Betty Larson Butcher is in town until Labor Day

Emily got to go on a field trip to the newspaper office with Grandma and Grandpa today. Before departing, they got a phone call from Alexandria. It was from Betty Larson Butcher. (Photo by Mel Gilman)

Sure enough, John Herdan is correct.
John spied Arkansas plates in the Larson driveway as he sped through town last week and had a flash of insight. Betty's back, says he. Indeed, Betty Larson Butcher and her husband, Perry, are in America's Vacationland, just looking to relax. She called Stan's house this morning.
They have finished moving to their new home in Arkansas and now they want to chill. The other home sold immediately, miraculously.
Perry has been doing some golfing and he also likes to play Texas Hold 'em.
I told Betty we'd try to get up a poker table soon. She's been playing dice with Bobby Watson, but, she says, he likes poker too.
Kathleen and I will be coming to Alex soon to see Mom at Knute. She's doing much better after her falls, and now they're getting her off the pain medication, so the improvements continue.
Betty says that when she returns to Arkansas she will be performing in an October classics concert for two pianos and a friend. She may be using Mom's unused grand piano to practice on this summer.
Betty has seen Lynne Spellman too. And Kathy Aga.
Betty resolves to learn how to use a computer this fall so she can get connected with everybody. That, she recalls ruefully, was her resolution last year as well.