OF humor from a quarter-century ago is still funny
MIDDLEBURGH — A little cool and wet this morning, July 23, which means a little dark, and all that adds up to fewer OFs in attendance at the Middleburgh Diner. We still had to add a table to the long table down the middle of the room however.
Today’s weather notwithstanding, we avoided some nasty weather this past Wednesday and had moved the OMOTM picnic to the next day, Thursday, and as a result we enjoyed a perfect day of low humidity, mid-70s for the temperature, sunshine, and fine fellowship.
Music, barbecued burgers, dogs, and a bunch of great food brought by the OFs. There were rides around the lake courtesy of our host, Bill Lichliter. A great day with great friends.
“Looking Back”
Since our Scribe Emeritus, John Williams, loaned me his first volume of columns and pictures used by The Altamont Enterprise since at least 1998, it has occurred to me that it might be interesting and fun to occasionally have a “Looking Back with the Scribe Emeritus” feature and share what was going on some 25 years ago.
Spoiler alert: Get ready to smile.
Today’s “Looking Back” doesn’t show a byline but whoever it was certainly displayed a fine sense of humor. I will not copy word for word the whole column, but you will certainly see a similarity from the past to the present.
The OMOTM met at the Alley Cat Diner in Schoharie on Jan. 15, 1998 and decided they should elect officers. (I think this may have been the only time in the history of the OMOTM that some kind of election was held.)
Herb Wolford, charter member, was elected president because it was his idea to meet for breakfast. Right away, Herb felt that, because of the age of the members, they should have a chaplain. Ivan Baker, another charter member, was elected chaplain because he knows the right words and where to use them.
Joe Farkas, the third and last charter member, was elected vice president with emphasis on vice. Paul Giebitz is head of transportation. He decides whether to drive or fly, but he decides just for himself. He decided to leave for Florida (I don't know if he flew or drove).
Gerd Remmers is to do some research and to report back to the group his findings on etiquette and moral behavior while away from home. George Washburn was appointed liaison officer because of his calm and agreeable nature.
I already told you that future scribe John Williams, being the youngest, has permission to keep a record of jokes and stories told and after the third time he can say, “We have heard that before.”
And last, but not least (I can identify with this), Mike Willsey was appointed reporter because he is a little hard of hearing and will miss a lot of the conversation, and as a result, most of what he does report is lies or he makes it up. (I thought that was a little harsh, possibly true, but harsh).
Later, on Feb. 9, 1998, two short paragraphs sort of caught my eye. The first one was, “In a recent discussion, the old women decided the old men were having too much fun and should only meet twice a month.”
The second short paragraph appearing right below said, “The old men decided if they can find another Tuesday in the week, they will go to breakfast twice a week.”
Ah yes, the eternal battle of the sexes. Some things absolutely never change, but past or present, funny is funny.
Good neighbors
By the way, The Alley Cat Diner in Schoharie, mentioned above, was decimated by the flood created by Hurricane Irene in 2011 and went out of business. It was replaced with new owners who called their place The Blue Star Café in 2014, which went through one more change of ownership before becoming today’s Your Way Café.
The OMOTM are creatures of habit if nothing else, and we enjoy our breakfast at the Your Way Cafe every five weeks. Same place, different name, great food.
In addition to Your Way Café, another of the OMOTMs favorite breakfast stops, Mrs. K’s Kitchen in Middleburgh, suffered similar devastation with some five feet of water from the Schoharie Creek on the inside of the restaurant as a result of Hurricane Irene. It took them until the following spring to open their doors again.
On the south side of Middleburgh you will find yet another favorite breakfast restaurant of the OMOTM, called the Middleburgh Diner. They had the good fortune to be on somewhat higher ground and did not suffer flood-water damage.
In fact, they, like so many people that found themselves in a position to help their neighbors, opened their doors 24 hours a day for several days in a row. They cooked food for their neighbors who were flooded out of their homes.
Their diner became a shelter for many people, some of whom slept right there in the diner because they had no place else to go. The diner did their best to provide what they could for the first responders.
This is an absolute example of neighbors helping neighbors. I won’t ever say that this kind of reaching out to lend a helping hand is unique to the Hilltowns. It’s not.
This is just the way all good people act toward other people in their time of need. If they didn’t, that would be news.
This? This is normal and this is what happened at the Middleburgh Diner as they opened their doors in late August of 2011 after the floods of Hurricane Irene caused so much destruction.
Those OMOTM who joined together at the Middleburgh Diner were: Harold Guest, Walley Guest, George Washburn, Wm Lichliter, Ed Goff, Pete Whitbeck, Gary Schultz, Frank Dees, Jake Herzog, WarrenWillsey, Russ Pokorny, Frank A. Fuss, Roland Tozer, Minor Stevens, Lou Schenck, John Williams, Jack Norray, Dick Dexter, Gerry Cross, Herb Bahrmann, and me.