Oh Captain, My Captain … Kangaroo

Most celebrities I will never get to meet. But in 1987, I met a television celebrity in Green Bay, Captain Kangaroo.

It was a breakfast for young children, but many parents came because they grew up watching Captain Kangaroo as I had.

This column is about seeing a visiting celebrity.

Of course, Captain Kangaroo is gone from regular TV but the shows and clips can be found on youtube.

Captain Kangaroo is behind friend Michael, Russel is in blue, and Rachel is far right

Thank you Bob Keeshan for 29 years of fun for children, starting in 1955.

Copyright © 2021 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserve

Inventing a day to celebrate

I get an email every day from National Day Calendar telling me what is celebrated today. BTW: Today is National Dog Biscuit Day.

This column from 1987 talks about other days of celebration.

I think my dog Sunny and his canine friends invented National Dog Biscuit day! Sunny wants to celebrate by eating treats all day long.

Copyright © 2021 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserve

A salty treasure

How do you decorate a home when you are broke? When Bob and I were first married in 1973, I rummaged at sales for salt and pepper shakers. They cost a quarter then.

Here’s a column about opening a box filled with my treasures from 1987.

These are just a few from my collection. (The glass bird and ceramic angel are not shakers.)

I don’t buy any salt and pepper shakers any more. Their too expensive these days, so I guess I do have a treasure after all.

Copyright © 2021 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserve

A family story that still makes me smile

Life on Sunnybook Farm has been documented in my column for over 40 years.

This story from 1987 brightened my day when I came across it in my archives. Poor Rob was completely shocked by what his little sister did, or thought she did.

I hope you enjoy it, too.

I cherish this family story and think how lucky I am that my column helped me save it all these years.

Suggestion: write down one of your own family stories today.

Copyright © 2021 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserve

Dad’s funny story retold

My dad told all kinds of fun stories about his life. This is one of my favorites. If you want a laugh listen.

I asked him to tell this one over and over again.

You can see how I took this story and fictionalized it in my novel, BARLEY SOUP AND SLUG SPIT.

I also have copies to sell and they are for sale at Sissy’s, too.

Copyright © 2021 by Susan Manzke, all rights reserve