March 23, 2009, was a beautiful spring day in Burbank, Calif. Actress Marion Ross and actor Paul Michael met Arnie and me at the airport and we spent a relaxing afternoon at their Woodlands Hills home, named Happy Days Farm. Paul prepared a lovely meal for us and we had a wonderful time catching up on their busy schedules and what is going on in Albert Lea. We retired early that evening as we had been up since 2:30 a.m. their time.

Tuesday morning they picked us up and we headed to Paramount Pictures for a private tour that Marion had arranged. We were able to visit Stage 19 where Happy Days was filmed from 1974 to 1984. After the tour we had lunch at the dining room at Paramount and as we were finishing lunch, longtime producer A.C. Lyles joined us and entertained us with his story with Paramount Pictures.

He is 91 and started working for Paramount at age 14 in Florida and then came to California after graduation and worked his way up to be a producer. He worked with many of the presidents and was very close friends with Ronald Reagan. A.C.’s mind is sharp; he is a wealth of history and was a delight to meet. We walked with him back to his office and he shared stories and pictures with us before we left for our next stop, which was the Craig Ferguson show on late night, after the Letterman Show. We were in the audience and Marion was on the show. (While she was in makeup, we were in the green room for refreshments until it was time to be seated in the audience.) She was great, with her warm Midwestern smile; you can’t help but love her. Marion has a twinkle in her eyes and she is always thinking; you never know what she might say next. She enjoys life and is always positive. From there we went on tour through Hollywood to see the stars, Marion showed us where her star is located and then we were off to San Remo, one of their favorite Italian Restaurants. We enjoyed another fabulous meal complete with dessert and then they delivered us to our hotel, The Marriott Warner Center, Woodland Hills, about 20 minutes from their home.

Wednesday morning Marion and Paul joined us for breakfast at the hotel and then we headed for the ocean. We stopped along the road several times to enjoy the view and then proceeded to Malibu. The beach was spectacular and so clean. Marion and I rolled up our pant legs and waded in the ocean. We ate some fruit in the car and headed back stopping on the way at the Santa Monica Pier for photos. We then returned to Happy Days Farm and the guys relaxed on the patio while Marion gave me the grand tour. They have a lovely property and a warm, welcoming home. We met their new puppy, Blanche, and enjoyed tea or lemonade on the patio. Marion shared that she is in a new Hallmark movie that will air this fall — “The Flower Girl.” She plays the grandmother of the bride. She and Paul will be performing “The Last Romance,” that was written especially for them, at the Globe Theatre in San Diego in the fall of 2010. While we were there, they received a call about another job they will consider, so as you can see, they definitely stay busy and are not retired. We can be so proud that Marion calls Albert Lea her hometown, she is as wonderful off the screen as she is on screen. She is one very special lady! Five years ago I would have never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to meet Marion yet alone talk with her regularly and have her as a friend. We should all learn from her example that if we want something bad enough we can make it happen. We just have to think positive and keep trying. She has worked hard to get where she is and I am proud that I have gotten to know her. She and Paul are wonderful and the vacation was perfect!

This Wednesday at the museum we will have our third day of Discover History. This is the 12th year we have done this program in cooperation with District 241. I want to say thank you to Jim Haney and Kurt Barickman for making this project work and to the 11th-grade humanities students who have worked hard to make the presentations interesting for our area fifth-graders. To the adult mentors that have worked with the students and to the extra volunteers that have helped last week and this week to make this event possible.

We wish all mothers a happy Mother’s Day from all of us at the Freeborn County Museum, Library & Historical Village. And very special Mother’s Day wishes to our TV mom, Marion Ross! You are the best!

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum in Albert Lea.