BREAKFAST CLUB OF GRAND RAPIDS
Established 1936 – John A. Collins, President
UNIVERSITY CLUB
111 Lyon St. N.W. #1025, 10th Floor of Fifth/Third Bank
WEDNESDAY, December 18, 2019 – 7:15 a.m.
We may be old, er, veterans, but for some reason the spirit of the Yule Season brings back memories of yore: hitting that guy next door with a snowball; building a large snow fort; and a diet less snow man, er, person. Some of us may also remember the wonderful stories from our beloved relatives – “The Night Before Christmas,” and Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” For some of us the TV had not yet replaced the AM radio. To heighten those days of yesteryear, we have again invited JoeAnne Peterson, story teller, director, teacher, actress and bon vivant. She has been asked to tell us another story about her six-foot tall Nordic grandmother who ruled the family roost especially during the holiday season. The presentation is the “When Swedish Eyes are Shining.” Yes, if you know a Nord, or two, invite them to your Breakfast Club for our last meeting of the Year. There is no guest charge for potential members. Oh, and don’t forget the TEN colorfully decorated Meijer gift cards that lucky BCers will take home. You can’t win if you are not with us.
Invocator: Carl E. Ver Beek, Esq.
Introducer: Dr. Roger Ellis
The Beloved Swedes: “This letter is too heavy," the post-clerk stated, "You will have to put on an additional stamp." The swede looked wonderingly at him, "Will it be lighter then?" he asked.
Paraprosdokian: I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not so sure.
Christmas: “Early in life I developed a distaste for the Cratchits that time has not sweetened. I do not think I was an embittered child, but the Cratchits’ aggressive worthiness, their bravely borne poverty, their exultation over the wretched goose, disgusted me. I particularly disliked Tiny Tim (a part always played by a girl because girls had superior powers of looking moribund and worthy at the same time), and when he chirped ‘God bless us everyone!’ my mental response was akin to Sam Goldwyn’s famous phrase, “Include me out.” Robertson Davies, Canadian author and philosopher.
