I think most people in this area felt the earth shudder Saturday evening when an earthquake measuring about 5.6 on the Richter scale blew out of central Oklahoma and cut across Kansas. Almost everyone who has commented on it has added, “That’s the first time I ever experienced anything like that!”

I am a bit miffed that after 40 years in Kansas I am finally accustomed to all the tornado hoopla and suddenly the game plan changes. An article Monday in a large metropolitan newspaper said Oklahoma had a huge ‘unexplained’ spike in the number of earthquakes in the last year. Swell.

It is still not enough to make me want to move back to the cold frozen north, but living in a state with both tornados and earthquakes is just a smidgen over the top in my book.

*****

It was nice to see Peabody’s downtown crowded with people Saturday. Most of the businesses that were open reported a banner day for sales and store traffic. We auction folks had fun down at the site of the Weber family auction. We decided several months ago that for sheer volume, this sale would beat just about any one-day auction we ever had. We were right. Never have we had a full hay wagon of Christmas miscellaneous or linens; half a wagon maybe, but never a whole one.

And I had a personal moment of age-awareness that bordered on shock. Over the years I have watched items that were part of my childhood become collectible. It has been fun to reminisce about the toys and dolls and television heroes of those years. However, I never thought I would live long enough to see that ugly vinyl luggage we all took to college become a hot commodity on the auction scene. We used to throw it away after every auction because we couldn’t get a bid.

Now I know why my mom wasn’t very excited about my round oak table back in the 1970s.

*****

As we approach this 2011 Veterans Day, I hope you will remember a veteran you know or to whom you are related, and I hope you will offer up a word of thanks for their sacrifice. Send a card, write a note, visit a hospital or nursing home and express your appreciation. You may not have a chance next year.

They gave for all of us. The least we can do is honor their efforts.

— Susan Marshall