NOVEMBER 2000 --
A CELEBRATION HONORING THE GARRISONS AND THE KRUGERS
Our November meeting was devoted to celebrating and honoring two women (and their equally hardworking and supportive husbands) who have been core members of the Twin Cities Puppeteers for more than 50 years--Edna Garrison and Mary Ellen Kruger.

Throughout all those years they have been among handful of people who make things go--organizing, planning, toiling and spinning--and working behind the scenes in whatever projects the Twin Cities puppeteers has undertaken, in whatever capacity they were needed. Very often their skills have been applied to matters of food and refreshments.

Earlier this year a number of people, having had a chance to meditate and contemplate on all they have done for all of us, decided something should be done to overtly show our appreciation. Some of us are Norwegian and need to be shown that it's okay to express appreciation right out loud.

So Karen Backes, Diane Rains, Vicky Kline, Wayne Krefting, Kurt Hunter, in conspiracy with several others, cooked up a plan and sprung it during our regular meeting in November.

First it was decided that the King, Paul Eide, would make them members of his Royal Court, but crowning them as princesses.
This move, of course, would automatically designate their husbands "prince consorts" (which sounds vaguely naughty, but isn't necessarily.)

Bill Garrison, second from left, and Wally Kruger (blue shirt) have always been right there working side by side with their wives.

In all the party organizing (and other activities) the two couples have done, there's never been Edna without Bill, or Mary Ellen without Wally.
Leading off the program, Bil Bug and the Forest Floor Players, managed and manipulated by Wayne Krefting, provided some entertainment, including a musical number by Irma--think that's her name.
Then, with no rehearsal whatever, Karen Backes and Paul Eide got behind Wayne's stage and enacted a scene dreamed up by Karen in which Wally and Mary Ellen are cooking up some "Kruger Potatoes" for a guild event.
Equal time for the Garrisons. For years Edna and Bill have been in charge of refreshments for our meetings, and are usually bustling about in the kitchen preparing beverages and snacks.

This tabletop mob scene was an impromptu version of what might go on in the kitchen if everyone decides to get into the act.
Then Calvin the Alligator made a special appearance to sing the praises of the Krugers and Garrisons.

Somewhere in there is a Kurt Hunter. You figure it out.
And there was a cake, of course. This time (and probably this time only) others of us did the serving.

Garrisons and Krugers had the day off.
As a somewhat tangible token of our appreciation, the Guild presented each couple with a gift certificate for the Chanhassen Dinner Theater.

Mary Ellen on the left, Edna on the right, and Diane Rains doing the hugging in the middle.
Before it was all over there had to be a toast.

Looks like champagne, but it's some kind of juice. Close enough.

With everyone gathered together on one side of the room, we could have had a group hug. But before that could happen it would have to be real champagne. And lots of us. Some of us are Norwegian, remember.

Congratulations and thanks to Mary Ellen Kruger and Edna Garrison, and to Wally and Bill, good friends to all of us for more than 50 years
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