The southern comedian was raving about how nice Minnesota is. “But,” he said, “the thing I don’t understand is that you’re always gettin’ ready for somethin’. If it’s spring, you’re gettin’ ready for summer. If it’s summer, you’re gettin’ ready for fall. If it’s fall, you’re gettin’ ready for winter. And if it’s winter, you’re … Continue reading "Gettin’ Ready"

We should all go back to school. Yes, I mean that. Think of the many things we take for granted in our daily lives that are always changing, such as traffic laws, tax laws, using the internet or that new gadget. Did you think that the rules you studied for your driver’s license would never … Continue reading "Back to School"

With a thump, the twine-bound papers landed on our front porch reminding me that it was time to get moving. People were waiting for the news and I had to get it to them. I long had wanted to be a paperboy. That was a cool label to have as a kid. You could brag … Continue reading "Paperboy"

The bad guy always got it at the end. We all knew it and could often even predict how it would happen. Mine was the generation of TV Westerns, first in black and white and later, magically, in color. I was recently surprised to hear friends admit that they watch reruns of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The … Continue reading "Gunsmoke and Mirrors"

With a yank on the handle, the clerk sent the money car shooting up its zip line to the cashier, who was upstairs watching over us all. The sights and sounds of those flying transactions from the various clerk stations in the Farmer Store in downtown Red Wing are only memories now. But that store … Continue reading "My Old Downtown"

I suppose it was inevitable. Groups of girls from the Red Wing High School class of 1973 had already had many get-togethers, including my classmate missus. It was now time for some of the boys I hung out with back then to get together. Planning the get-together was started more than a year ago by … Continue reading "The Boys of 1973 Reunion"

I soared last month. With only air currents for power, I touched the clouds on a beautiful August day and felt the power and confidence of an eagle. I was a passenger in a glider owned and operated by a former colleague. Don Ingraham now runs a business called Cross County Soaring out of the … Continue reading "Soaring Like an Eagle"

The checkout line was slower than usual. I looked ahead and noticed an elderly lady trying to use her credit card. She obviously had never used the latest credit card reader. She was told to push it into the slot. “What slot?” she asked. After some kind help from the cashier, she figured it out. … Continue reading "Checking Out"

The crushing sound was more than I could bear and I had to look away. I hadn’t expected a demonstration of the compacting ability of the garbage truck when I rented a Dumpster to dispose of things saved over most of my life. I thought they would just quietly haul it away and tenderly lay … Continue reading "Goodbye to Yesterday"