Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Lynda Jensen Column, 2/24/03



Vicky Berg stopped by to drop off some old photographs
and somehow we got into a discussion about antiques.

She told me that the Antique Road Show’s definition of
“vintage” is something less than 25 years old.

Something “antique” is more than 25 years old,
she said.

“Jami, that makes you an ANTIQUE,” I told my
co-worker (her grandson).

“You’re more of an antique than I am,” he calmly
replied.

Drat! He’s right. I’m his senior by (cough) a few years.

Then I checked the mail in Howard Lake, and repeated this
information to Sue Claussen at the post office.

She corrected me, saying “antique,” is something
more than 100 years old.

I’m happier with the second definition . . . being that
I’d rather be known as vintage than as an antique ­ quite yet.

I did a bit of Internet research, but found nothing except
expensive antiques for sale.

I can’t afford antiques, but I am working my way up by
starting with “unfashionable” or outdated furniture ­ which,
I believe, is the predecessor to “vintage.”

I myself am unfashionable, but working my way toward vintage.

Seriously, this vintage/antique question is a mystery for
my readers. Are there any antique buffs out there who know? I will print
answers.

My mom used to make goulash for us quite often. It’s a
hamburger dish with elbow macaroni and tomato sauce.

Years ago, whenever we weren’t eating cabbage, we were
eating goulash.

To this day, I can’t stand the sight of cabbage because
my mom made it 60 different ways. Yuck!

I recently served goulash to my kids and you’d think I
was trying to poison them.

I forced my son to eat his bowl full, and later, he told
his dad (between sobs) that Mom MADE him eat goulash! Actually in his defense,
he was tired.

Gee whiz! And to think we ate our goulash without complaint
for nearly two decades.

I’m still reading books on the Civil War and thought I’d
add a bit of trivia for readers.

I got these questions from Tidbits of the Twin Cities,
a newsletter (realbits@quest.net).

Civil War trivia:

1. At the beginning of the Civil War, how many other nations
supported slavery?

2. Julia Ward Howe wrote “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
and sold all rights to the song for how much money to the Atlantic Monthly?

3. When four million slaves were freed after the Civil
War, what percent of them could read and write?

Answers: 1. Two countries, Brazil and Cuba. 2. Five dollars.
3. Ten percent of them.

“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel
a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.” – Abraham Lincoln

“If you put a chain around the neck of a slave, the
other end fastens itself around your own.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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