March 6, 2019
Last summer and fall, two famous Minnesota athletes, Lindsay Whalen and Joe Mauer, caught my attention after their retirement announcements when they publicly thanked everyone who helped make their success possible. Next, Alan Page, retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and National Football League great, issued a statement expressing gratitude when receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a White House ceremony.
February 17, 2019
The past few years, I have expanded my reading of print books. Often, I will learn of books from reviews in newspapers and magazines or from suggestions by one of my children.
February 3, 2019
My sister recently sent me a picture of her granddaughter, Hannah, a first grader, lying on her stomach, on the floor, reading a thick book. Other books are randomly strewn across the floor, and a bookshelf appears in the background. Like Hannah, I learned to read in the first grade, and reading has been one of my true loves since.
December 4, 2018
Watching the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers in this fall’s World Series rekindled memories of my childhood as an avid baseball fan and my experience viewing the Minnesota Twins participate in the Series three times. The Fall Classic was also a good time for me to reevaluate my love for America’s pastime, a passion that I started and nurtured as a childhood fan of the Milwaukee Braves.
October 22, 2018
There are many benefits to having a doctor—in this case, brother-in-law—in the family. He can translate and interpret medical terminology and information from doctors into plain English. We can consult with him on medical issues. Sometimes, he will speak directly to the doctor for us.
September 6, 2018
I don’t know when or why I developed a taste for or interest in animal crackers. I don’t recall eating them as a child (though I probably did), and I don’t remember my children eating them often. It’s ironic because I am not interested in animals, and I rarely take time to look at the various animal designs before pushing them into my mouth as if eating my late mother’s delicious oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies.
August 7, 2018
Typically, once a week or more, I receive an email from the Wall Street Journal saying “we want to inform you of unexpected challenges with delivery in your area which may result in not receiving your newspaper today.”
July 7, 2018
I have never invited a door-to-door salesperson into my house to demonstrate vacuum cleaners. In fact, my wife is the expert family consumer and user of vacuum cleaners, and she doesn’t entertain door-to-door vacuum-cleaner hawkers. Nevertheless, I was appalled to read the April 17 Star Tribune story “Vacuum sales take pushy to new level: door-to-door tactics by company frighten, anger residents in several cities.”
June 24, 2018
May is the most beautiful time of the year, with buds of our big front-yard apple tree exploding into wondrous white blossoms and the lilacs on the side of the house peaking in purple with their sweet scent. The reawakening of trees and flowers forms a colorful backdrop for celebrations of graduates and mothers.
June 1, 2018
One should aspire to and pursue one’s dreams and goals. Recently, I was pleased to see that David A. Longanecker, one of my top bosses and a national leader in higher education, has achieved his goal of becoming a truck driver, a goal he had articulated for many years.