FISH FRY: Kristine Bentley writes Thursday from Virginia Beach:
“”I, for one, believe there is a strong connection between fish fry
and the Catholic population. Years ago, no self-respecting Catholic
would have contemplated eating meat on Friday night. Fish being an
acceptable substitute for other meats, the fish fry was
born.””[neWLine]
“”I lived for ten years in northern Wisconsin where there are
numerous places that serve up a decent fish fry on Friday night.
That particular area is populated by people from Norway and Poland
with a few Germans thrown in for good measure.[neWLine]
“”The organized religion landscape is, you guessed it, mostly
Catholics and Lutherans.””[neWLine]
Kristine had this to say, too: “”Hope spring is hinting at
arriving in your ‘neck of the woods.’ When I spoke with my mother
Wednesday it was snowing in Bradford. Meanwhile it was 80 degrees
in Virginia Beach.””[neWLine]
As we put together this column on Thursday afternoon, we can
gaze out the newsroom window to see driving snow coming down in
abundance.[neWLine]
A newcomer to The Era asked, “”Snow? In April.”” We were forced
to tell her the unfortunate fact that it wasn’t really rare in
April.[neWLine]
“”May?”” she asked. Well, we do remember one year when people
were mowing their grass on Mother’s Day, and the apple trees were
in bloom. But then the snow flakes mixed with the
blossoms.[neWLine]
“”June?”” she asked. Well, one person we know has a birthday on
June 6 and can remember snow on more than one occasion on that
date.[neWLine]
Not wanting to discourage her too much, though, we quickly added
we have had no reports of snow in July or August – yet. (But we do
remember some July 4 celebrations were it was certain cold enough
to snow!)[neWLine]
But think about it fellow Bradfordians – can you not recall snow
on Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas (of course), New
Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, first day
of fishing season, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day?[neWLine]
We’re just glad it hasn’t been one of those October to May
winters when you scarcely see a blade of grass until
July.[neWLine]
[neWLine]
TODAY’S QUOTE: “”As long as we have the First Amendment, the
people rule,”” said Rose Marie Pegueros, history professor,
1998.
