We all meet the new neighbors

From left, Wes (who didn't bring a joke tonight), Gary, Carolyn, 
Kathleen, Stan, Shirley, Greg, Phyllis, Lisa and Vance. (Photo by Kacie)

Special guests at the Abbey Point monthly dinner (first Wednesday of the month, the civil defense siren is your dinner bell) were Gary and Carolyn, who moved here from Nisswa last week. They have friends in Prior Lake and family in Rosemount and Chaska, so Shakopee is a nice location for them.

Season finale
 Our part-time waiter, Kacie, served her last table until
next spring tonight, as the clubhouse winds down
to its winter schedule. Thanks Kacie!

Retired pilot Gary flew red-tailed Northwest airplanes, and tonight Carolyn clued us in on the reason the tails were painted red.
According to the table talk, Northwest got its start during World War II as contractors on the Alaska-Canada Highway project. A red tail and wing tips made it easier to find a downed plane in the snow, so the company painted them and didn't stop doing so until it was acquired by Delta a few years ago.

Our retired flight controllers, Tom and John, were not at tonight's dinner. They're on a river cruise in Europe with their wives, but Gary gave a nod to them, in reference to our neighborhood tarmac parties.  "Those guys were never down on the tarmac," he grinned. "They were always in the tower. But I am used to having flight controllers telling me where to go so I am sure we won't have a problem."
On 9-11, Gary found himself high over the Pacific Ocean, hearing bits and pieces about the nation's emergency. He was grounded for five days in Guam.