The Camrose Booster

Warbird Alley Pop-Up, a rare opportunity

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The Lockheed P-38 Lightning named Tangerine will be on the runway, a rare sight for anyone.

Photo by Richard Mallory Allnut

By Adan Shaikh

Two of the Second World War’s most recognizable aircraft will make an overnight stop in Camrose next week, giving residents a chance to see a Lockheed P-38 Lightning and a North American B-25 Mitchell up close.
The Erickson Aircraft Collection will be at the Camrose Airport on Monday, July 20, while travelling between the Cold Lake Airshow and the Red Deer Regional Airshow. Hosted by the Camrose Flying Club. The pop-up will take place at 5 p.m.

Visitors will be able to view the aircraft from designated areas at the airport, meet aviation enthusiasts and learn more about the warbirds and their history. Voluntary donations will be accepted in support of the Camrose Flying Club and the Erickson Aircraft Collection.

The Camrose Flying Club supports youth aviation education, hands-on learning opportunities, aviation career awareness, community events, aviation safety and mentorship for local pilots.
The Erickson Aircraft Collection has visited Camrose several times over the years and has built a strong relationship with the Camrose Flying Club. With the collection already travelling through Alberta between airshows, the club invited the aircraft to make an overnight stop, giving local residents a rare opportunity to witness the warbirds in action.

The North American B-25 Mitchell was one of the Second World War’s most widely used medium bomber. Built for bombing missions, it became one of the best-known aircraft after taking part in the 1942 Doolittle Raid over Japan.

Joining it will be the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a fighter aircraft known for its distinctive twin-boom design. During the War, it served as a long-range fighter and ground-attack aircraft. Today, it is among the rarest Second World War aircraft still flying.

Visitors are asked to remain in designated public viewing areas, avoid touching the aircraft or their components, follow directions from Camrose Flying Club volunteers and airport ambassadors, keep children close and respect crew-only areas.
Volunteers will also be available throughout the evening to answer questions and share information about the aircraft.

The Warbird Alley Pop-Up highlights the importance of community airports and gives the community a chance to experience aircraft that played a significant role in aviation history and continue to fly more than 80 years after the Second World War.

For updates on estimated time of arrival and departure, weather and serviceability, please visit Camrose Flying Club on Instagram or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CamroseFlyingClub/

A bonanza of roses and lilies


By Nadine Leming

It’s that time of year again when the Camrose & District Horticultural Society (CDHS) hosts their annual Rose and Lily Show and Tea.

On July 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. guests can enjoy and view some of the loveliest flowers at the Masonic Hall. This is a pay what you will event, making it affordable for people to attend.

This highly anticipated event welcomes local entries for roses and lilies and includes beautiful floral designs, art, crafts as well as photography. Janine Carroll, president of CDHS, said, “We do expect a few more entries (in art, crafts and photography) this year as we went and started reaching out to friends and family.”

Janine mentioned for amateur artists and crafters, this is a welcoming place for the community to appreciate your work. This is the audience that supports creativity.

With all the rain received this year, Janine commented, “Even if there are fewer flowers, this event is worth attending. If people have a lily or two blooming in their yards, this would be a great year to show them off.”

There is always some concern around the potential of rain or hail before the show. Janine continued, “We always do our best and we will have lots of good tea, goodies, conversation and fun. With community involvement, we’ll have as many flowers as we can.”

New this year, submissions for the event will be accepted at the Masonic Hall Wednesday, July 15 between 5 and 7 p.m. There will be a second opportunity to drop off submissions on Thursday, July 16 morning between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Another exciting feature of this year’s show is the People’s Choice for Miniature Gardens. This class is open to youth and adults. Janine added, “This is a fun one for kids because they can make a little garden choosing any theme they would like.”  Submissions need to have a live plant or flower, not artificial.

For anyone eager to showcase their blooms, art, crafts or photography, entry guides are available at local floral shops. Electronic copies are available by contacting Janine Carroll by calling her at 780-608-6243 or email camrosehortclub@gmail.com

Singing the Blues 


By Nadine Leming

The Camrose Blues Festival’s second annual event at the Bailey Theatre
will see the party of the summer return July 17 to 19.

The party kicks off on July 16 with a pay-what-you-feel show featuring Rose City Rollers and local favourite Godfrey Blaque. This evening was created to celebrate the incredible local supporters and sponsors who fuel their mission.
John Person, committee chair, said, “The festival is more than just a concert, it’s a celebration of the raw, electric heart of blues music set within the stunning, acoustically perfect confines of The Bailey Theatre.”

Once again the committee has collected an award winning lineup of top tier performers. Audiences will enjoy the likes of recent Juno Award winner Steve Marriner and Brandon Isaak who is a 2026 Canadian Blues Music Award winner.

Emerging Artist Award winner Ollee Owens joins the lineup alongside legendary Grammy winner Donald Ray Johnson. Back again this year is a crowd favourite Samantha King from Edmonton.
John added, “For those new to blues music and its vibe, we encourage you to check out the Sunday brunch when the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame inductee Graham Guest, along with his trio, will perform not one, but two unbelievable sets.” Blues aficionados will also enjoy this performance.

Mike Ploner, president of the Bailey Theatre Society, said, “Sometimes it’s hard to wrap my head around how important our staff are in bringing events to our humble little theatre. They all wear multiple hats, they collaborate in a really inspiring way. It’s just a joy to see them come together for the betterment of the Bailey.”
Mike added, “Bringing some 300 music lovers to downtown Camrose, filling our theatre over a three-day period is very rewarding. It’s rewarding to see local businesses benefit from the increased traffic downtown.”

People will be coming from across the province, join the party and to dive into the roots of blues music. The atmosphere is electric and honours this timeless art form that is sure to move and inspire the audience, proving that
Camrose is a destination for live music.
For more information go to www.camroseblues
festival.ca

Kodiaks’ volunteer Jody Bogacki

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Jody Bogacki

By Nadine Leming

Jody Bogacki is a new volunteer for the Camrose Kodiaks, having completed her first season in the ticketing office. Jody first moved to Camrose a couple of years ago and was looking for ways to get to know people in the community and wanted more opportunities to put herself out there, so she reached out to the team about how to volunteer.

She works in the box office and when asked about her experience, Jody said, “I love it. I get to talk to all the people buying tickets. Sometimes I’m out on the floor doing security or covering a door, but I just love the interaction with people.”
In her short time with the Kodiaks, she realized the importance of the team. Jody talked about how she noticed players out in the community, whether they were in a grocery store, or at a local school.

Jody commented, “I think it’s nice to have that connection with the community. They seem to be more involved and hands-on in the community.” She continued, “I think that’s part of what makes Camrose still seem like a small town and the team is a part of that.”

The opportunity to volunteer with the Kodiaks keeps her busy outside of work doing something fun. She has enjoyed watching the team and following their success.

For Jody, volunteering with the team has rewarded her with getting to know people in the community. It has been a good experience for her to see many of the same faces during the season.

Her skills in the box office gave her the chance to volunteer at the Viking Cup this past winter, allowing her to expand her circle a little more.

Jody loves the atmosphere on a game day watching the game live. She mentioned, “I love watching these up and coming kids. I love the fans and the players are so good to all the kids.” For Jody, she enjoys being a part of things, even if it’s behind the scenes in the box office. For her, it’s about the connections she makes.

Working with the Kodiaks has been such a positive experience in her life. She has become so passionate about the team that she would like to see more people come out to the games. Whether as a volunteer or as a hockey fan, it’s important for her to support the team.

Jody commented, “It’s an amazing opportunity to volunteer with the team.” It doesn’t require a lot of someone’s time and people don’t have to be there for every home game. She said, “As long as you love people, come out. It’s a great way to meet people.”

From Scalliwags to centre stage


By Nadine Leming

Two decades ago, a diverse group of music lovers united together with a singular, ambitious goal to transform Camrose into a hub where top-tier musicians love to perform.

Led by Andrew Struthers, this group believed that Camrose deserved the same opportunities to enjoy the same live shows as others in larger cities across the country.

When Rose City Roots (RCR) began in 2006, this dream seemed ambitious as touring artists would make stops in Calgary and Edmonton, often passing by Camrose prior to the Lougheed Performing Arts Centre and renovations to the Bailey Theatre.

For the RCR, this meant winning over agencies that their clients should perform in a local pub called Scalliwags and Rum Pub (now the Marrow). The Board felt incredibly fortunate that they were able to have the agencies see the vision and were willing to collaborate with RCR and started booking shows.

It wasn’t long before Scalliwags became one of Camrose’s leading destinations for live music. Audiences would pack the room, creating a buzz amongst performers and their agencies realized that Camrose truly enjoyed live music.

Over the last 20 years, RCR has brought more than 200 artists and created more than just memories. Canadian rock band, The Sheepdogs performed two sold out shows at Scalliwags before catapulting to international fame and hit the cover of Rolling Stone.

Other successful shows included the UK’s Oysterband who attracted fans to Camrose from as far away as Vancouver and Los Angeles. Slow Leaves show recorded live at the Bailey Theatre by CKUA and broadcasted globally. Alberta favourite, Corb Lund has sold out the Bailey on two occasions.

Today, Camrose is on the map with many artists wanting to include the community as a stop on their tours, which wasn’t the case back in 2006. This came to be because of true community work.

Artistic Director Geraint Osborne said, “Rose City Roots is proud to have been part of that story, working alongside outstanding venues such as the Bailey Theatre and the Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre.”

He continued, “Our mission hasn’t changed since 2006. We still believe that people in Camrose shouldn’t have to leave their community to experience exceptional live music.” Reflecting back, Geraint commented, “Thanks to an extraordinary community of volunteers, sponsors, audiences, artists, and partners, that vision became a reality.”

As RCR looks forward to its 20th season of amazing live music with a diverse lineup including Juno Award winner William Prince.

With six shows booked and more on the horizon, Camrose will continue to enjoy entertainment that they’ve come to expect from RCR.

John Rosebrugh’s 1982 Phillips 
Berlina is a rare sight

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WHITE WALL WHEELS
John Rosebrugh’s 1982 Phillips Berlina was one of the rarest additions to Camrose Cruisers lineup this year.

By Adan Shaikh

John Rosebrugh owns a 1982 Phillips Berlina Coupe SE. He found the neo-classic car in great condition 13 years ago and according to him it really only needed new paint but he decided to do a frame off restoration to ensure nothing slipped through the cracks.

It took him about a year and a half of extensive work but he loved watching it come together. “I took the car off the frame and took it into the welding shop and had them check it out, from there I had it powder-coated. Then I put all new brake lines on it and new gas tank, everything all the way through,” he shared.

The car was then reassembled with new components throughout. “The bodywork was probably the most difficult because to do it right, it takes a lot,” he said.

Today, the coupe is powered by a 350 Chevrolet V8 engine backed by a 700R4 automatic transmission. The vehicle mostly remains stock, with only a few modifications, preserving the character that makes the Phillips Berlina Coupe SE so distinctive.

Built on a Chevrolet chassis, the Phillips Berlina Coupe SE is recognized for its custom coach-built styling and dramatic proportions. Its sweeping front end and elongated hood give it an appearance unlike most production cars of the early 1980s, exhibiting both classic luxury-inspired styling and Chevrolet performance.

That extended front end also creates a unique driving experience. From the driver’s seat to the front bumper is about 10 feet, something that might seem intimidating at first.

“Your brain adjusts to it when you drive it,” said Rosebrugh. While the restoration required countless hours of work, Rosebrugh says the payoff comes every time he takes the car out for a drive.

“I see people walking down the street and then they see the car and all of a sudden their faces just light up,” he said.

Those reactions are a reminder that classic cars have a way of connecting people, whether they’re lifelong enthusiasts or simply appreciate seeing something uncommon on the road.

Now 43 years old, the Phillips Berlina Coupe SE has accumulated just 20,334 miles with many more planned for the summer.

BRWA celebrates 20 years of stewardship

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Anjah Howard, left, received the Individual OTIS Award for her contributions through her work with Camrose County’s Planning Leaderships for Watershed Management. Susanna Bruneau from BRWA presented the award to Howard.

By Adan Shaikh

The Battle River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) celebrated its 20th anniversary during its annual general meeting on June 18, celebrating two decades of watershed planning, stewardship and community partnerships across the Battle River and Sounding Creek watersheds.

The meeting opened with remarks from executive director Catherine Peirce. She introduced BRWA honorary River Keeper Leonard Standingontheroad, a founding director of the alliance who will return to the board in 2026. A former chief of Montana First Nation, Standingontheroad served 12 years on council and also sits on the board of the Pigeon Lake Watershed Association while providing Indigenous leadership on BRWA’s Land and Water Committee.

“The Battle River Watershed and the Sounding Creek Watershed are the traditional meeting grounds and travelling routes for many Indigenous peoples and they have been since time immemorial. We are very grateful and appreciative of this history,” said Peirce.

Established in 2006, BRWA serves as the watershed planning and advisory council for the Battle River and Sounding Creek watersheds. It works with municipalities, Indigenous communities, landowners and other partners on watershed planning, research, stewardship and education.

Board co-chair Ryley Andersen reflected on the organization’s growth, “I have been on this board for five years now and I have seen a lot of growth and change,” he said. “I would like to thank everyone on the board. It has been a pleasure working with you, hopefully for more years to come.”

He also recognized the contributions of board members.

“We celebrate the leadership, dedication and countless volunteer hours contributed by the board members who have guided the organization,” he said.

Andersen said BRWA has grown to more than 2,000 members and has worked with more than 200 funders over the past 20 years. The organization has partnered with landowners on riparian stewardship projects covering about 650 acres, supported by $850,000 in funding that has generated an estimated $33 million annually in ecosystem services.

The alliance has also delivered watershed education programs for more than 14,000 youth over the past two decades through initiatives including Discover Your Wetland, Caring for Our Watersheds and X-Stream Science.

The board members for the 2026-27 year are: Clark Banack, director; Greg Smith, treasurer; Ahsan Rajper, director; Terry Vockeroth, director; Ryley Andersen, co-chair; Al Corbett, co-chair; Marilyn Weber, director; Leonard Standingontheroad, director; Bruce Hinkley, director; Peter Pullishy, director; Jamie Bruha, director; Murray Hampshire, director; Dale Pederson, director; Richard Waddell, director; Preston Weran, director and ex-officio members, Catherine Peirce and Melissa Orr-Langner.

Following the business meeting, stewardship co-ordinator Susanna Bruneau presented the Outstanding in Stewardship (OTIS) Awards.
This year’s recipients were Erin and Casey Murphy-Thompson of Thompson WP Farms in the agriculture category for grassland stewardship; Louis Bull Tribe in the organization category for its Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment; Anjah Howard in the individual category for Camrose County planning leadership in watershed management; and Laurie Phillips, an educator at Terrace Ridge School, in the youth category for the Future Stewards program.

The meeting concluded with a bus tour of the Wetaskiwin Water Treatment Plant, Wetaskiwin Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wetaskiwin Landfill and By the Lake Park.
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Battle River Power Coop, Together for Tomorrow
From left, scholarship recipients, Amber McKay, Dalee Fenton, Hailey Peterson and board member of BRPC Terry Pederson. Missing from the photo are recipients Laura Nordhagen and Chloe Yadlos.

By Adan Shaikh

Battle River Power Coop (BRPC) members gathered June 25 for the cooperative’s annual general meeting, where directors reviewed the past year, outlined future priorities and elected the board for the coming year.

Board chair Malcolm Barr reflected on a year marked by rising costs, increasing regulatory requirements and changes across Alberta’s electricity sector, while emphasizing the cooperative’s commitment to serving rural members.

“For more than 77 years, our cooperative has been shaped by members who believe in working together to solve challenges locally and build something that serves their communities,” said Barr.

Among the year’s key developments was the creation of the Power Co-ops of Alberta, a partnership between the province’s six self-operating rural electrification associations. Barr said the partnership strengthens the organizations’ collective voice and improves advocacy for rural Albertans as decisions affecting the electricity sector continue to evolve.
Barr also acknowledged the challenges many members experienced during the rollout of the cooperative’s new billing system. The transition was required after the previous software was no longer supported, but he said improving the member experience remains a priority.

Looking ahead, the cooperative is preparing to introduce Advanced Metering Infrastructure through the installation of smart meters. Barr said the investment will modernize the electrical system, support regulatory requirements and help ensure the cooperative remains reliable and prepared for future demands.

“Throughout this, one thing remains consistent, our responsibility to act in the best interest of our members. That means keeping affordability, operating efficiently and making decisions that can provide long-term value,” he said.

Chief executive officer Bill Klassen echoed the cooperative’s member-focused approach during his annual report.

“As members of this cooperative, seeing so many of you here embody our theme, ‘Together for Tomorrow’ is a strong reminder of what makes this cooperative work. BRPC is not just a system we operate, it is the people behind it,” said Klassen.

Klassen also highlighted the work of Frontier Energy, the cooperative’s retail energy provider.
“Over the past year, one of the ways we have delivered value is through our retail energy efficiency, Frontier Energy. For members who are enrolled with Frontier, we reduce the energy rate more than one cent per kilowatt,” he said.
Following the reports, members heard from six board nominees before elections were held.
The 2025-26 board includes Malcolm Barr as chair, Kaitlyn Brown as vice-chair, Dan Aster, Darcy Doblanko and Arnold Hansen as executives, along with directors Todd Befus, Tim Coates, Patrick Hilgartner, Kevin Mathieu, James Mathews, Don Moman, Terry Pederson, Darren Rasmuson, David Thomas and John Winnick.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of five student scholarships.

Board director Terry Pederson said the selection process extends beyond academic achievement. Each student receives $1,500 to go towards their post-secondary education.

“We do have a criteria for those that are applying for our scholarships, that when they bring their academic numbers to us and when they bring their resumés and their recommendations from their teachers, we look at the scholarships different than most other scholarships out there. We value community involvement and we value need,” said Pederson.

This year’s scholarship recipients were Chloe Yadlos, Laura Nordhagen, Dalee Fenton, Amber McKay and Hailey Peterson.
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BRCF supports Camrose Moose Hall

Neil Lunty, Treasurer with BRCF Board, presents the cheque to Bonnie Cooke, member and president of the Spaghetti Supper, and Barry Phillips, president, with volunteers from the Leadership group of St. Carlo Acutis Catholic High School, Camrose, behind.
Blain Fowler, Camrose Booster

Submitted by Laura Young

The Battle River Community Foundation awarded a $3,000 grant to the Camrose Loyal Order of the Moose #563.

Barry Phillips, president of the Camrose Loyal Order of the Moose #563, states, “We would like to thank the Battle River Community Foundation for their continued support of our community spaghetti supper. By providing us with grants over the past four years, the BRCF has helped to provide over 25,000 meals for those in need in our community.”

In September of 2022, the Loyal Order of the Moose #563 began serving spaghetti suppers with the intention of providing a free meal for those dealing with food insecurity. The Moose regularly serve between 120 and 150 people per meal. They are assisted in this by a number of volunteers and community groups, including Camrose Academy of Dance, the Kodiaks and the Vikings.

Beginning in September
2026, the Moose will only be serving their spaghetti supper once a month, on the third Wednesday, as opposed to every week.
The grant for the Loyal Order of the Moose #563 is funded by the Shane and Shauna Ashton Fund, the Dennis and Doris Ofrim Fund, the Beverly (Pearson) Penner and Don W. Penner Fund, and the Battle River Community Foundation Community Fund.
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GOOD NEIGHBOURS WINNERS
Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster

Welcome Camrose & District have announced the winners of this year’s Good Neighbour Campaign. This year’s winner in the City of Camrose was Bonnie Turnbull. Bonnie was nominated by her new neighbours Rebecca and Julien Piquette. Rebecca shared that her family has only recently moved to Camrose and since then, Bonnie has gone out of her way to ensure their family feels welcomed in their new community. From bringing them baked treats to hosting a neighbourhood gathering to introduce them to the rest of the neighbourhood, Bonnie exemplifies the qualities of a good neighbour. From left, Sara Brisson from Camrose & District Family and Community Support Services, Rebecca, Julien and Bonnie.
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CANADA DAY GOLD SPONSORS

Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster

The yearly Canada Day festivities in Camrose were made possible with the support of many local businesses and community partners. Pictured above, from left, this year’s Silver Sponsors: Alyssa Martin from the Camrose Public Library; Val Sims from the Canada Day Committee, on behalf of CJ Sign Shop and MNW Accounting & Tax; Kassidy Baumie from Vision Credit Union; Jennifer Kohlman from Vision Credit Union; Samuel Bowen from Camrose Home Directory; mascot Ole Uffda; Chris Karnitsky from Safeway; and Sachin Lappakkaran Babu from Wild Rose Co-op.
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CANADA DAY SILVER SPONSORS

Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster

The yearly Canada Day festivities in Camrose were made possible with the support of many local businesses and community partners. Pictured above, from left, this year’s Silver Sponsors: Alyssa Martin from the Camrose Public Library; Val Sims from the Canada Day Committee, on behalf of CJ Sign Shop and MNW Accounting & Tax; Kassidy Baumie from Vision Credit Union; Jennifer Kohlman from Vision Credit Union; Samuel Bowen from Camrose Home Directory; mascot Ole Uffda; Chris Karnitsky from Safeway; and Sachin Lappakkaran Babu from Wild Rose Co-op.
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CPL DONATION
Nadine Leming, Camrose Booster

The Camrose Public Library recently accepted a $1,000 donation from the Family Thrift Shop. From left, Alyssa Martin, CPL executive director, and Linda Butler Dunn, Thrift Shop board of directors.
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CWSS SUPPORTED BY KINGMAN

Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster

The yearly Canada Day festivities in Camrose were made possible with the support of many local businesses and community partners. Pictured above, from left, this year’s Silver Sponsors: Alyssa Martin from the Camrose Public Library; Val Sims from the Canada Day Committee, on behalf of CJ Sign Shop and MNW Accounting & Tax; Kassidy Baumie from Vision Credit Union; Jennifer Kohlman from Vision Credit Union; Samuel Bowen from Camrose Home Directory; mascot Ole Uffda; Chris Karnitsky from Safeway; and Sachin Lappakkaran Babu from Wild Rose Co-op.

MS Bike Tour stops in Camrose

by Nadine Leming, Camrose Booster
Ms bike tour 1
Team Renew Raging Rollers have been longtime riders and supporters of the MS Bike Tour. For them, this event is about building community while raising money for an amazing cause. Diana Nelson, spokesperson for the group, said, “When you meet people with MS and hear their story, it keeps us wanting to do this over and over.”
Ms bike tour 2
Team Shifting Rears were one of the top fundraising teams at this year’s MS Bike Tour that happened June 27 and 28. As one of the top teams, they enjoyed some downtime and dry in a tent provided to them by the MS event organizers.
Ms bike tour 3
Events like this can’t happen without the dedication of volunteers like these. Their passion increases the awareness of the disease while helping the event run smoothly and encourages the riders to keep going.
Bonnie

Reflections

By Bonnie Hutchinson
 
What’s scarier? Thunder, lightning or the naked man?
 
I’m startled awake at 2:30 a.m. by a crack of thunder.
Though this July has not been as hot as most, there’s still been a few nights of lightning and thunder.
The thunder is doing that low rumbling thing. It being the middle of the night, I’m sleepy. But I’m not going back to sleep what with that low rumbling in the background.
My mind drifts to thunderstorms past…

***

July, sometime in the 1950s. Our family – two grown-ups and four kids – lived in a 625 square foot storey-and-a-half home in the brand new “west end” of Camrose (now considered part of central Camrose). Everyone on our block is in a newly-built home.
In these small-town days, nobody locks the house doors. There’s no need, and besides, it would just be a nuisance to stop and fumble around for a key.
Our neighbours on the block are mostly other
young families. However, the people next door, Mr. and Mrs. Windel, are an older couple. Their grown children live far away. Mr. Windel’s job takes him away from home frequently and Mrs. Windel is left alone.
We’re friendly, but not in each other’s pockets.

***

It’s a hot July; lots of thunderstorms.
Even as a kid not paying much attention to grown-ups, I can tell that Mrs. Windel’s fear of thunderstorms is not typical. Other people might not like thunderstorms much, but Mrs. Windel’s fear is something different.
On a sunny summer morning, she’s looking to the west, saying, “Looks like it’s clouding up. I hope there’s
not a thunderstorm tonight.” I can tell she’s going to worry all day.
Our mom tells Mrs. Windel she’s welcome to come to our house during a thunderstorm if that would help.
A couple of evenings, Mrs. Windel does, and goes home when the storm is over. Again, I can tell that the kind of fear Mrs. Windel is feeling is different from anything I’ve noticed in other grown-ups. As an adult, I’d say it was something like “primeval terror.”

***

It’s such a hot July that grown-ups are having trouble sleeping. After we kids are asleep upstairs, our parents decide that, rather than try to sleep in their hot cramped stuffy bedroom on the main floor, it would be cooler to sleep in the living room – right by the front door. They open up the davenport for a makeshift bed.
It’s too hot for blankets, but they do have sheets.
They settle in for the night as best they can.

***

They are awakened in the night by a crack of thunder.
And – within seconds – the sound of a shriek, as
Mrs. Windel flings herself through the front door. She is terrified.
So is my dad. There’s a woman in the room who is not his wife – and underneath that sheet he’s wearing nothing at all. Trapped!

***

Clearly Mrs. Windel is not leaving until the storm is over.
Our mom (who’s wearing a filmy but respectable nightgown) offers tea and begins some distracting chat with Mrs. Windel. Dad stays on the davenport, clutching a sheet to his chest.
A few days later, I overhear my dad telling the story to a friend. “I think – I hope – she was too scared to notice there was a naked man in the room,” he says. And the two men laugh.
And no, my parents didn’t start locking the door after that.

***

So – what’s your most memorable thunderstorm?

 
***


I’d love to hear from you. If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, e-mail Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com. I’ll happily reply within one business day.