Tales from Bruce's Harem

by Marvin Baldwin, Butlerville, IN, USA

At AAVSO meetings, Martha Hazen, Secretary and active participant in meeting activities, generally abandons her husband, Bruce McHenry, to fend for himself. But Bruce, who once worked for the National Park Service, retains an enthusiastic interest in wildlife and bird watching, and is familiar with scenic territories all over the country. To say that he manages to overcome his boredom with our meetings is a gross understatement. Other abandoned spouses tend to drift in his direction and have now attained the unofficial title of "Bruce's Harem."

During one outing at Hyannis the group stopped at a restaurant for lunch. The waiter made some comment about it seeming odd, Bruce having all these women in tow. But one woman piped up, "Hey, don't be pickin' on him. His wife is having a good time with all our husbands locked up in a dark room somewhere."

Bruce made arrangements for the group to go out to sea on Friday in search of whales. A most apprehensive Bertie Baldwin allowed herself to be talked into joining the group and worried most of the previous night about seasickness. But once the whales showed up she promptly forgot to get sick and returned that evening with an enthusiastic tale about nearly 30 whales of various species and more than a hundred dolphins putting on a nice show. But poor Bruce couldn't get through the day without a setback. He showed up, just as the Friday afternoon paper session was breaking up, with a first-aid patch on his forehead. He was accused by more than one jealous husband of getting fresh. Turns out he had tripped over a curb and fell, resulting in a small cut on his head... or so we were told.

Following the highly successful whaling expedition on Friday, a group of ladies decided that the adventure should be continued on Saturday by taking the ferry to Nantucket, returning in time for the banquet that evening. But, alas! When they arrived at the ferry landing they were informed that the ferry was fully booked. Someone mentioned that there was an air service to Nantucket ... problem solved. They were off to the airfield. As it was a short hop of only a few minutes from the Cape out to the Island there was no co-pilot, so Barb Kaiser asked and gained permission to sit in the co-pilot's seat. As the pilot prepared to do his preflight checks Barb tried out the controls, turning the wheel, pulling the yoke back and forth and actuating the rudder pedals. She turns to the pilot faking excitement, "Why, this is going to be fun!", then innocently adds, "Is this your first flight, too?"

Rumor has it that "The Harem" is already looking forward to and laying plans for the Spring meeting in Huntsville, Alabama.