The Birth of a Notion

Roughly 75 percent of you good, observant and highly intelligent folks who read this column were quite young or not even born when it started. Got that perspective from looking at a few “average population age” figures a while back. Yup! It was forty seven years ago when I wrote a letter to

Mel Ruder at the Hungry Horse News telling about what was going on in Washington D.C. during the Kennedy Administration. Mel ran the letter and George … was in the column writing business.

There have been somewhere over 2,300 columns written since February 1962. That’s enough words to fill seven large volumes, averaging 1,000 pages each. The subjects are wide ranging, covering everyday events, politics, history, the raising of a family, sad times, good times, and world travels. Maybe a fourth of the columns have been serious, while a higher percent contain humor sprinkled with occasional “high quality B.S.” They are a chronology of one country boy’s life adventures and his personal views of this amazing world we live in.

Now! A flattering number of people have suggested I put the best ones in a book. Would like to think that could happen, but just thinking about it makes me dizzy … a daunting task. The column clippings fill over 20 big scrapbooks. Only have those since 1984 on computer disks, but all would have to be retyped anyway because my computer is an ancient Apple II E, which can’t talk to any of the new PCs.

Why am I telling you all this? Please excuse! I HAVEN’T HAD THE SLIGHTEST IDEA! Maybe it’s because I’m suffering “writer’s block” today. If that’s the case then why not review a few paragraphs from that first column?

H H News - February 2, 1962 —

“I have made many observations since arriving back here. Some are of a serious nature and some are in a lighter vein.

“The heroic statßue of Charlie Russell stands in Statuary Hall in the rotunda on the House side of the Capitol. Every time I pass ‘Ol Charlie I grin to myself, and wonder what that tough old cowboy would have said in those early days, if he had known that his great bronze likeness would one day be enshrined to forever stand a lonely vigil over the door of a plush “wimmin’s” restroom.

 “Whenever a quarter of an inch of snow or more falls back here, it usually happens when half the people aren’t where they are supposed to be. They immediately all rush out and jump into their cars. As most of them are city slickers, they can’t drive too well and in ten minutes every street in town is tied up by hundreds of minor collisions. To alleviate this irregular type of chaos during snows, the police institute emergency plans One, Two or Three. Under plan One, any person stalling due to a bad battery, no snow tires or chains, or out of gas, is automatically guilty of a traffic violation. Under plan Two, plan One is still in effect but you’re not supposed to go anyplace anyway. I haven’t seen plan Three yet, but I think it is to hold up your car payment and let the finance company come and get you.

“My wife Iris and I were privileged to attend the Second Annual Inauguration Dinner on January 20th. Six thousand democrats gathered to honor the President of the United States. We sat among the leaders of the nation. Movie stars entertained, then after a meal of filet mignon, we heard Harry Truman speak. Mr. Truman was followed by Lyndon Johnson and John McCormack. The final speech was of course President Kennedy. It was a moving experience for this boy from the Flathead hills and I didn’t say much to my wife as we made our way to the car. Once on the way home, I heaved a big sigh and said, “WELL! What did you think of that?” Iris answered,

“Wasn’t that a gorgeous gown that Jackie wore?”

“In closing Mel, and in all seriousness, I am deeply impressed by the devotion to duty of the majority of the Congressmen, Republicans and Democrats alike. The hours put in by these men, the strain they undergo, the frequent thanklessness of their position, sometimes staggers the imagination. I wouldn’t have believed these things six months ago. My faith in the democratic process had been deepened and I truly wish everyone might share this experience.

“I think it is fine to pass around a little humor about our big government and the officials, but it is good and democratic to give honest and serious credit to them often.”

“Yours truly, G. Geroge Ostrom.”

G. George Ostrom is a Kalispell resident and a national-award winning Hungry Horse News columnist.