Crazy Crap Item #244: The part where I receive an amusing request and a delightful compliment, both by way of Mr. Czajka and Laura Ingalls Wilder

Incident #1

So, as I have mentioned before, my good friend Mr. Czajka is more than just a little fond of "Little House on the Prairie." He has virtually memorized all the Little House books, and wrote fantastic online reviews of all season of the television show. He has traveled to all the major Laura Ingalls Wilder tourist traps, investing at each a small fortune in books, souvenirs and other praire-bonnet paraphernalia. (He's also obsessed with the Mormons, but that's another story.)

As an, I guess, not unexpected result of his fanaticism, coupled with his remarkable connections in the world of public television, Czajka was recently offered a plum side project: to act as historical consultant for a new musical of "Little House," starring Melissa Gilbert in the role of "Ma." He negotiated a deluxed compensation package, which included samples of all the show's branded souvenirs and a new I-Phone, which he claims was payed for by Ms. Gilbert herself. (Get a load of the excellent educational guide he produced for the show.)

Coinciding with the premiere of the show in Minnesota, Mr. Czajka was quoted in a CNN article, saying this and that about the history behind the production, half-pint, and other related topics.

Some weeks later, what should appear in my inbox but an intriguing missive begging to be forwarded on to Mr. Czajka himself. The writer of said email identified himself as an author who had published articles on one Ms. Anne, the lass of Green Gables, Canada's answer to Lil' Laura. He had found my multiple mentions of Czajka in this very blog, and wished to apprise him of a poll designed to determine who was more popular: Anne or Laura. I, of course, forwarded it on immediately.

Later, I received another missive from said Anne expert, pointing me to the outcome of his tussle with Czajka and Half-Pint. Let the games begin!

Incident 2

As Little House, the Musical, just had its first public appearance at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Mr. Czajka was on hand to see how things went. He notes, "They've done alot to it since last summer and it's looking pretty good. I cried four times. . .while taking three pages of historical notes for the director."

But his report on the Little House opening included a curious note for me personally, one that put quite a little bounce in my step, I must say. To wit:

Anyways, the artistic director of the Paper Mill Playhouse is Mark Hoebee. 'Memba him. I've got to say that he has a mind like a trap. Iwas talking with one of the producers and he came up to me and said,"Did you go to Northwestern?" Mind you, I recall having two conversations with the man. Never took a class with him.

He asked me when I was there, and I told him, and rattled off the shows I worked on. And he said, "Oh! Meet Me in St. Louis! There was that Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers number with that guy. . .Ben. . .and that woman. Cute short brunette." To which I replied "Yes, Kay Peterson." And he said, "YES. She was always so great on stage. She did Nunsense, didn't she?" And I said yes, and he said, "Is she here now? Is she acting?"

And I told him that you had given up the wicked stage and were a matron in Chicago.

Even we matrons like a little recognition now and again.