Page 10 - Sanger Herald 9-27-18 E-edition

Lifestyles
SANGER HERALD • 2B • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2018
A love story that owes a bit to seasickness
Sanger
Editor’s note: This is the first in a what is intended to be a continuing lighthearted series on love stories that focus on how a couple met.
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Lee MacDonald first met Margaret Emery when he took a job as a claims adjuster.
She worked in the office in Fresno.
“He was a ratty looking guy,” Margaret said. “He had been in Europe, and all he had on were these clothes he’d been wearing for some time.”
Lee had just jumped ship in Boston to get out of his nine month work contract aboard a Swedish freighter. He’d just shipped through a typhoon and spent seven days in sick bay as his sea legs disappeared. He decided the misery couldn’t compare to the comfort and rock-solid stability of land- lubbing Sanger.
Lee and Margaret didn’t hit it off right away. Lee even wore the wooden shoes he’d picked up in Copenhagen. But there was a spark, something that kindled the desire to get to know one another better. And in the months that followed their introduction, even though neither would admit at the time, there
To get an item into the calendar, email details to nemethfeatures@gmail. com or call Mike or Sharon at 559-875-2511.
Sanger Farmers Market & Street Fair is planned from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 29 in downtown Sanger. The theme of the night is car show night with Califas Fest. The market continues through the month. Details, 559-875-4575.
The Sanger Rotary Barbecue Fundraiser is planned from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at the King’s River Winery, 4276 Greenwood Ave. There will be food, drinks, entertainment and live auction this year. There will also be a silent auction that includes desserts. The meal includes tri-tip and chicken, chili beans, bread roll, salad and rice pilaf. Cost is $25 for adult, $10 for children’s meal.
HOPE Sanger’s Rack of Ribs Fundraiser is planned at noon Sept. 29 at 502 L St. Cost is $20. Details and to pre-order, 559-824-4280.
AMVETS chili dogs
Key to a Happy Heart — Part 2
In Philippians 2:12-18, Paul describes ways we lose our happiness.
He then shows the ways to keep joy permeating in our hearts. In verse 13, Paul says, “For God is always working in you, giving you both the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him.”
Let’s look at this verse word by word. “God is always working.” The word “working” in Greek is energos, from which we get the word “energy.” God is the energy driver in your
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Lee and Margaret MacDonald have been married 49 years. Their story started with a barbecue.
So he stuck around. Margaret said the other women in the office took a liking to the big guy, and even her roommate tried to date him. But Lee only had eyes for Margaret.
He may not have known how intensely he felt. And, in fact, a year passed before Lee made his move. And it came in low- key fashion. Lee bumped into Margaret and her roommate somewhere in downtown Fresno. He’d gone with others from the office for an after-work beverage.
“I was walking down the alley,” he said.
Minding his own business. Probably like George Bailey in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” when he wanders past Mary’s house.
“And I invited myself over for dinner,” Lee said.
“He says, ‘What are you having for dinner?’” Margaret said.
“She was a pretty good cook,” Lee said about his feelings afterward.
Margaret was taken a little by surprise at this but rebounded quickly. She couldn’t remember exactly what she cooked. “I think I barbecued something. I was getting kind of Mmmm- hmmmm.”
They dated several years. “My boss said, ‘Margaret,
noon May 7. The club is at 1602 Seventh St. Details, Liz Hudson 559-779-1569.
The Lock It Up Sanger High School Youth Coalition is seeking members interested in learning about prescription drug abuse and gaining professional development experience and community service hours. Leadership training, public speaking and media projects are part of the program. The group meets at 3 p.m. every Monday in Room 330 at the high school, 1045 N. Bethel Ave. Details, Frances Nixon 559-244-3617 or fnixon@ healthcollaborative.org.
American Red Cross Central California Region is looking for volunteers. Give relief during disasters, connect with community and offer hope. Details, volunteer.centralca@ redcross.org.
The annual Sanger Police and Fire Open House is planned from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at 1700 Seventh St. There will be helicopter landings, food and an opportunity to meet Sanger’s first responders. Pictures can be taken in the jail. Details, 559-875-8521,
guard dogs in your life are goodness and mercy. God’s goodness is the perfection of God himself from which flows virtue, moral excellence and benevolence.
There is nothing I can do to earn my salvation. God gives the things you don’t deserve. God’s mercy is the forgiveness and pardon he gives from his grace. We deserve punishment because of the sin in our lives.
He doesn’t give you the things you do deserve. In your life you’re going to need both goodness and mercy.
he’s never going to marry you,’” she said. “But he did.”
Margaret then said, “He’s not romantic.”
Lee’s expression changed. A smile formed as he nodded his head. Both sat in their living room telling the story.
Then he proposed.
“He picked me up at my apartment,” Margaret said. “We were going to his parents house.”
Lee pulled a box from his pocket and gave it to Margaret. Inside was his grandmother’s ring. “I said, ‘Are you sure?” she said.
He was.
“I was so excited,” Margaret said.
She had been raised by her grandmother, Helen Cavalla, and she recalled that the excitement extended to her as well. “Grandma loved him,” she said.
They went on to have one son, Ian Alexander. They moved to Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin before coming back to Sanger to farm. The pair were named Mr. and Mrs. Farmer by the chamber of commerce in 2011.
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
Jensen Avenue Cleanup by the Sanger Parks and Recreation Division and Sunset Waste Systems is planned from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 4 with volunteers meeting in the parking lot behind Wal-Mart. The target is between Bethel and McCall avenues. Details, recinfo@ci.sanger. ca.us or 559-876-6300, ext. 1430.
Healthy Halloween returns from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Sanger Youth Center, 818 L St. The Sanger Parks and Recreation Division again stages an event celebrating the harvest season with treats, tricks and games. Participants are asked to come dressed in costumes. Details, recinfo@ci.sanger. ca.us or 559-876-6300, ext. 1430.
Life Tabernacle United Church plans a block party at 1 p.m. Oct. 27 at 1810 Swan Ave. Details, 559-875- 5309.
Reedley College plans a fundraiser for a proposed performing arts center from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Kings River Winery, 4276 S. Greenwood Ave. Cost is $55.
you, I’m not just in you, I’m for you. If you want to keep a happy heart, you need to get up every morning and say, “God, I thank you that you are going to be with me, you are going to be in me and you are going to be for me today.
Now that creates a happy heart.
Pastor Sam Estes is city advance director and facilitates the Sanger Community Task Force that meets the first and third Tuesdays every month. He can be reached at pastorsam51@gmail.com.
ignited a passion that would span more than five decades and continue in the present day.
“Watching Margaret and Lee together is a delight,” said Jeanne Adams, who has worked closely with Margaret at the Sanger Woman’s Club. “They are funny, loving and obviously devoted to each other.”
Lee and Margaret are like most couples. They have a story. Theirs shares similarities with untold
return from 5 to 8 p.m. the third Wednesdays of the month. The Fish fry will be the first Friday of every month. Everybody who’s anybody will be there. Come early. It’s popular. There will also be kraut dogs, mustard dogs and Frito boats. Details, George 559-286-5667.
The Sanger Eagles’ taco nights are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month. Breakfasts will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. The location is 225 J St. Details, Jim Batten 559-875-6820 or Denny Noller 559-392-1936.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training is planned from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 2 and 3 at the Wilson Community Resource Center, 610 Faller Ave. The two-day workshop is free and designed to teacher intervention techniques for somebody at risk. Details, Stephanie Collison 559-524-6681.
The Sanger Community Task Force meets at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 2 at the Sanger
life. You’re not just going on your own power. You go on God’s power. He gives you the power. It is God working in you.
And no matter what you’re facing, God declares, Iaminyou.Notonlyishe in us, He is with us.
John 14:18-20 says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will be with you ... and you will realize that ... you are inMe,andIaminyou.”
That’s quite a promise. God says not only am I with you, I am in you. The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:3 that we are hid with Christ in God. The Bible says ChristisinmeandIamin Christ; that we’re hid with
others over the millennia. But theirs is unique. They built a marriage that has lasted 49 years, taken them into multiple states and situations and brought them back to their family homestead on a hill overlooking miles and miles of fields in the verdant central San Joaquin Valley.
“We got married in 1969,” Margaret said on a recent afternoon. She smiled. So did he. Both clearly enjoyed traveling ever so
Community Center, 730 Recreation Ave. Subsequent meetings are Oct. 16 at the Sanger Chamber of Commerce, Nov. 6 at Proteus Inc., Nov. 20 at Calvary Fellowship Church, Dec. 4 at Life Tabernacle Church, Dec. 18 at Life Tabernacle Church. Details, 559-250-6433.
Meet the Candidates forum held by the Sanger Woman’s Club is planned from1to3p.m.Oct.20 at 1602 Seventh St. The event includes those for the city council and Sanger Unified School District board. Refreshments will be served. Details, 559-531- 5067.
The Sanger branch of the Fresno County Public Library has reopened after an extensive remodel and has restarted its At the Library with Friends program which begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 Acoustic Highway playing oldies; Oct. 15 Patrick Contrerras and his electric violin. At 10:30 a.m. Oct. 27 a grand reopening is planned with face painting, ice cream, magic, dancing and the music of Hugh Taylor and the Wing Walkers.
lightly into memories of their early years.
Lee was 29, Margaret 24 when they wed. He was 6-foot-4, she was 5-foot-5 with ginger red hair.
Nothing happened right away after they met.
“When I took that job, I was only going to be there a year because I had a position in LA as a stockbroker,” he said. “But I liked Margaret, and I enjoyed the job I was doing.”
Preschool story time is at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday. Read to a Dog with Vinny! is the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The Builders’ Club for Lego enthusiasts is the second and fourth Wednesday. The library is at 1812 Seventh St. Details, 559-875-2435.
The Sanger Woman’s Club monthly luncheon meetings include author and speaker Beth Bridges on networking for business and social circles at noon Oct. 2; Working for Causes that Matter with Julie Mendoza of HOPE Sanger and Jerry Valadez with SAM Academy at noon Nov. 13; Ring in the Holidays with Song with Dan Warneke, Sanger High choir director; Osher Lifelong Learning Center at Fresno State with Jill Wagner, executive director at noon Jan. 8; Looking back with John Alkire, Big Fresno Fair chief executive and museum curator at noon Feb. 5; Helping Students with Mary Castro, wife of Fresno State president at noon March 5; the Sierra National Forest at noon April 2; Sanger’s new Mother of the Year at
Sanger News & Community Calendar
PASTOR’S CORNER
Christ in God; and we’re sealed with the Holy Spirit.
That means for the devil to get to you he’s got to get through the Trinity! That’s
pretty good PastorSamEstes protection. Not
Shepherd’s Psalm. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” The whole psalm is about David being a shepherd to his sheep and God being a shepherd to David. It says,
only is God with us and in us, the Bible says God is for us. Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can defeat us?”
Let’s look at these three phrases “in you,” and “with you” and “for us.” I love this verse in Psalm 23 that says, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”
This is known as the
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me.”
When a shepherd leads the sheep, there are always guard dogs at the back. And these little guard dogs are nipping at the back. So as the shepherd leads them, the guard dogs behind keep the sheep moving in the right direction.
The Bible says that the
God says I’m not just with