Out and About – Week of March 11th

How many of you forgot to set your clocks ahead one hour last Saturday, before going to bed? At 2AM Sunday morning, Daylight Savings Time began. This means that we will be enjoying one more hour of daylight every day. This is usually an indication that spring weather will soon be here. Remember last March, when we experienced 80 degree temperatures? Only in Michigan!

There’s a new barber in town. Joe Cooper has a shop at the corner of West Michigan Avenue and North Lincoln Avenue, Doug Minger has his shop in the Hardings Market Plaza, and the new barber is Carrie, who shares Doug Minger’s shop. Carrie is an actual barber, just like Doug and Joe, so she doesn’t style hair like a beautician. She is a graduate of a barber school, so she is a barber and not a beautician. The next time you visit Doug and Kathy Minger’s establishment, give Carrie a try. She’s too new to offer any political views, and she’s not aware of when the new Menard’s will open, but she’s working on that.

I was fortunate to grow up here in Three Rivers during the fifties. Things have changed quite a bit since then, and I find myself longing for and reflecting on the way things were back in the day. As a matter of fact, my barber and I have discussed this a few times during my monthly visit. Three Rivers had, at one time, approximately 21 service stations in town. The difference between a service station and one of the four gas stations we currently have is that you were provided service. You had your tire pressure checked, windshield cleaned, battery and oil levels checked, and of course, you never pumped your own gas. All of this for about thirty cents a gallon. Oh yes, you could get a bottle of pop out of a cooler for a dime, and it was in a glass bottle. I could go on and on about those days. Unfortunately, that’s all we can do, because we’ll never see gasoline for less than $3 a gallon and full service is out of the question. If you got out and about on a Sunday, it was for a ride in the country with the family, because stores were not open on Sundays. As a result, families spent more time doing family things, like having supper together at the dining room table and not in front of the TV. Sometimes, progress isn’t all it’s cut up to be.

I mentioned last week about the experience of grocery shopping with my wife, something I think every couple should do from time to time. Here’s some food for thought when shopping for groceries. Most supermarket products go on sale every three months, and brand-name coupons also appear quarterly. You might want to keep this in mind when stocking up. Other sales occur during promotions like National Ice Cream Month and National Hot Dog Month. Both of these happen in July.

Here’s something to think about as you’re lying in bed, trying to get to sleep. Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.

See you Out and About!

Submitted by Norm Stutesman