On Being Connected and 3.2 Beer

Virg, Nyel, Sydney, Cheryl

I often think that, for such a tiny corner of the world, Oysterville is a hub for connectedness.  Our last Friday’s evening gathering was a prime example.  Cousin Cheryl and her husband Virg had arrived for the weekend in time to be here when many of the “regulars” arrived.  I think that there were sixteen of us at the peak of the evening.

Many already knew Cheryl and Virg from ten-plus years ago when they lived out in Surfside and were often a part of Oysterville activities, so there were fond greetings and “remember whens.”  When the conversation veered to last week’s House Concert, Cheryl mentioned that they missed coming to them — especially to any of Aaron English’s concerts.

Aaron English – FB Profile Picture

“He was my student at Discovery Elementary School in Gig Harbor,” she said.  “I taught music there for 27 years — until I retired in 2004.”  So far, though, she has never met up with him since those school days and has never seen him perform.  I wish we could make that happen, somehow, but now that Aaron is living full-time in Nashville, it might be tricky.

I should also add that as soon as my blog of yesterday hit the world wide web, Cuzzin Ralph (Cheryl’s brother) weighed in with an email from the state of Virginia: you and Pat [Wollner in Gearhart] are 3rd cousins, straight across—no removed’s.  The easy way to remember your 3rd Cuzzin twice removed relationship to Cheryl and me is to think of that commodity that has nearly disappeared these days (except for a few states)— “3.2 beer!”

"Land of Sky Blue Waters"

“Land of Sky Blue Waters”

Later, he wrote a little more about 3.2 beer:  I wasn’t quite correct in one statement—-there is only ONE state that still has 3.2 beer and that is Minnesota.  I know I cringed just this last fall when Utah changed their laws and stores had to DESTROY beer that didn’t sell. That got me to thinking about Hamm’s beer, brewed in Minnesota, with their ditty and the cartoon bear:  “From the Land of Sky Blue Waters.”  I listened to the commercial on Youtube and it was just as I remembered. Drank a lot of Hamm’s back in college…”

I might remember the 3.2 mnemonic, not  because I’m a beer drinker, but because  it’s quintessential Ralph!  Thanks, Cuzz!

 

One Response to “On Being Connected and 3.2 Beer”

  1. Jean M Nitzel says:

    Thanks for passing my request to Virg and Cheryl, we had a nice visit! Just as I remember them!

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