the top of the tree.  As the radio wave goes down the spine of the tree the elements would build up into their proper form, go out the bottom branches and drop under the tree.

Santa’s habits and ways of making presents are old fashioned too.  Instead of having the tiny brick factory with elves in it.  The factory should be big and modern, made out of glass and steel.  And machines should make the presents, instead of elves.

Instead of smoking a pipe he should be smoking a filter cigarette.  Instead of wearing a heavy fur lined coat he should be wearing an insulated nylon-rayon coat.  His beard should be shaved, and he should look attractive and handsome and young.

Santa should have his home on Mars or some other planet and be living in a space needle like the one at the Seattle World’s Fair.  And instead of keeping his records of children in books, he should put them on microfilm.

So-long, Old Time Santa

Transcribed by Vera Smith

All Depends On the View

By EDWIN B. PETERSEN

HELLO FOLKS — One-fourth of the U. S. is covered with forest.  – The rest is covered with mortgages.

—

I HAD a birthday May fifth. Daughter Karen sent me a reminder of it. It was on a funny card and here is what she wrote.

Dear Dad,
After counting my fingers and toes several times over, I came to the conclusion that you are getting older instead of younger. I am sure this will come as a great shock to you. Cheer up, Dad! Just because you are nearing the age of grey hairs, canes and rocking chairs doesn't mean that your life of usefulness is over. Think of all the golden years ahead of you when you can sit on the street corner bench and whistle at all the young chicks strutting by, or bounce your great grandchildren upon your arthritic knee. Think of the years of wisdom you will gain by listening to the younger generation's advice!

Yes, growing old will bring you many joys, but I hope that one of your greatest joys will be knowing that your eldest daughter still loves you despite your ancientness.

Love, Karen

—

FARM BUREAU, this year entered upon a new project; that of finding the ideal farmer's daughter in Freeborn County. We had 10 entries from around the county. The young ladies were ages 16 to 20. We were very proud of the quality of the young lovelies.

There are of course several other contests such as Miss America, Miss Universe and the Dairy Princess, but we wanted this to be more than a beauty contest. Something that was based more on merit.

Miss Ethel Wicks was the winner of the contest and now bears the title of the Ideal Farmer's Daughter, and represents the other contestants for the year.

It would be hard indeed to find anyone that represents the more ideal type of daughter then does Miss Wicks. Ethel is 19. She is a student at Austin Junior College and earns all her school expenses working out.

Ethel is a top student. Active in many affairs. Talented in music, baton twirling, 4-H, a hard worker and apparently strives constantly for self improvement. She has a lovely personality and beauty to go with it all. She is active in church also.

She is leaving soon for a six weeks trip to Maryland representing Minnesota in the Annual 4 - H exchange. She will also visit Washington D. C. while in the east.

When you see a black convertible with the sign "Farm Bureau Farmer's Daughter" on the side in the parades around the county this summer, take a good look at one of the top young ladies of our age.

An Inspiring Evening

By Edwin B. Petersen

HELLO FOLKS – Mr. Khrushchev says, “We will bury you.” – If the present Department of Agriculture plans for the farmers work out Mr. K. won’t have to do any digging.

—

WE ATTENDED our daughter Karen’s graduation last night and as is usually is the case I was greatly inspired.  The moving “Pomp and Circumstance” the beautiful invocation, the colorful grandeur and the fitting address all combined to lift the spirits to greater heights than we mortals are apt to follow in our daily pursuits.

One of the quotations given that I think quite appropriate went like this.  “Be careful of what you do.  You may be the only Bible some people read.”

As I was saying, graduation night has a great uplifting influence on me and I hope it has just as great an influence upon the graduates.

When one is placed spiritually above the clouds we can see the beauty of nature and the purpose of life better.  We can also see the dross and sham and it gives us a sense of shame for the frailties of man.

I got to thinking as I sat there how wonderful it would be if we could and would all pull together in the finer things of life to better the conditions of our fellow men.  There is so much of brute force in this world, so much imposing of our will upon our fellow man, so much selfishness.

Sometimes there seems to be so much evil that it is about to overwhelm us.  Vera and I took in the show, “Mien Kampf” and today in much the same vein history is repeating itself.

I am confident that in the overall purpose of it all there is a ‘silver lining;’ a worthwhile purpose.  I think it was very well stated by Rev. Albert F. Ciarcia in ‘Quotable Quotes’ in the Readers Digest:

“If we do not go out into the world and call every man our brother, there are those who will go out and call him “Comrade.”

We do have the greatest challenge before us today we have ever had.  Man has the ability to destroy himself off the face of the earthy and he has the potentiality to make every man his brother.  It is up to us to decide which it will be.  I think it will be the latter.  I believe it will be latter because evil always destroys itself.  Good, on the other hand regenerates itself.  If you like a people enough they are pretty apt to like you, etc.

Anyway, here’s hoping.

A Day For All To Remember

By Edwin B. Petersen

HELLO FOLKS – Attended Grandma Hansen's 100th birthday celebration at Trinity Lutheran Church on Mother's Day. I consider it a real honor to be considered one of her friends and to have known her for the past 23 years, not alone for the fact that she lived to be 100 but for the example she has set in positive living.

There are too many of us today who probably because we are afraid of being criticized, fail to be positive in our thinking and living. As a consequence we fall far short of our abilities and end up in a rut.

Not so with Grandma Hansen; if she has a view she expresses it, and it is pretty apt to be a good one.

I am sure that there was not another person who enjoyed the day more than Grandma did and I don't believe she was too weary at the end of the day either. I don't know if she had another meeting that evening but if she did have I'll wager she attended it.

I hope she has many more birthdays and from as active as she is she is pretty apt to have them too.

The program for the occasion was M.Ced by Dr. Ted Hansen, Which was very appropriate. The talk given by Pastor Jacobsen was right to the point with the right blend of wit, humor and spiritual- (missing text).

I don't know how many there were there that day but I believe it probably passed the 500 mark.

It is kind of nice to know that there will always be a little family tie with Grandma Hansen as my brother Clarence is married to a granddaughter. (Delona Romer).

—

IT IS ABOUT four or five years ago that I bemoaned the fact that there was not a course in our high schools teaching Family Relations.

It is a great satisfaction to me now to find a real good course of study in that field. My daughter Karen is taking it and I'll say it is a good one. She gets it in home management class.

One other course that I have been plugging for is a course in American Economics. It is sorely needed, if we are to successfully counteract the influence of the communist world. I doubt that one student in 100 knows what it takes to create a job, or how our economy operates and if he or she learns it is not in our high schools it is learned, unless of couse there is a new course in it that I am not aware of.