Bruce Dietz
Interviewed July 2016
Tell me something really wonderful that happened.
Well, I met some good people. A lot of friends I’ll have for the rest of my life that lived here. I’m sorry some of them passed away. Like Shannon and Dotty. They were waitresses at the [Bluebonnet] Diner. They lived downstairs. They’re now deceased. Norma was Shannon’s grandmother but she managed the [Lodging] the best she could for being an elderly woman. She did better than the younger guy that took her place.
I remember my 40th birthday. Even though the office was closed, Norma knocked on my door. She said, “Can you come across the street to play Keno?” And I go, “Norma, I don’t feel well.” I was going to walk her across the street so she could play Keno. And there was all the Diner employees plus customers filled the whole bar up on my 40th birthday party. I was so embarrassed.
How sweet!
I don’t know how she set it up. Her and Shannon. They got me good. That was a wonderful thing. She always remembered me at Christmas.
She didn’t drink or smoke. The one time the Patriots were playing the Packers in the Super Bowl. And they were behind. And the Patriots went ahead a little bit. She knocked on my door. She didn’t smoke, didn’t want a drink or anything but she sat there and watched the game with me.
We had people that didn’t belong here. She has been threatened by people. I helped her out one time when I wasn’t supposed to because they could get sued. I threw [a guy] out into the road there. But like I said, she did the best she could.
When did she pass?
She passed away about four years ago. Maybe five. She was seventy five or six. But like I said, she was just like your grandmother. She alway[s] took care of you.