My trusty old computer is ill today (actually itís totally deceased) so this column will probably be shorter than usual. I’m typing on a computer that’s new to me. It might have been simpler to have not submitted a column this week but it’s hard it to break a habit.

Signing the book “Memories of Greensburg” was as good as it gets. That’s often the way things happen when you start out apprehensive about something. Pretty soon I was having such a good time and feeling so comfortable about the whole thing that when Elizabeth Bailey came in to take a picture for the Daily News I started telling her which was my best side, where she should stand etc. Ha, she called me a diva and did her job as usual.

I got to see several people I hadn’t seen in ages. I saw Alan Goddard grow up but still I had to say the names of his brothers before getting his name right. It would be nice to see Steve and Phil again too, and especially Alice their mother, who is a talented musician and charming ex-resident of Greensburg. Judge John Goddard was Circuit Court Judge here for many years.

I also got to see Tom Henderson, son of Grant Henderson, for the first time in years. He looks so much like his Dad that I should have known him right away. You probably don’t know Grant, and that reminds me that I must write a column about him before long. He was a good writer, an expert outdoorsman and a avid reader. Once some mighty good evenings were spent with Smiley Fowler, Grant Henderson and Pat Smith chatting away for hours. That’s where I learned how fascinating the local history of Decatur County was.

I can’t mention everyone that came in to get a signed book but I can tell you that it was a most excellent adventure for me. In fact, I think we should try to talk Melanie Maxwell and Janet Dance into organizing a “Sesquicentennial Plus One” next year. Aw come on ladies!

The old time ball game looked like fun but those guys didn’t wear gloves! Russell Wilhoit, a player in the games, was as busy as anyone could be for the whole week and looked like he was having the time of his life every single day at every event.

I got to talk with a delightful youngster who was in the watermelon spitting contest but came in fourth. He wanted to be in the frog jumping contest but learned too late that he had to find his own frog. He was in the pie eating contest and said he ate about two pounds of pie. It was fine to have the opportunity to chat with such a mannerly and smart young man. It was poor reporting to lose his name after carefully writing it down but I think his last name was Dance.

The “Brothers of the Brush” contest wound up with 15 or 16 candidates. Now listen, those guys posed and pranced about like you wouldn’t believe. Gene McCoy and I judged that contest and we, along with the “Brothers” couldn’t possibly have had more fun. Mayor Herbert introduced John Moore who told of being a Keystone Kop in 1959 when they arrested people if they had no facial hair. John was clean shaven this year. Gene McCoy also had a beard in 1959 when he was a 24 year old but chose not to this year.

Carl Busch said he hadn’t shaved since January 17, his and Ben Franklinís birthday. Bill Blasdel told of finding a tick in his beard. He also told how Ray Geis got him to grow his beard but Ray was not in the contest and probably didn’t even grow a beard. David Browder had a mustache that was long enough to tie into a bow if he’d wanted to. David Crawley had what was probably the “oldest” beard, meaning that he’s had it for many years. Bruce Cox had a picture of his Dad with a beard in 1959 pinned to his shirt and said he was taking his Dad for one last ride. David Scripture had an unusual beard that looked like one a famous person had but for the life of me I can’t remember who it is. Father Harold Knueven sent a picture of his beard because he was marrying a couple, and Hugh Chambers sent a picture of his beard looking just like Abraham Lincoln because he was taking pictures of a wedding. John Nieman did a good job as chair of the contest. Every one of the “Brothers” deserved a prize. They sure made the afternoon event interesting.