Jill's Journal: SDNA, Alex Johnson and Wall Drug donuts
What do the South Dakota NewsMedia Association, the Alex Johnson Hotel in Rapid City and donuts from Wall Drug all have in common?
Actually, not much, that is unless you combine them over a stretch of about 35 hours.
And that’s just what I did late last week as I steered the Buick west on I-90 to Rapid City, more specifically to the Alex Johnson Hotel. As for the donuts, they’ll come in later in the story.
My trip to Rapid City was the result of my election to the South Dakota NewsMedia Association Board of Directors. Last year, I had been asked to consider a five- or a three-year term. I opted for the latter after learning the five-year term set you up to be the president.
I was told our quarterly meetings are typically held in Brookings or Chamberlain. It was at the convention earlier this year in Huron that I learned our July meeting would not be in either of those locations, but instead, would be held in Rapid City.
Our meeting destination was the Alex Johnson Hotel in downtown Rapid City. I’ve long been intrigued by the historic 10-story hotel that dates back to 1928 and has stories of ghost sightings. I learned that floor eight is where they most often make their appearances. I was assigned to a corner room on the seventh floor. I must admit, I kept an eye peeled for any ghosts floating about, but as far as I could see, I was the lone occupant of room 704. Had I spied a ghost, I’m not sure just how I would’ve reacted, but I suspect a clean pair of underwear may have been warranted.
As for Wall Drug, well you should know that I can’t make a trip to Rapid City from Brandon without steering the Buick into Wall, more specifically, Wall Drug. It’s not the free ice water that draws me in, but it’s the tasty donuts they crank out daily. They’re available in four flavors: plain, chocolate frosting, white frosting and maple flavored frosting.
When the gal behind me announced, “$95 and some change”, had my teeth not been attached, I’m almost positive they would’ve fallen out on the stainless-steel counter.
With my teeth in check, my pocketbook a bit lighter, and armed with orders from friends and my own want, I carted three dozen of the bad boys home, making a conscious effort to put them where I surely couldn’t reach them.
I’ve eaten three of them. I gave two to a friend. As for the remaining seven, they’re tucked away in the freezer for those donut emergencies.
What’s a donut emergency you ask?
I’m sure it’s not a thing. But when you have them in the freezer, any time’s a good time for a donut emergency.