6:30 pm Bingo at the VFW Hall 7 pm Amery Girls Basketball Division 3 Sectional Semi Final

4AMERY FREE PRESS www.theameryfreepress.com MARCH 3, 2020

It’s fi shy, but worth it

BY TOM STANGL FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

Publisher Tom Stangl H appy Lent to you all.

Yes, saying “happy” and “Lent” in the same sentence may appear to be a misnomer when discussing the time we turn inward to refl ect on our faith and actions, but there are many, many reasons to embrace the 40 days of the season.

I am a Christian, raised as a Catholic, so I have war stories about Lent. I’m sure you do as well, especially from your childhood. Telling children that they will be better off spiritually by giving up candy for 40 long days and dealing with the whining and complaining should qualify parents for some level of sainthood.

My parents raised six children and endured for decades seemingly endless whining about the depravity and abuse of giving up pop or candy. As bad as the cacophonous wailing was about no Snickers candy bars, it was truly nothing compared to the reaction to meat-less Friday meals. Catholics after the Vatican II conference were allowed to eat meat on Fridays, except during Lent. While this was a tremendous boon to meat lovers, fi sh haters found yet another reason to be miserable during Lent.

My mother, rest her soul, did her best to keep us happy and follow doctrine. It was far from easy on both fronts, but we children knew that mom would always err on the side of the church. No one was soiling their soul because they wanted meat Friday, not on her watch. So we had fi sh sticks. Lots of fi sh sticks. To mix it up we had what I liked to call “rich people’s breakfast” for dinner — pancakes and eggs. Lots of macaroni and cheese as well. I was never a fan of fi sh, but eating those awful fi sh sticks in the 1970s has scarred me for life. I can recall looking at Sizzlean, a faux bacon of the time, hoping beyond hope that it was meatless, only to learn it had pork. It was a sad realization.

As an adult, I realize that having a period of time where we become introspective about our lives, our actions and our faith is a healthy thing. In our instant gratifi cation, spilt-second attention span world, slowing down and denying ourselves things we are accustomed to having actually makes us appreciate them more when we have an opportunity to enjoy them again. Lent is a season of refl ection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifi ce and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Christ had many doubts about the next phase in his life. Up until this point he was able to live a normal life and enjoy the world as much as the son of God can do. Like us, he had to make choices and sacrifi ces. Lent is an annual time to renew our commitment to our faith and simplify our lives.

I didn’t mean to jam religion down your throats, gentle reader. The arrival of Lent as the last terrible part of winter arrives gives us hope that the rebirth and renewal of spring, glorious spring, is just around the corner. We can put up with some sacrifi ces and tough out the time until Easter arrives. We can then truly enjoy the celebration, safe in the knowledge that we have once again abided and done our part. Until then, tough out the fi sh sticks. As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@theameryfreepress.com, telephone 715-268-8101 or write me at P.O. Box 424, Amery, WI, 54001.

Thanks for reading I’ll keep in touch. Feel free to do the same.

Modern day Brady Bunch

BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM

Editor April Ziemer I recently watched a program on the Reelz channel called Behind Closed Doors-The Brady Bunch. It was part of a series that examines the lives of beloved celebrities through rarely seen footage and interviews with the celebrities themselves along with those who personally knew or worked with them. For any of you who have been living under a rock since 1969, The Brady Bunch aired from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974, on ABC. The series revolves around a large blended family with six children. The show aired for fi ve seasons and, after its cancellation in 1974, went into syndication. While the series was never a critical success or hit series during its original run, it has since become a popular staple in syndication. The Brady phenomenon led to several television reunions and spin-off series as well as a few big screen movies. In 1997, “Getting Davy Jones” (season three, episode 12) was ranked number 37 on TV Guide’s 100 Greatest Episodes of All-Time.

The episode of Behind Closed Doors I watched about the Brady Bunch contained interviews with Lloyd Schwartz, who produced the series with his father, show creator Sherwood Schwartz. It featured interviews with Christopher Knight (Peter) and Susan Olsen (Cindy).

They looked back at some of the shows most memorable episodes including when Marcia gets hit with a football and when the kids form a singing group. In the fi rst season, awkward adjustments, gender rivalries, and blended families dominate the stories. In an early episode, Carol tells Bobby that the only “steps” in their household lead to the second fl oor (in other words, that the family contains no “stepchildren”, only “children”). Thereafter, the episodes focus on typical adjustments such as sibling rivalry, puppy love and responsibility.

I guess my husband and I have what some may call a modern day Brady Bunch. We have four children. I brought two into our family, Josh brought one and together we had a fourth child. Some people refer to this as a “Yours, Mine and Ours” situation, but in our home we do not. They are simply all ours and adored equally. There are MANY days I feel as if a sitcom could easily be fi lmed in our home. Although I am not quite sure the episodes would be much like the Brady’s.

There was a morning last week when I was preparing for work and having a bad hair day. Carol Brady was never getting ready for work and although her hair wasn’t my style, it always looked quite nice. Josh was getting the kids ready for school. Mike Brady never got the kids ready for school. Mr. Brady just stood in the mornings, patiently waiting for Carol to straighten his tie before he headed out to the architecture fi rm. Josh would never stand and wait for me to straighten his tie because he fears I would try to strangle him with it.

Our little Maverick came running into the kitchen dressed up in an Incredible Hulk costume. When asked why he was wearing that, he replied, “It is almost Easter which means Halloween is right around the corner!”

Josh went to fi nd the appropriate clothes for Mav and while doing so, stepped on a craft project left on the fl oor. He told our 12-year-old if she didn’t pick up her things, he would throw them in the trash. She replied that she would sue him. He chuckled and responded that he would counter-sue her for back rent for all the years we have been paying her way. While picking up her project, she shrieked back that he didn’t have a legal leg to stand on.

Meanwhile our oldest interrupted my hair styling asking for ten dollars to pay a school art fee. I told her to go ask Dad. She came back ten minutes later and asked for ten dollars. I said, “I told you to go ask Dad.” She explained that she had and he gave it to her, but now that she had her outstanding art fee, she was eligible to buy a parking pass and dad only had 10 bucks on him so she needed another ten from me for parking.

Next, she asked what was for dinner. I said spaghetti. She whined we have spaghetti ALL OF THE TIME. I told her to go ask Alice to make pork chops and applesauce. “Who?” she asked. I told her I was referring to the Brady Bunch where Alice makes pork chops for dinner to UNCOMPLAINING kids. She reminded me that we do not have a housekeeper/cook and she also reminded me that she thinks I am SOOOO WEIRD.

This is my life folks. I do not even need a hotshot Hollywood producer to create an episode and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I enjoy sharing my thoughts with you and look forward to readers sharing their thoughts in return. Feel free to email me at editor@ theameryfreepress.com, write me at P.O. Box 424, Amery WI. 54001 or I can be reached by phone at 715- 268-8101.