Nobody Asked Us, but ... Maizie ticks off No. 50 on state visits

Back from Alaska ... where all the towns are glorified Virginia Citys, the scenery is magnificent (just like here), and you can eat 24/7 and lose five pounds. It's probably all that walking from stem to stern, since nothing is on the same end of the ship that you are going to (well, you get the idea). It was the last state Maizie had not been in ... now she has to decide what to complete next. It was a fun trip.

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We'd like to take a moment to thank Eunice Kennedy Shriver, posthumously, for bringing our developmentally disabled people out into the open through Special Olympics. Before the Kennedy family did this, people were hidden away and never spoken of. Once Special Olympics was established, things got a lot better for them, and other people found out what capabilities they have, both through sports and education. Quite a legacy to leave behind, not only for the U.S.A., but for the world.

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Another legacy, but a living one ... Mike Lloyd, the bartender at Adele's, gave a kidney to a friend and neighbor. They are both doing well, and Mike should be back to work soon. Stop in and tell him thanks. That's what heroes are made of.

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Apropos of the goings on in Afghanistan, courtesy of Stacie Peterson and the Internet: "Barbara Walters did a story a while back on women there walking five feet behind their husbands. She recently returned to Kabul and noticed they were now walking 10 feet behind. She spoke to one of the women and mentioned that since the Taliban were now out of the area, why did they still keep the old custom they were so desperate to change. The woman looked at her intently and replied, 'Land mines.'"

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Happy Birthdays go out to Jim Clift, Brian Whalen Sr., and Terry Ward.

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Lots to do this week: the Carson City Historical Society puts on its annual Ice Cream Social today from 6-8 p.m. at the Foreman-Roberts House Park, 1207 N. Carson St. $3 per person for lots of fun. "Jazz! Carson City" music fest will be on Aug. 21-23 all around town with Sole Jibe, Cami Thompson and the Mile High Jazz Band for starters. Go to www.jaz

zcarsoncity.com or 883-4154 for additional information. Wild Horse Children's Theater will present "A Year With Frog and Toad - Kids" beginning at 4 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Children's Museum. And the Unnamed Acting Company will present the comedy, "Loving Lives," starring local teens, at the Children's Museum also, beginning at 7 p.m. Aug. 21. Tickets and information on both shows can be obtained by calling 887-0438.

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Thanks to Andy Mackenzie and Karen Peterson for lunch the other day, and to Kim Johnston the next. We could get used to this. Another "get well soon" to Roger Maillard, who is still fighting the good fight. And congratulations to Charles Jennings on his graduation from the WNC Police Academy ... his mom and dad are so proud, as they should be. We also heard from Clayton Settle, who reads us on Yahoo! at Texas A&M ... go Aggies! Pretty neat to hear from him.

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We hear that the free classic movies at the Galaxy Theaters may be changing their policy and movie choices on Monday mornings, and start charging seniors $2 a show. We tried contacting the theater manager, but the phone system wouldn't let us through. While we were told the fee will "go to schools," we hope they rethink this policy, since many of the seniors who attend cannot afford even that amount. It is sometimes the only "outside" entertainment they have. It was such a great program, we hope they'll reconsider.

• Carolyn Tate and Maizie Harris Jesse are longtime Carson City residents. They can be reached by e-mail at editor@nevada

appeal.com.