Stories bring back memories of uniforms, ties

By Dolores Saurer | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, June 21, 2008

Given the time, I like to sit down with a cup of coffee after breakfast and read the morning paper. That's what I was doing last Monday. There was nothing earth-shaking in the news and little change in the comics from the day before so I proceeded to page through the paper in anticipation of an interesting article. I found three — not really spectacular but all managed to trigger a bit of reminiscing.

On the front page of one of the sections, there was a rather extensive resume of change in nurse's uniforms. Remember those little white caps and pristine white dresses nurses wore? I think it was about in the 1960s when the caps became optional and soon after pantsuits replaced the dresses. This was followed by colors and eventually the currently popular scrubs.

Since Monday was the day after Fathers' Day, someone decided that an article on neckties would be appropriate. If you are a senior, you probably recall the variations in neckware through the years — the string tie, the skinny narrow ones, the wide, the double-wide and the colors — plain, stripes, flowers, plaids — not to mention the perky little bow ties too.

In the 1970s necktie sales were estimated at 200-250 million annually. Today, they have diminished tremendously, or is it a forewarning of the demise of the necktie?

In the last bit of info I encountered, I learned that a group of people are attempting to discredit the value of pasteurization in favor of drinking raw milk directly from the cows on the premise that it is more healthful.

Granted, milk directly from the cow is, without a doubt, good for the calves, but beyond that, I'm sticking with the pasteuized. I must admit that when I was about 7 or 8, while visiting my uncle's farm, I insisted on trying a little warm milk directly from the cow but I haven't touched a drop since.

The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture and Center for Disease Control all confirm the value of pasteurized milk.

So much for the passing parade of change and controversy.

Let's turn to plans for our Aug. 5 trip to the Terry Redlin Museum in Watertown, S.D. Redlin is perhaps the most widely-known painter of wildlife in the United States.

At the museum, you will see his original oil paintings on display. In addition, there will also be a traveling exhibit of Norman Rockwell's paintings at the same time.

A lunch stop is planned enroute to the museum and a supper stop is also scheduled on the way home. Transportation cost is $25 for members ($30 non-members). Please register and pay for this trip in the Senior Center office by July 22.

Don't forget we have another Concert in the Park on Thursday, the 26, along with pork chops by the Underwood Lions. The turnout was tremendous on June 12, and we ran out of pork chops but we hope to have more this time.

Another reminder — next Monday at 11 a.m. — you are invited to a trip to Norway via slideshow with Paul and Ardyce Fjestad.

Dolores Saurer is a member of the Fergus Falls Senior Citizens Program.