Murdock Muse May-June 2003 - Part 3


TRAVELING TIME
Nancy Murdock

Bob and I will be on vacation in CA from May 16 through May 27. If you need to reach us during that time, we will keep Ian & family and Meri informed of our whereabouts and telephone number.

We're really excited about this trip. First of all, we will help celebrate the college graduation of Christel, who is our first grandchild to graduate from college. And she did it cum laude! We'll also celebrate Natalie's graduation from high school, a little in advance of the actual event. Pretty special - the two sisters graduating in the same month!

Secondly, we're looking forward to visiting the CA branch of our family, including three generations of our own descendants and some Howlett cousins.

And thirdly, the farthest we've been since last August was a day trip to a quilt show in PA. These traveling boots haven't been getting much wear lately. Bob doesn't particularly like those long car trips any more. However, we will be attending the Howlett Reunion on July 5 and will hope to see a lot of you there!


REUNION
Nancy Murdock

Here is an update re the Howlett Reunion. May 4, Polly Soberg: The reunion is on July 5th from noon to 5 pm at John and Cathy's house. I expect it is rain or shine, as they are to have a tent. We were at their house yesterday and they are formulating the plans. (Click here to read John and Cathy's article from last issue, which tells what they would like to have you bring, if possible.)


BOB HOPE TURNS 100 ON MAY 29
Bob Murdock

I remember several things about the old entertainer. He was a master, maybe the greatest, at quick quips and ad libbing. I enjoyed him in several movies, especially "Road to Rio" and others in that series with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. His radio programs, sponsored by Pepsodent, were a staple in the forties and fifties.. And he was justly famous for entertaining the troops.

He crossed my path in late 1944 when I was attending a Navy electronics school at Navy Pier, Chicago. After a notorious meal of "beef tips", we all assembled in the large auditorium to see and hear the great comedian. We weren't disappointed, as he came through with an hour or so of entertainment for us. Funny thing - he surely had guest performers along, as on all his shows: a band, sidekick Jerry Collona, and singer Frances Langford. But I was so awe-stricken by the king of comedy that I don't recall the others.

I do remember one joke that he told us at Navy Pier. An old-time sailor had been away from home a long time, maybe three years. He came home to a warm welcome from his wife. When they went to bed, he noticed that she took off her wig and put it in a drawer. She took out her dentures and put them in the drawer. She disconnected her wooden leg and put it in the drawer. Then she put her clothing in the drawer.

The befuddled guy didn't know whether to crawl into bed, or into the drawer!

Hope told us other jokes, but that was about the most risque, and the only one I remember.

A hearty greeting to the old trouper on his 100th birthday May 29, with many thanks for entertaining millions of us over the years.


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