Fat Tuesday

Today is Fat Tuesday. Oh my, I just realized that I didn’t have my homemade donuts today. But, I don’t think I know anyone that makes homemade donuts for Fat Tuesday anymore. Do you make homemade donuts? St. John’s Catholic church in Woodland makes them the first weekend of each month, I’ll have to buy some this weekend. It’s not the same as having them on Fat Tuesday!

Tomorrow is March 1st: March, the snowiest month in Duluth. March is the month of high school hockey state tournaments. The month that gives us hope for winter’s ending and spring coming soon. This year March 1st, also marks Ash Wednesday in the Christian Church, the beginning of Lent. 40 days before Easter. March also brings Daffodil Week for The American Cancer Society. I’ll write more about that later this week or next. It brings Mardi Gras in New Orleans, which I hear they will be having this year, in spite of Katrina.

My friend Lois wrote today about “Fat Tuesday”, the day before Ash Wed. The women of our church that I grew up in, made homemade donuts and sold them that day. My Grandmother always helped to make them. I remember how good they were, and remember Mom telling me they were made for “Fat Tuesday”. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I understood what that was all about! Click onto Lois's Blog link on the left side of my blog, if you would like to read more about the history of Mardi gras and Lent. She has written a nice piece about the history, and traditions of Mardi gras, Fat Tuesday, etc. I couldn’t say it better, so will refer you to her writing.

I don’t think I will ever get donuts as good as the ones that the Ladies Aid from Red Mount Church made!

VOTE TODAY!

Today - "on your to do list"
No matter what your opinion is - exercise your right to VOTE!

Changing the World

No stories tonight. Just a short thought to share. A letter to the editor in the newspaper made me think. David from Duluth asked "What's the best way to change the world for the good?" He thought that Oprah and Billy Graham both had the best idea: "Change the heart (Oprah) The heart is at the root of all of our challenges, (Billy Graham)." How do we change the heart? One point he made was that we need to follow the Golden Rule. We all know we should, do we remember to practice it? As he said, "For everyone to be more friendly and smile at others more, and ask how their day is going, would be another way to start this heart-change the world needs. " A good thing to remember and strive toward each day!

Duluth's Future - Be a Part of It!

YOUR CHANCE TO SPEAK ABOUT DULUTH’S FUTURE
Duluth Comprehensive Plan

Do you know about the Duluth Comprehensive Plan? My friend, Vicki wrote a letter to the editor the other day reminding us about the opportunity we have to be part of the planning for Duluth’s future.

Vicki went back to school after her daughter was grown and gone from their home. At the time she did this, I thought her very brave, because it meant spending a year in Rochester, hours away from her husband in Duluth. She lived there to finish her degree. She earned a degree in Urban Planning. She has been able to use that degree to work with the city planners that are working on a long term Comprehensive Plan for our city.

In her letter to the editor she wrote that this is no ordinary time for Duluth, for which changes are happening. Building projects are happening. Professionals, service industries, staff for service industries, students and people nearing retirement are coming to Duluth. Vicki asks us “what do you want for Duluth and where do you want it? If you want businesses to come to Duluth with jobs for our children, where do you want to see them? When young people come to Duluth and look for housing, where should residential opportunities exist for them. Why did you move to Duluth? How do you like it? What made you stay? Answers to these questions may help you realize why it’s necessary to preserve Duluth the way you want it.”

Your chance to help keep Duluth the way you think it should be: Attend one or all of the upcoming public meetings about Duluth’s Comprehensive Plan. The meetings will include opportunities to break into small groups and share ideas and feelings about the draft land-use map and to share priorities for the future land use in Duluth. Consultants, city staff and comprehensive plan committee members will be there to hear your thoughts. Each meeting will have the same format and same information presented so people can go to one or to all three and hear opinions from people throughout Duluth!

These are all happening this week! If one is not noted on your calendar already here are the dates and places:
Tomorrow evening, Feb. 27 6:30 pm at City Center West – 58th W/Grand
Tuesday, Feb. 28th 6:30 pm at Lake Superior College
Saturday, March 4th 9:30 are at the Environmental Protection Agency
6201 Congdon Blvd. (across from Brighton Beach, Hwy 61)
I am with Vicki when she tells us not to miss another opportunity to speak up and be heard regarding where you would like new development or open space. Remember, it's YOUR city! Speak up!
PS…If you are a native of Duluth, don’t let us “transplants” make all the decisions.
Take an interest in your beautiful city. (spoken by a happy transplant)

Grandchildren - Another of Life's Blessings

Madelyn - age 5 - Christmas, 2005
and her Mother

Grandchildren

Skylar - Our grandson -Ready for the Prom, Spring 2005

Good Visit

We are back from Hudson. We visited our daughter, her husband, Bob and our grandchildren, Madelyn and Skylar. There was only a sprinkling of snow left on the ground there. The weather was almost 30 and sunny yesterday. The men went to the Metro Dome in Minneapolis for a Golf trade show. Dawn and I went shopping at one of the many malls in the area. She does not care to drag me to the Mall of America (World’s largest Mall) because she knows her Mom is not much of a shopper. She knows I can only tolerate shopping for an hour, maybe two at the most. We made it through 2 hours, with a stop for coffee in between. I did find a bargain on a clearance priced winter coat, and bought another pair of shoes like I bought last time I was with her, in a different color (and they were on sale). I also discovered last visit with her that I liked the Herberger’s store, so that’s where we did most of the shopping after a stop at Marshall Fields. While I rested periodically, she would run into other small specialty stores.

Our son in law, Bob is a great cook. In fact, he’s the major cook at their home when he is not flying. He is a pilot, and takes the vacationer’s to places such as Las Vegas, and Mexican sun spots, they have a lot of business in the winter in Minnesota. The charter company he works for is owned in major part by Northwest Airlines. Their pilots are talking about striking, if the judge lets them (they are in bankruptcy). We are all hoping the pilots don’t strike, as that will impact the charter company. He may lose his job. We do try to stay positive though, he said their pilots are pretty confident that the judge will not allow them to strike. It is hard for them though, to live under the cloud of the possibility of losing a job. Due to this worry, Dawn does not shop like she would like to!

This weekend Bob was home. This meant we would get a wonderful meal on Saturday night! He made us the most delicious mouth watering steak and a fish called “grouper” (that I’ve never heard of). He put it in an incredible tasting sauce that I was quite rich and flavorful, but fattening! Of course, he does all the trimmings with the meal, including the dessert. It was a better meal than we would have had if we had gone to a restaurant, and much more relaxing. What a great topping to a good day.

A lot of my evening was spent playing “school” with 5 year old Madelyn. This is what she insists that Grandma play with her the last few times. She has graduated from us playing with her dolls to playing school. This might be because she is in kindergarten this year, and still finds school exciting. You know, of course, what role she always plays, the teacher. A very bossy teacher at that! Grandpa or her Dad plays the part of the principal, and at least once, I get sent to the principal’s office! When she tires of that, then she wants to play a game. We played Memory, and the “Old Maid” card game. Remember these games from your childhood. They are still around. I had to laugh though; she always called the Old Maid “The Old Lady”!!! (See the photos above of the grandchildren taken at Christmas).

We also made a stop at the local McDonald’s fast food restaurant. Skylar, our grandson, just started a job there 2 weeks ago. So far, they have him in the drive through window taking the money. So of course, we had to go through so we could see him on the job! He is enjoying the work, says he sees a lot of people he knows. He’s looking forward to getting his first paycheck. He worked until 9. When he came home, he wanted to hang out with his Grandma. He and I are very close, I think because until he was 5 years old and they moved from Duluth, I was his major caregiver, while his Mom worked, and we bonded…that bond is still there. I’m so thankful for that. We always enjoy our time together. When Grandma finally tires out and goes to bed, then he hangs with his Uncle Rob, who he is also close to.

I didn’t tell you how the guys liked the golf show. Bob said they got their exercise walking down to the floor from the top, and then walking all around to see all the displays. My Bob was an athlete all his life. He played baseball on two ball teams, up to when the boys were old enough to play ball. Then he coached little league, and settled in to watching the boys play baseball. He watched Scott play hockey and go the whole way through 4 years of college baseball. I tried over the past 10 years to encourage him to play golf. He always said he would never play that game. Couldn’t see the sense of chasing that little white ball around! Our Scott and Rob both golf. Funny thing, last spring he actually said that he would consider trying it. I bought him clubs for Father’s Day, and now golf is in his blood! He played and played last summer. He’s looking forward to another summer of golfing. Hence, the trip to the golf trade show. The reason I say, “funny”, is because I think he took up golf because the boys play. Now he has a sport once again, to share with his adult sons. I’m very pleased that they can do this together. I’m pleased that he has found a new hobby too. No, Mom is not going to learn to golf. This will be a sport for the guys! Mom will relax or blog while they golf!

Summer Dreamin'

Winter Still Boss

This mornings newspaper headline in the local section of the Duluth News Tribune: "Winter comes back with a bang" and it says "Winter reminded Northlanders who's boss Friday. By 9 pm, 11.1 inches of snow had fallen in Duluth, according to National Weather Service." We now have 20 inches of snow on the ground. The article goes on to say "At times Friday, the snow was coming down faster than 2 inches an hour. Slippery conditions and blowing snow created havoc on the area roads." "The weather Service is forecasting that Duluth will have mostly sunny conditions by early afternoon today, becoming partly cloudy later. The high is expected to be about 20 degrees.

We are off to Hudson, WI to visit the kids!

Bob's Thoughts on the Snow

Oh my, Bob didn't get home till after 7 tonight and he is NOT happy! He works on the other side of town, "downtown" where they never get as much snow as we do up at our house. He was so surprised to see all the snow we had up here, I said "did you forget you live in the snow-belt?!"...9 inches so far, and no snowplow. He didn't think we'd have that much, listening to the 2 - 4 inch forecast. He and Rob are out there with the snowblower. Now, tomorrow morning he will be taking snow off our roof before leaving for Hudson. We have to get snow off our roof, or ice backs up and we risk getting a leak.

8 Inches & Still Snowing

March is soon upon us - the snowiest month
Today we were to get 2 – 4 inches. We should know by now, to beware, when the weather man says the snow won’t amount to much; the opposite usually happens…lots of snow! It started snowing around noon and came down fast. People kept coming into our office and saying “it’s bad out there”. By 2:30, a few staff had left for meetings out of the office, and called in to tell us that the visibility was very bad and that we should all head for home. Lucky for our office, when we tell the operations department in our region that the weather is bad, they are concerned that we get home safely. Not all employment places in this town are like that. I remember when I worked at the bank years ago, the bank never closed, and never let any staff leave unless “the city pulled the buses” as they would say. I guess they always figured people could take a bus home. Oh, I do remember now, that if you lived outside the city or off the bus line, they were more lenient. So, as office manager, I called the head of operations, told him of the weather, and he gave permission to pack up at 3.

When going home during a snow storm or snow fall, with our hills here in Duluth, you take a moment to stop and think about the best way to get to your house. The least amount of hills, the streets that are more level and traveled enough to plow through the snow, but not too much traveled that there’s a lot of traffic. It takes knowledge of Duluth, and a lot of thought to get home with the least amount of hassles! Living here as long as I have, has given me a lot of knowledge of how to drive in bad weather. I don’t even get as shook up as I used to!

I had to make a stop for gas, since I had almost an empty tank, and then headed up the hill that I thought would be the best to get up “The Snow Emergency” route. We have some routes where they are to keep open more than others. It wasn’t one of our steepest, the one I usually take to get over the hill to my house, is very steep. The cars were lined up the whole way up to Woodland Avenue. Cars were slipping and sliding. I tried to stay a safe distance behind, there are 3 lights on that Avenue, and of course I sat through many red ones. I turned right on 4th Street (a level street) so that I didn’t have to go the whole way up to the top. There was a lot of snow. It didn’t seem that the plows were out at all. Some times when it snows so fast, as it was doing, they don’t plow. I forgot to get milk at the gas station, so stopped and got milk at one closer to home. Everyone was talking about how difficult the travel was. I asked where the plows and gravel trucks were on the snow emergency route of 21st Avenue. To my surprise I was told the snow emergency route is 24th NOT 21st. Well, no wonder I had so much trouble! Guess it’s been so long since I had to deal with driving in this stuff that I forgot which avenue the emergency route was! I made it to our street, and shoveled an area in front of the house, to get the car as close to the curb as I could. I don’t like to put it in the driveway, until the men of my house snow-blow, otherwise I might get stuck!

Now you may know, my husband, Bob is a fitness guru these days, and goes to work out after work every day, no exceptions. He does not let the snow scare him off (note, I used the snow as an excuse not to stop there tonight!). Rob works late tonight, so they will be out there cleaning well into the evening. One good thing, the snow is light and fluffy this time, and it’s fairly warm. The weather man just said that we got 8.4 inches over the hill here, and will probably get one more inch. It’s to taper off around 6 pm. I hope it will be done, because we plan to drive to Hudson tomorrow to see our daughter and her family for the weekend. I just heard that it was 41 degrees and sunny in the Twin Cities (Mpls.-St. Paul) today and no snow on the ground!

Now, about the photo above, this is from our one and only snowstorm we had this winter. It is our house. Note how beautiful our trees in our yard and neighborhood are after a snow fall. I just realized when I was posting photos last night, that I had these, and thought I’d use them some -time I wrote about snow, I didn’t have to wait too long did I?

PA Family Photos/ Hope and Matt's Wedding

Brother Tim, Sister-in-law Vickie, their grandson, Bailey and Skylar (my grandson)

Parents of Bride (my sister Julie) &
My Brother Steve and Sister-in-law Donna

Matt & Crystal (nephew)>>>

Hope and Matt

My niece Hope and her Matt, at their wedding reception, August, 2005.

Some PA family photos

Here is a photo of my Aunts (Hope's Great Aunts). Aunt Sylvia is not in the photo, she had gone before the photo was taken. This was at Hope's bridal shower in August when I was home. My
grandson Skylar went home with me and that is him on the right.

Hurray for Parents!

Photo - Hope's parents and her brother

July, 1970 – don’t remember the exact date; think it was the first week, my parents made their first visit to Duluth to see us. Mom told me they would be staying overnight one night and taking their time, and when to expect them. I was ecstatic, Bob could barely keep me from jumping over the moon, and I couldn’t wait to see them. They would be bringing the three younger children. Jerry and Steve, both teenagers, would stay home and take care of the milking, chores, etc. around the farm. I would not see them, but I would see the other 3 and my Mom and Dad! Tim was 11, Mark 10 and Julie, 8 years old. We were not expecting them to arrive until that Sunday evening. We were coming home from church, driving up First Street toward our apartment building. As we rounded the bend, I saw Mom and Dad’s station wagon in our parking lot! They were sitting there waiting for us to come home! It was so great to see them. They told me that they drove all night instead of stopping to sleep over. Dad told me that they started looking for a place to stay too late and didn’t see a place, so he kept driving. Aahh—Mom whispered to me, “don’t believe him, he wanted to drive straight through because he was so anxious to see you!” My Dad gave me a big bear hug and I didn’t want to let go of either of them when they hugged me. The little ones told the story of how they couldn’t believe how long the trip was and how far they had come. I helped raise these three until I left home; I can’t begin to explain to you how much I missed them.

That reminds me of the trip Bob and I made driving to PA when our daughter Dawn was about 4 years old. We were just leaving Superior, going through a stretch of a rural area. She saw and barn and immediately thought that it was Grandma and Grandpa’s barn and that we were almost there! We laughed. We also would laugh at the kids when we would leave the Ohio turnpike, going onto the PA turnpike. They would see the sign entering Pennsylvania and think we were almost there. Actually, we had about 6 more hours of driving to almost the other end of the state!

Anyhow, their visit was wonderful. I took them to the spots I had taken my aunts and uncles. We went on the Vista Queen boat cruise. The kids really loved that! My Dad especially enjoyed it.

I had been telling them all summer that it was cold here, not very warm for summer. Of course, while they were here, we got one of those “heat waves” and it was so very hot. All the windows in the apartment were painted shut; the only one that would open was the small bathroom window and the screen door. My Mother told me we had to get “air” into the place. It was the first that it was actually hot, and wouldn’t you know it would happen then. The next day she insisted we go to a store and buy a FAN. We went to Shoppers City; the fans were all SOLD OUT. They told us they were sold out at Target too. They would put our name on a list for the shipment coming in the next day. The next day we got our fan. Mom paid for it. It was one of those big “box” fans. It did the trick, made us all more comfortable. We still have the fan, it comes out every summer during our “hot spell”, except, this past summer we didn’t need it. We put a ceiling fan in the living room and that seemed to be all we needed. I can’t give the fan up though; every time I see it I remember that first visit.

As I said, this was the first visit of many. I should count sometime, exactly how many times they came…but it was on the average of once every 2 years, until the late 1980’s. That last trip they told me would probably be their last, as Dad’s health was getting increasingly worse. Mom always said that they would come as long as they “were able” but often stated to me that the day would come that they would not be able to make the drive. She kept trying to prepare me…but I never wanted to face that day, but the day did come. I wanted them to fly, but they were not “flyers” as they would say, I just could never convince them to try it. In 1990, Julie and Ron drove out in a van, and brought Mom along. That was the summer when we had our first grandchild, so she was able to see and hold Skylar. I have great photos of them together. Dad didn’t come, because by then he was on oxygen. When they returned home, Mom had a blood clot in her leg from the long ride. So, needless to say, that was her last trip here.

In 1992 I took a part time job. I told Bob that from then on, I would be going home at least once a year, since my parents couldn’t come out.

My Mother told me the same thing my sister said after visiting Hope and Matt. She felt better after seeing where we lived, and knew that we were fine. I know that feeling too, now as a Mother. Our daughter lives 2 ½ hours away, nothing compared to 24. I always feel better after returning from a visit with her and her family! I’m so thankful that they are only a few hours from us.

I had some extra perks here that Hope and Matt don’t have. I had my Mother in Law, Bob’s four wonderful Italian Aunties, a neat Finnish Uncle, and lots of great cousin in laws! (Some day I will tell you about them). My Mom and Dad knew that I was in good hands!

Parents Travel

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth

My niece married in August on a Saturday and she and her husband left right away on Monday for Delphi, Indiana, where he was working. He graduated from Penn State and became employed as a Mechanical Engineer in a small town in Indiana, 12 hours away from their home. As you can imagine, this move was hard not only for Hope and Matt, but most especially for my sister and her husband. Matt hopes to be able to find a job closer to home eventually, but in the meantime, he must pay his dues and know that in the small towns of southeastern PA, there are not many mechanical engineering jobs for a recent college graduate.

Their move reminds me so much of my move to Duluth 36 years ago. Bob and I married on a Saturday and left home for Minnesota on Monday also. Hope is very family orientated, as I was. She misses her parents and her family very much, I know how she feels. I have been thinking a lot of her since August. There is one thing she has going for her, that I didn’t - her husband is also away from home and missing everyone. My husband WAS in his hometown by his family. I know that Matt relates so much more to Hope’s loneliness for her family, than my husband did.

This past weekend Hope’s parents and brother (my sister), traveled 12 hours to visit Hope and Matt. Julie told me that they drove straight through, anxious to get there. She said it was so good to see them and they had a wonderful visit. I know, as parents, how much better they now feel, seeing exactly where they live, the town, the house they are in, etc.

This reminded me of the first time my parents visited us. Remember, I was raised on a farm, with cows to milk, chickens to feed. They told me when I married and left home not to expect to see them in Minnesota. My parents never went anywhere overnight in all my growing up years. We never went on vacation, as so many of my friend’s families did. I used to get upset that we could never go to “the shore” where everyone would talk about, the first couple days back to school each Sept. The “shore” referred to the shores of Atlantic City (before the casinos), Rehoboth Beach or Ocean City. These beaches were within a 3 – 4 hour drive of Southeast PA. In the 50’s and 60’s, it was “the place” to vacation. Mom and Dad always used the reason “we can’t leave the animals”. When I was older, I realized that the reason was also that they didn’t have money to travel or vacation. That would be a luxury not afforded to farmers.

As I told you, that first winter here I was so very homesick. I think if I had been a days drive from home, I would have driven there myself….but two days…24 hours…I just couldn’t. Of course, you know that I begged, pleaded and cajoled every time I talked or wrote to them that they just “HAD” to come to Duluth, but no commitments from them. The two brothers close to me in age, were old enough, that they could leave the farm work to them, so I kept reminding them of that.

In late June, 4 of my aunts and uncles took a trip west together. On their way home, they made a stop in Duluth to visit us. I was never so happy to see anyone in my life! I will never forget the anticipation of their arrival and the happiness I felt when they got out of their car! They were only here for a few days, I can’t remember if it was 2 or three, but I was so thrilled to cook for them and especially to show them around the city I now lived in. We went on the Vista Queen cruise. It was not until then, that I understood what the port meant and what went through here. I saw the grain elevators and the iron ore docks for the first time. I saw the city on the hill from the water. Awesome! I saw the canal for only the second time, and I showed them the new Marine Museum, which was pretty new then. It was my first time at the museum. Seeing the museum also helped me to understand about the port activities. The canal area looked completely different then, than now. These were the days before the city decided that “tourism” might be a good thing. Other than the canal and the aerial bridge, the museum was the only thing worth seeing in that are. It was a district of run down buildings, old warehouses, and various small businesses. The new marine museum building STOOD out like a STAR in that rundown area!

Before they went on their way out of town, I made Uncle Dick promise to me that he would talk to my parents about coming out. I told him to map out the trip for my Dad, since he never traveled. I told them to all talk to them and convince them that they just “had to come out”. Uncle Dick, Aunt Sylvia, Uncle Bob and Aunt Sara (my Dad’s sisters), were the first then, to visit us in Duluth.

Tomorrow I will let you know about my parents’ first visit. Yes, they did finally make a trip out to see us. It would be the first of many trips to Duluth for them.

The DECC

When I came to Duluth in 1969, the Duluth Arena and Auditorium was only 3 years old. It was built in 1966 on a former ship scrap yard. A referendum was voted on to get enough public support to authorize 3.2 million in city bonds. It passed with 62 percent of the vote. It was paid in part by city bonds and 1/2 by a federal economic development grant. There have been many changes to this location in the last 36 years. In 1976 Pioneer Hall, with a sheet of ice for curling and hockey practice, was built. In the mid 90’s a convention center was added, to draw conventions to our city. A 12,000 square ft. ballroom and additional 25 meeting rooms on the harbor side made for a great place for weddings, meetings and other events. It opened in 2001. The Omnimax Theatre was built in 1996. This complex has come to be known as The DECC (The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center). It has become home to The Duluth Superior Symphony, Minnesota Ballet, and the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog Women and Men’s Hockey team, to name just a few of the activities that take place at the DECC.

Big news and question now in 2006 is about another DECC expansion. A $67 million expansion hinges on a referendum the citizens of Duluth will be asked to vote about on Tuesday of this coming week. Voters will be asked to endorse a .75 percentage point increase in the city’s restaurant food and beverage sales tax, raising it to 9.75 %. If approved by the Minnesota Legislature, the addition tax would be used to pay for the city’s share of the expansion. Our governor is using Tuesday’s vote as a test to decide if the legislature will give their support of $33.5 million for the project.

Proponents of the expansion say it is needed to boost the local economy. It includes a new hockey arena for the U of MN Duluth (UMD) men’s and women’s hockey teams. UMD belongs to the WCHA league. Duluth’s capacity for hockey attendance is 5,333, the smallest arena in the league. Other events could also take place the same time as the hockey games, by using the existing arena.

The concert promoters say we need a larger arena for bigger and better known acts. With an additional 22,000 sq. ft. of floor-show space, the DECC could host another 10 major conventions a year.

One thought many people have is that our city is in financial problems already. If the proposal fails the lawmakers and the Governor will most likely vote against support.

Many I’ve talked with are against this, and many are for it. Will it only be those that are against, that make the effort to vote, or will we have a good voter turn out? It will be very interesting to see what develops. To fellow Duluthians, I say: whatever your opinion is, please go to the polls and VOTE on Tuesday.

Resources: http://www.decc.org
www.duluthnewstribune.com (2/19/06)

A Scenic Drive

The wind chill was -36 below zero this morning. I slept in! I did hear on the weather that it is very cold other places too, not just Duluth. That’s nice to know, since we get such a bad reputation for cold here.

Last year at this time, Mari Anna, the Income Coordinator in our office gave her notice. She had only been at the job a bit more than 3 months. She was one of the staff that I did support (they call it that these days, instead of secretarial) work for. She called me “her assistant” and told me that if I hadn’t been such a big help to her, that she would not have lasted 3 months. She gave me a gift certificate to a restaurant, as a thank you. It was to a cute little spot up the North Shore of Lake Superior that sits by the lake with a beautiful lake view. I’ve heard about the restaurant, but also heard that it is swamped during tourist season, so I decided to wait till the off season to use it. I realized the other day that it expired on 2/26/06.

I really didn’t want to go out in the cold, but also knew that next weekend we are busy, and evenings are too hectic. So, off to the Scenic Café for lunch! What a beautiful drive it was up the North Shore highway, which runs right by Lake Superior. The sun was shining so beautifully, and the lake just glistened. It was the most beautiful shade of deep blue. It was a delight to behold on a cold winter’s day. We had a great lunch, and we have enough $ left on the gift certificate to go another time. It was a quaint place with homemade food, and a great view. We really enjoyed it, and we will go back!

I must thank Mari Anna for giving us the opportunity to try a new dining spot and for a scenic drive along Lake Superior, at a time of the year that we would never think to do so. Thank you Maria Anna!

How Do You Sleep?

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth

There are two things that have been going on in my life these days that I haven’t written about yet. One is about being overwhelmed at the job getting ready for upcoming Daffodil Days in March, and helping to get all the area relays going. I’ll talk about that another time, because when I get home from work these days, the last thing I want to talk about is work. Blogging has been a great diversion from thinking about work in the evenings!

Another thing is something that I will experience for the first time tonight. I’ve been debating with myself whether I should write about this. I guess I will get brave and tell you about it. On Feb. 6, I spent the night sleeping in a hospital room. It was for a “Sleep Study” that my doctor recommended that I have done. They hooked me up to all kinds of wires all over my body and monitored my sleeping throughout the night. The nurse told me she would know my “every move”. It was a very weird experience. I had trouble falling asleep, even though I was very tired. I was to report there at 10:15 pm. The admitting was running behind, so got into the room later than expected, and until they hooked me all up, it was midnight. At 2:30 am, the nurse came in and told me that I was waking up every 10 min. or so, not sleeping very soundly. I didn’t realize it. She put a mask on my face, which pushed air into my nose, making you breathe through your nose. The next thing I knew she was waking me at 6:30 am. The nurse told me that I slept very well after having the mask.

Now, some of you already may know someone who has been diagnosed with “sleep apnea” and wears a “mask” at night to sleep. The machine that provides the air is called a “c-pat”. One of my friends has used one of these for years. Another friend told me her husband’s been using one for 8 years. My brother had this study done over a year ago, and he uses the machine, and he told me it made a world of difference, he felt so much better.

So, apparently a lot of people use this machine at night. My Doctor’s appointment I referred to yesterday, was a follow up on this study. The Doctor told me I’ve been sleep deprived, probably for years, and he would set me up with the c-pat and get me to feeling much better. What a nice guy, he was going to see to it that I got a “good night’s sleep”. I’m thankful to him, because I would never have thought to ask for this kind of study. By the way, this doctor is with the St. Luke’s Facility, and would highly recommend him, if you ask me; I’ll give you his name. He sure has a good manner with his patients, and is really interested in helping. I was surprised that he sent me to the medical supply place right after my appointment. The lady there showed me the machine and explained how to use it. All I could think about was that my husband and son would laugh at me, and that I hoped I’d remember everything she was telling me. Remember, I told you that I visited my friend at the hospital after the appointment. The nurse was in with her at first, so waited in the waiting lounge with her husband. I told him where I was headed after the visit, and he told me he has been using one for years. Two other people were in the lounge, and the women spoke up and said she’s been using one for 10 years, and couldn’t be without it! Gee, everyone was recommending that I would see a big improvement, I sure hope they are right! I stopped at the grocery store on the way home to buy distilled water, which needs to put in it, to keep you from getting “too dry”. I spent almost $20 and forgot to get the distilled water! It was so cold last night, I didn’t want to go back to the store. Well, maybe sub-consciously I was afraid to try this new machine.

Tonight, I picked up the distilled water. My husband helped me to set it up. Last night when I told him about it, I was relieved that he didn’t laugh at all. He seriously told me that he will be glad to see me sleep better, and if this is what I needed to do, then I had to do it. Sometimes, I guess, I don’t give him enough credit. He has mellowed and matured so much since the first years that we were married, that sometimes I forget that he’s not that young, immature (and might I add selfish) guy I married. He has matured and is a really great husband! My son didn’t laugh at me either. He was worried, and I had to reassure him that I would not “stop breathing” in the middle of night, and that this machine was my treatment.

I’ll let you know in the future how I’m sleeping and how it goes. The Dr. said some see improvement right away, others take a little while…but he said “do not give up on it”, and to be sure that I don’t, he gave me an appointment to see him in 6 weeks.

I’m truly blessed to have people in my life that care about me.

I’m soon off to bed, in my mask. It will take my mind off of the severe cold temps we are to get tonight! I hope you all sleep well.

PS… if you use one, or have something to say about sleep apnea, I’d love to hear your comments…click on the “comment” line and let me hear from you! - Linda

Cold - Busy - Inspirational Day

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
Yep…I was right! Today I saw lots of heavy coats, hats, scarves, heavy gloves. Tonight is to be the coldest air since the middle of January a year ago. The wind is to be bad, to make the wind chill low, and 20 below zero by Sat. morning. I wore my heavier coat, my heavier gloves, and warmed the car before leaving for work.

The day was not only cold, it was hectic. We were all swamped at the job today, not just me…so we all felt harried. I was able to escape at 2:15 for a doctor’s appointment. It was by the hospital, so I stopped to visit my friend I wrote about on Monday. She was so cheerful and happy to see me. She told me she felt so good she didn’t think she should be there, I asked if she thought she was misdiagnosed, and she said, “oh my, no. I saw the x rays…the cancer is all through my head…it’s everywhere”. She was feeling happy though, because she said she would be going home tomorrow. Her husband said he ordered 2 hospital beds, one for her, one for him! He has always had a great sense of humor, and it was great to see he still has it. Her sisters and nieces are coming up from the cities for the weekend. Her Mother and brother were here last weekend. She is not letting this get her down. Of course, I’ve seen her a few days later, so I’m sure she’s had time to adjust. She told me she will be here in July to walk the “Survivors’ Lap” and maybe even the track at the Relay For Life event. It was good to see her and good to know she can go home. She told me how this puts all those little things that we worry about into prospective, and she told me we shouldn’t worry about the little things. Good point! Her ever faithful husband was there. I think about how many years she supported him, 10 years or so ago when he had a heart transplant. She was always there for him, and gave him so much support. Now, he is there for her! That’s love!

My day was made so much calmer and peaceful by my visit to her. She is an inspiration!

A Change in the Weather

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
We in Duluth are going to be in for a shock this weekend. Winter is returning. It has started getting colder, and tomorrow night we are to have wind chill of 24 below, and 20 below zero by Saturday morning. The weatherman says we are in for a very cold spell. Rob and I were watching the weather report, and he was very happy to hear of winter’s return. "After all, this IS Northern Minnesota”, he remarked.

I noticed something coming out of work tonight at 5 pm. It was light, not dark. Also, with the colder days we are getting SUN again! Tonight I drove home through town instead of the freeway because I was going to make a stop at the grocery store in a neighborhood where I had a coupon for free eggs and a free pound of bacon. (Stores know how to entice us, don’t they?!). Since I was driving through town, I noticed many examples of how unusually mild it’s been. The temperature according to my car was 12 degrees and people were still wearing their lightweight coats. Some only in vests and some in sweaters and they looked very cold.

I haven’t had to warm my car in the mornings lately, but this morning, I was sorry that I hadn’t. It was 5 degrees, and it seemed the car never warmed up inside at all! I had my light coat, light gloves, only a blouse, no sweater; I was freezing by the time I got into work! I’m sure we’ll see different wardrobes on the streets tomorrow! We will all be getting out our heavy winter coats, heavier gloves, hats, scarves and mittens. Guess I should start now to dig them up for my family, since I’m not sure where I have them stored!

Valentine's Day

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
Valentine Cards…Bob and I give them to each other every year. Beautiful cards, we each choose the cards especially for their words. I had a great one picked out for him, telling how he has made my life wonderful, and my love for him, etc., etc. – you know the kind…

My husband gave me his valentine card this morning. First, I must tell you that I’m used to getting beautifully versed cards that say “to my wife” on the front, from him each year. His cards always make me feel special and loved. This year, it did not say anything about “wife”; it could have been a card to anyone. I think that struck me first, then when I opened it, I read “Your heart holds so much kindness…so much understanding…No wonder that my heart holds so much affection for you!” I had to say something! Without thinking about what I was saying, I just blurted out a comment that I really regretted. Now, if that word “affection” would have been “Love”, I think it would have been fine, but for some reason, I bristled at the word “affection”. Why did this bother me…and why, oh why, didn’t I keep my thoughts to myself…but oh no, big mouth me…I had to comment to him about it and about how the card didn’t have any “love” in it and teased him about how after 36 years, it’s now “affection”??!! I could see his hurt look on his face, and I immediately knew I had hurt him. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t take that comment back. It’s bothered me all day. I know he loves me; I shouldn’t have to have a card say it, to know it. Why did I act that way? What does “Valentine’s Day” do to us?

Well, tonight, I had a surprise. As soon as he got in the door, he handed me another valentine card, a large one, in a red envelope, with the words wife on it…and flowery sentiment, beautiful words and the word LOVE! A perfect ending to what started out to be not our usual lovely valentine day! Once again, I apologized. His going to the trouble of buying another, showed me once again of his love for me.

I hope you were good to your valentine today, and didn’t mess up like I did! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Making Progress

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
I found out that a dear friend, who has been battling cancer for about 2 years, was discovered now, just when we thought she was on the road to recovery, to have a brain tumor. She has been given 2 – 9 months to live. She is close to me in age, and has been a friend of many of us girls the same age, for over 20 years. How can we bear this? She is in the hospital, I want to stop and visit her this week. We are wondering if she has been told her prognosis. If it were me, would I want to know early on, or wait to be told "later", of course, what if it happens in 2 months, and you hadn't been told. So many things to think about. I am pretty sure that I would want to know, especially since I have so much family and friends in another state.

Doesn't it seem that cancer is everywhere? It touches all of our lives on a daily basis. No one is immune.
A few weeks ago another friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, in December another friend finished her breast cancer treatments. I have so many friends who are breast cancer survivors. I attended a funeral not long ago, of a dear man who lost his battle. I lost a brother to lung cancer, and two uncles to cancer. Sometimes we just think that we are on an uphill battle, and feel that there is no hope. We must resist the urge to think this way. We must continue the fight, and continue to have hope and faith. Support those who are struggling with cancer, and their families. Give them hope and support.

I have an excerpt below of a press release put out last week from the American Cancer Society. It is the non-profit organization that I spend 37.5 hours a week supporting. I believe in the mission of our organization which is: The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

I work for the Midwest Division, one of 13 regional divisions in the United States, and our Minnesota Region is part of the Midwest Division. This excerpt from the press release:

"Feb. 9, 2006 - The American Cancer Society’s annual estimate of cancer deaths says 2006 will see a slight decline in the projected number of cancer deaths compared to estimates made for 2005. The projections are based on a decline in the actual number of cancer deaths reported by the National Center for Health Statistics for 2002 (557,271 deaths) and 2003 (556,902 deaths), the first decline in the actual number of cancer deaths in more than 70 years.

Death rates adjust for the size and age of the population. The death rate from all cancers combined has decreased in the US since 1991, but not until 2003 was the decrease large enough to outpace the growth and aging of the population and reduce the actual number of deaths. While it is unclear whether the decline in the total number of cancer deaths will continue, it marks a notable milestone in the battle against cancer. “The drop in the actual number of cancer deaths in 2003 and in our own projections for 2006 mark a remarkable turn in our decades-long fight to eliminate cancer as a major health threat,” said John R. Seffrin, PhD, American Cancer Society chief executive officer. “For years, we’ve proudly pointed to dropping cancer death rates even as a growing and aging population meant more actual deaths. Now, for the first time, the advances we’ve made in prevention, early detection, and treatment are outpacing even the population factors that in some ways obscured that success.”

A full report that this information was taken from is available in Cancer Facts & Figures. Call 1-800-ACS-2345 for your copy. Also on the web: www.cancer.org/statistics.

I am happy to hear that we are making progress. It makes it easier when we employees are feeling overworked and overwhelmed to know that there is a difference being made. I have been feeling very busy and overwhelmed at my job. I’m in the midst of the Daffodil Program, and we are doing the footwork for our upcoming regional relays. Seeing this press release gives me hope and the knowledge that our work is not for naught. We are making a difference. It gives me hope that someday we will not see our family & friends suffering from this disease. If they do, the quality of life will be better, through research and services, and we will see even more survivors walking that “Survivor Lap” at our relays.

Be assured that we are good stewards of our donor dollars. Your donor dollar goes for research. 33 Nobel Prize winners have been funded by ACS. We have services to help patients and families: The Navigator program, Reach to Recovery, and Road to Recovery, Leading the Way, Hope Lodges to help house those traveling for treatment. ACS Prevention and early detection programs help the disease to be found earlier. A hot line open 24 hours, 7 days a week for support, questions, and help, a national web page for information, referrals, to find answers (www.cancer.org)

For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org

Note: when I figure out how to place links on my blog, I will link cancer.org to it.

Let us say a special prayer for all those suffering with cancer.

Mom and my sister Julie - Feb. 12, 2005

Mother's 80th Birthday Party

A year ago this weekend I was home in East Berlin, PA, to help my family celebrate Mom’s 80th birthday. Feb.12, 1925 was my Mother’s birthday. When I was in school, the date of President Lincoln’s birthday made an impression on us. His birthday was Feb. 12th. This made it really easy to always remember my Mother’s birthday. I used to comment about her being born on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. I’ve always admired Abraham Lincoln. I am reading a biography of him the last few weeks.

Bob and I had been home to PA in October, especially to visit her and see how she was. She had a hard time adjusting to Dad’s passing. We were concerned about her. We had a wonderful visit with her. I told her I would be home again the following August, for a visit and to attend my 40th H S class reunion. I wasn’t remembering in October that Mom would be 80 in a few short months.

For those of you that don’t know, Mom was at the nursing home in Gettysburg, due to being a double amputee. Her legs had been lost due to diabetes. Her mind was sharp and she was in good health, other than not being able to get around. We tried very hard after losing her second leg, to keep her at home, but due to all the care she needed, we lost that battle. She had adjusted to the home. We heard from other residents and the nurses that she was an inspiration to the other residents, and the nurses all loved her. Until Dad’s death, she had always been cheerful, happy, upbeat and a joy to be around. Losing Dad was hard on her, we saw a change, she seemed withdrawn, and not her usual cheery self. We couldn’t blame her; she lost her love and her partner of 57 years. By December, though, she starting being herself and we were much relieved.

My sister and I got our heads together, via the telephone, and started planning a party to celebrate Mom’s 80th. The 12th fell over a weekend…perfect…My sister told me that I should make plans to come home for the party. At the time it didn’t occur to me that I could go, financially, since I had been home in April for Dad, home in Oct. and planning to go again in August. I told my siblings that I probably wouldn’t come, and I would send the invitations and do what I could from Minnesota for the party.

She was not the type that would insist that I come for the party. When I told her I wouldn’t be there, she understood, and in her usual way, did not complain. We had decided to tell her about the party, rather than have it be a surprise, so she’d have something to look forward to. She was excited about it, and looking forward to seeing her family and friends.

I believe I must have had a “prompting” from above, because one day in January, it just hit me that I really needed to be there for my Mother’s party. I thought about how much it would mean to her to have all her children there. I thought about the uncertainty of life.
There was not a guarantee that she would be there in August, although I was sure she would, because her health was good. I talked to her almost every night on the telephone and she always sounded good. I was confident she’d be around for a long time. It would be fun to be there for the celebration and another visit with Mom. I did book a plane ticket for quick visit for that weekend.

It was a year ago today. The party was great…relatives, neighbors and friends, some that hadn’t seen Mother for awhile, and many that I hadn’t seen in years. Mom was happy, she had a great time and we all had a great day. My only regret now, looking back, is that I didn’t spend more time just sitting by her side that day, as she greeted everyone. Instead, I was busy visiting everyone and enjoying the day as much as Mom. When you live far away and people don’t see you for a long time, it’s very hard not to be in the limelight, and, looking back, I wish that I had stayed by Mom’s side more, and then all the focus could have been on just her. But, hindsight is always better. Mom was never one to want any attention on her, so with Mom and me it was like the song “Wind beneath My Wings”… she was the wind beneath my wings. She was always content to let everyone give me the attention when I was home. We do know that she enjoyed the party. She kept thanking us after, and telling us how much it meant to her. We are thankful that we had the party, and I am thankful that I could be there with her.

That day we would never have thought she wouldn’t be here for her 81st. She had been doing so well. However, within two weeks, she became ill, sent to the hospital, and that was the beginning of her problems. When she came back from the hospital, she never really recovered. I was thinking in early May that I needed to go back home. The early morning hours of May 9th she went on to be with our Dad.

We all think of you everyday, Mom. We wish you a happy birthday today. We love you! We miss you! -- Love, your family

On Mother’s Day, I will write about the inspiration my Mother was to me.

February 12, 2005

Mother
My Brothers and sister, February 12, 2005
Steve, Mark, Julie, Tim and Linda
Mother's 80th Birthday Party - Gettysburg, PA

Snow, Snow, Snow

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth



On the subject of snow and winter, I want to tell you about the first winter we lived in our house. We bought our house in the Woodland neighborhood of Duluth in October, 1971. The fall was so beautiful that year, and we moved in as the leaves were turning and starting to fall. There were lots of trees, beautiful colors in the fall, and when the snow started arriving those trees were also beautiful when covered with snow. That first winter in our new home was exciting. Our little girl was going on 2. I was an “at home” Mom, as most of us Moms were in those days.

We didn’t know we moved to the “snow belt” of the city, but would find that over the hill from the Lake Superior where we were, received a many inches more of snow than the down town area. Lake Superior keeps the temps downtown warmer, thus not as much snow and not as cold. We live over the hill, more snow, and colder. We also didn’t know that most homeowners in Woodland owned a snow blower. Snow blowers were very expensive. We invested in some good shovels instead.

That first winter, especially February and March, were so snowy. We had many snowfalls and many snow storms that dumped a lot of snow on us! Bob would get out early in the morning before leaving for his job and shovel. It was up to me to shovel throughout the day, so that when he came home from work, the job wasn’t quite as hard for him. I can remember shoveling, and I can remember us shoveling together, as the snow was falling, so we could keep up! Everyone else on the street, waited until the snow finished falling then came out with their snow blowers. When the snow fall was real heavy and the city plow would come by and dump a large amount in front of our driveway, sometimes there was a kind neighbor who would come with their snow-blower and blow the front for us. I often think about that snowy winter, especially the last few winters that have been so much milder, with much less snow. I’m not sure if 1972 was our snowiest winter, or if I think it was because we hand shoveled the snow!

Can you guess what we purchased with our income tax refund that spring? That’s right, a used snow blower! Bob babied that machine for years, and because of his special care of it, it lasted until the year 2002, when we bought a brand new machine. We decided it was the best use of an income tax refund in our married life!

Pretty Snow

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
Driving home from work today, we had a lovely, light, fluffy snow fall. The temperature was 21 degrees, so the roads were not too bad. It was actually nice to see a snowfall again, it has been awhile since we had any. We don't mind snow when it's soft and pretty like this. It also refreshs the dirty snow along the road sides. I also bet that tomorrow morning it will be ladden on the trees and make for a pretty drive down the hill. 8 pm now, it looks like it's tapering off, so even better is that the guys may not have to snow blow or shovel snow. Just enough snow to make it pretty. Who could ask for better in early February. I love Duluth (yes Bob, I am really saying it!) Someday I'll write about how and when I knew that "I loved Duluth".

CHUM - 33 Years Later

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
CHUM

CHUM in Duluth stands for Central Hillside United Ministries. In 1973 a group of churches started an organization called C.H.U.M. for the purpose of addressing needs of poor and homeless in Duluth. The Central Hillside was an area that especially needed attention, thus “Central Hillside”. I remember the founding members coming to our church in the Woodland neighborhood and explaining what the mission of this group would be and asking our congregation to be involved. I remember this, and I remember CHUM’s beginning. I do not remember if our church was a founding member, but being a United Methodist, I do remember that the larger UMC, First UMC was instrumental in its beginnings. I also know that Woodland UMC, and now Hope UMC (after our merger) has been a strong supporter of CHUM since it’s beginnings in 1973.

The thing I think is interesting, well sad, more than interesting is this: I’m sure that 33 years ago, this group of churches thought that by addressing this issue, that this problem
of hunger, homelessness, poverty would be solved and not be around 33 years later. Isn’t it sad, justice wise that we still are dealing with these issues?

I’m proud that I live in a city that has people that care about these issues. I’m happy that there is an organization that I can tap into to volunteer and help those that are in need in
our community. In 1973, I believe the needs were pretty central to the Central Hillside of town, now, in 2006, the need is all over the city.

I’m very pleased to tell you that our pastor of my church, Hope United Methodist, Rev.
Michelle Hargrave, as of last Thursday, is the new President of CHUM. She came to Hope UMC, 2 ½ years ago from Minneapolis. She became active in CHUM right away, since our church is part of CHUM. She has been on the board, and now has committed to lead the organization. Michelle has compassion and a real heart for justice. She has brought energy to our congregation, and I know (we know) that she will bring the same energy, ideas, compassion and justice to the CHUM Board.

Congratulations, Michelle, and thank you for your passion and your commitment. Hope UMC supports your presidency of a worthy organization in our community. May The Lord continue to bless your ministry.

The Mall Comes to Duluth

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth

My friend Nancy, from New Jersey, read my blog. She commented that she especially liked the one about the mall because she and her husband remember coming to Duluth to visit us for the first time in 1975. By then, we had our “Mall”…it was big for here, everyone thought it was great. It wouldn’t have compared to malls in the east, but it was nice to have in Duluth, stores all under roof. I can’t remember the year, but I think the mall was built in 1972 or so. The most poplar thing about the mall was the FOOD COURT. Everyone was in love with the food-court. It had a lovely Caribbean theme, very tropical, and lots of choices of foods to indulge in!

By 1975, when Nancy and Laurence visited, one thing that was new just weeks before their visit was the K-MART store. In fact, the first time I went there was with them. Now, Target would get competition for discount shoppers from the new K Mart. For a few years, K Mart sat alone there. Today, there are many other stores all along the K Mart strip, including a Grandma’s Restaurant and a Bridgeman’s Restaurant. (Local,someday I will write about them).

The hill was starting to get developed in the middle 70’s. The first national fast food chain came, it was McDonald’s. Also, Arthur Treachers (remember them, they had fast food fish, and went bankrupted nationally a few years later). Eventually Pizza Hut came. Now, a few mile strip is lined with fast food spots, gas stations, photo shops, pizza shops,
fast auto lubes, tire franchises, auto franchises.

Duluth was coming up in the world!

Today's Technology - frustrating!

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
Talk about today’s technology from technology 36 years ago! I just spent over an hour and a half trying to figure out why we can’t access internet explorer. Earlier Rob called our service provider and they told us that it had to do with our Norton (Virus protection).
Everytime something like this happens, Rob or I, spend hours on the telephone with the support tech people. It’s so frustrating. My husband, Bob wouldn’t deal with calling for support at
all, he expects Rob or me to take care of it, and if we don’t, or we procrastinate, then we
get grief from him!

I was especially frustrated today, when I’m told it would cost $29.99 for them to fix something to do with “configuration”, which I still, after he tried to explain it to me 3 times, am at a loss to understand. All I know is that I just spent $29.99 to fix something, that I know none of us had anything to do with breaking!!!! A waste of valuable Sun. afternoon time, and a waste of money. I think we are all at the mercy of Symantec Norton Company! Bob is now telling Rob and I that "one of you did something wrong" how frustrating,
I know we didn't!

I’m going to try to relax now! 36 years ago we didn't have frustration like this.

A Father's Love

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth

Thinking about past January’s yesterday, made me think a lot about my Dad. When I think of Daddy, I can’t help but think of the day that he told me something that he could never verbalize to me before. My parents were German, and I think they were brought up to not show their feelings. When I was growing up, I never once heard my Mom or Dad say “I love you”. Now, I’m not saying that I didn’t feel their love, of course in my heart I knew they loved me, but I never heard the words from them. I used to tell them “I love you”, but never was there a response back from them.

All through my married life, I have this thought, “Did God re-locate me so far away from home so that I would realize just how much I loved my family that I left, and that they would finally be able to verbalize to me just how much they loved me?”.

I always knew that my Mother loved me…Mothers cuddle, speak softly, do things with their children, that make them feel loved. My Dad was always so busy working on the farm. When I was little, he did a lot with me, because Mom worked at the Dr. office, and he was the one home. I have great memories of riding the tractor with him as he worked the corn (advent of treated corn seedlings this isn’t done anymore), he would sing the funniest songs to me. I would follow him around the barn and the chicken houses, as he did his work. But, as I grew older, Daddy distanced himself. (As an adult, I’ve learned that Dad’s often do become more distant with their daughters at this age). Dad was sentimental, but like most men, did not ever want to show it. Through my pre-teen and
teenage years, I was very unsure of my Dad’s love for me. He never said much to me at important times of my life, graduation, my plans after school, my struggles I had with my first jobs out of school, even when I became engaged to a boy at age 19, Daddy never talked to me about these things. Even when we talked about the wedding to Bob and my pending trip to MN., he was quiet. It was always my Mother, my Mother was always there. I guess maybe it was because he was too busy working, when he wasn’t working, he was exhausted. Also, he was guiding 4 sons, and probably thought the girls were Mom’s job.

Anyhow, I’ll get to the point here. The morning that Bob and I left for Minnesota, we had a snowfall the night before, and Dad had to open the lane for us to get out. The week before, even the night before Daddy said nothing to me. He helped us load the UHAUL, Mom and all my siblings said good-bye, we hugged, lots of hugs and lots of tears…and Daddy just standing there through it all. Then, I walked up to him to say good bye, and then he hugged me and wouldn’t let go for the longest time, and he said the three words I’d always wanted to hear…. “I Love You”. I cried, in fact the whole way up the road,
I kept saying to Bob “he loves me, he loves me, he loves me”…well Bob kept saying well of course, didn’t you know? It’s a long way across the PA turnpike and Bob will tell you, he sure got tired of hearing me going on and on about how much those words meant to me. It was the most important thing he ever said to me –(except when he told me to always “Trust in the Lord”). If I had not moved away from home would I have ever heard those words? Would I have known how much I loved my parents and my brothers and sister, my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins????? I not only left my parents that day, I left all my extended family. And for 36 years I have been missing them and loving them. When Mom and Dad would visit us here and we would go home, they would both tell us “I love you”. The wall had been broken. How nice, that we didn’t have to wait until their sick bed or their death bed to hear those important words from them. I wrote a note to Daddy about 5 years ago thanking him for that December morning in 1969.

When our daughter was in her teens, I had the feeling that she had doubts about her Dad loving her, as I did. I tried to talk to Bob about it, but he would shrug me off. When she went away to college after high school, he hugged her and wished her well…still no I love you’s. One time I reminded him about my Dad and the day we left. The next time he saw his daughter, he told her he loved her. From then on, I saw a closer relationship being built between her and her Dad. By the time our boys came along, both Bob and I have not only been showing our love to our children, but we also verbalize it, we say those three most important words “I love You”.

To Dawn, Rob and Scott, whenever you read this: “Your Mom and Dad love you”.

January's Past

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth



Gee, I just realized that we are in the month of February, and that January is gone. I had wanted to write a few lines about past January's before the start of Feb. Well, a bit behind, but here a few thoughts I want to say about January's in Duluth these last 36
years.

January 15, 1969 - Bob and I have our first official date, though we've known each other since
November.

January 13, 1970 - Bob and I celebrate our first month Wedding Anniversary, in Duluth
The Flame Restaurant by the lake.

January, 1970 - I find what "wind chill factor" means, and how it feels.

January 27, 1970 - we celebrate the first of many birthdays of my wonderful Mother
in law, Dolly.

January, 1973 - We realize that after buying our first home in the fall, that
we need two incomes to keep it. I go job hunting.

Jan. 25,1979 - We welcome our second child to our family, a little brother for Dawn. We are now 4 and very happy. Bittersweet day, we say goodbye to Bob's Aunt Rosie, she passes away this same morning as our son's birth. We loved Aunt Rosie, Dolly loses another sister.

January, 1993 - I start the year with a great part time job, as church secretary at UUMC. I love it. It's been 14 years since I was in the work field. I was lucky to be a fulltime Mother at home for 14 years raising our children. Scott is 12, Rob is 15 and Dawn is all grown up, maybe time to bring some part time wages to the household.

January, 1998 - Wow, Judy, director of Duluth office American Cancer Society, calls me out of the blue, asking if I'd consider working part time for her in the afternoons, after the morning at the church office. I took this unsolicted job offer as a sign from God, that I was to do this.
I had worked with Judy during my at home years, as a volunteer for ACS.

January,1998 - My Dad goes thru Chemo for cancer. I fly to Pennsylvania to be with him. The thing I will never forget, the Dr. told him the treatment would only give him "some time" not a cure, and with his lung disease (COPD) he may want to consider not going thru Chemo, as it
would be so hard on him. He said he wanted the treatment. I told Dad I was thankful that he made that decision and I was sure the Lord would give him a miracle. His answer to me was "Linda, in order for The Lord to give me a miracle, I must do my part." Many
prayers for Dad, 5 years later the Dr. proclaimed him cancer free!

Also, this is the year that we must admit, and not deny anymore, that our dear Mother, Dolly is suffering from dimensia, early alzheimers. This starts a very hard year for our family, as we see
Dolly's mind decline right before our eyes. We care take her, handle her medications, do all that we can to help her. In May she has a stroke, that takes her body as well as her mind. She
will spend 5 months short of the next 5 years in a nursing home, a sad five years for all of us.

January, 2003 The Lord takes Dolly home. So hard for us to know that we will not be seeing her every week at the Nursing Home. Bob was such a faithful son, seeing her every Monday night, no matter what. We know she is at peace, it's us that are left that are lonely. She was a kind, loving Mother in law to me.

January 2003 Oh no-my brother, Jerry, 3 years younger than me was diagnosed with lung cancer almost a year ago. Jan. 23 goes into Hospice, same nursing home that our Mother is in...(Lord's doing we are sure)... I flew home Jan. 23, Jerry died Jan. 25th. Mother was with him
through the night, before she called us. All five of us siblings were with him when he took his last breath. This was an honor for us to be with him at the end. I thank The Lord I was there.

January, 2006 We think of Dolly often, but most especially Jan. 27, her birthday. We celebrate Bob's 59th Birthday on Jan. 20 and Rob's 27th birthday on Jan. 27.

January, 2006 I start the first entry in my blog! I remember how 2006 is the warmest since I've been here in 36 yrs. I then hear the next day that it is the warmest in 136 years!!
-- This January I realize that I am now without a Mother. My Mother passed away in May and Dolly in January of '03. It's a very strange feeling, I was told, and now I know..very strange. I
want to be closer to my daughter who lives 2 1/2 hours away. I call her more and visit her more. My sister Julie and I have become even closer this past year, if that is possible...us grown women together...

One more thing about the month of January during the years of Scott's playing hockey, we spent a lot of time in hockey rinks and going over the road to watch him play hockey. Wonderful times, wonderful friends we made with other parents, and it was great watching these boys grow through the years. Some of them are now married or planning to be married soon. Where do the January's (and years) go?

May The Lord bless all of our January's!

A Mother's Worst Fear

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
I heard some terrible news on our local radio this morning. A Duluth girl in her 20's, recently moved to Dallas, Texas, was found murdered this morning. This just stabs me in the heart. All I could think about is her family and especially her Mother, because I am a Mother of a daughter. I also know that as parents, the
murder of a child is the worst fear we have (right up there with rape, kidnapping), but murder tops the list.

We try so hard to protect our children. I believe as our technology grows protecting them is becoming harder. This young girl met her Dallas boyfriend (who is the major suspect in the slaying) here in Duluth,through the INTERNET. She moved to Dallas because of her connection with the internet! She may not even have met him in person until she moved to Dallas.

This made me think about my Mother and all she did to try to protect me. This entry will relate to meeting my husband to be, not through the internet, but through a way that my Mother completely disapproved of. She tried to protect me from a fear that she had about young women dating Army guys. She was very upset when she knew I was attending dances held at the Army base. She did not want me to go there, but I was 21 and I was feeling my independence. I would not have known about the dances, but a "city" girl moved to the country. She was one year younger than me, but oh, so much "older"! I became fast friends with her, in my effort to break away from the rural life. My Mother knew this and worried about the influence she had on her daughter! She told me not to date guys from the army because "you don't know anything about them."

I believe in this day and age, 2006, mothers have the same fear for their children going online and "internet" searching for dates, friends, etc. I'll bet her Mother told her that she didn't know anything about this man and maybe pleaded with her not to move to Dallas with him. In 1968 it was meeting strangers from an army base.
In 2006 is is meeting strangers over the internet.

I can now understand my Mother’s apprehension when I told her I was marrying Bob and moving to Minnesota. She said “my dear, you have never been away from home, and do you know just how far the state of MN is?” Of course, you know what my answer was. I was in love and thought I would go anywhere with this great guy! But, she was right, I really DIDN’T know just how far Minnesota was, and I really didn’t know how much I would miss home and family. I now know too, thinking of the slain Duluth girl’s Mother, how my Mother must have worried about me (of course my Dad too), moving so far from home Bob seemed like a great guy, but really, did any of us know about his family, his friends, his home, his values other than what he presented to us? Marrying a man from our little rural area, our parents would know his parents, his family and would be pretty sure the values were the same.

I think my life turned out fine because thanks to my upbringing, I did have good instincts, and felt that this man was a good man. I had clues such has how he missed and talked a lot about his Mother and his three aunties. Family seemed to be important to him. Maybe some would say it was luck, but I believe that it was my Mother and Dad’s prayers that followed me to Minnesota, they were prayer warriors on my behalf all these years. I thank them for their prayers and support.

Yes, I feel sorry for parents today, with the internet access and interest of our children wanting to meet people from all over. In some aspects, this global thing is good, but we as parents can see the danger it could present. Our 27 year old son is very computer savvy. I have been surprised over the years that he has no interest in internet dating (he’s heard bad experiences from some of his friends). Hearing today about our local girl being murdered, I’m very relieved that he doesn’t search the internet for a relationship! (don’t change your mind Rob!).

Let us all pray for comfort for Sharon’s family. As a Mother I will follow in my Mother’s footsteps and be a prayer warrior for my three children and grand-children.

A parents love never ends......

Where is the Mall????

The first week or so in Duluth, Bob’s (my husband) cousin’s wife, Josie told him that he really needed to show me the newest shopping place in town…"it's wonderful, you’ll love it," she said. Now, I need to tell you that in Pennsylvania we started getting large free standing stores like Target and large malls very early in the 60’s. At that time of my life I really loved to shop, because growing up on the farm, the only time we shopped was the end of August right before school year began. One of my cousins, also from a farm, still to this day tells about how “Linda wanted to shop at the The Bon Ton”, but we never could because the Bon Ton was too expensive (The Bon Ton would be like a Marshall Fields today). We shopped at the “discount stores” and 5 & dime stores (remember them?). My Mother was never able to justify spending money on clothing I guess, when money was so short, except for “School clothes”. Even then, we only bought a pair of new shoes, new underwear and maybe one new dress…never much. For the school year, I had mostly hand me downs, and one pair of shoes to last all year. I had a cousin who lived in the city, and I received hand me downs from her… she had the best of the best, so when I could get her hand me downs I was in “heaven”. I remember one year, her mother gave me 3 lovely pull over sweaters, I was in Jr. High when sweaters were the rage. I didn’t have one. I wore those three sweaters until they were in shreds. I’m sure my classmates must have gotten sick of seeing them…but I felt “so fashionable”. Pam lived in Lancaster, a good hour or more away from us, if she had lived closer, I’m sure I would have received clothes more often. Pam probably doesn’t know how much her hand me downs meant to me.

After high school, working my first job, I was determined to make up for not being in fashion when growing up. So I shopped. I’m sure I spent foolishly, because I was buying myself clothing because “I could”. I lived at home, and my parents did not charge me rent, so all the money I made was mine. I remember buying 2 mohair sweaters, one in blue and one pink. My mother was appalled… “one would have been enough”, she told me. She was also appalled that I was not “saving”. For a time I worked at a Kinney shoe warehouse, we were allowed to purchase shoes and handbags from there at deep discounts, and boy did I ever spend money there! I was determined to “look fashionable” because when I was growing up I felt that I never did. It was great having more than one pair of shoes, and oh my gosh, a purse to match those shoes, who could have imagined that possible! I shopped at our new large discount stores, Korvettes, JM Fields etc. Large malls came to York and Hanover and Harrisburg. I drove, (my parents co/signed a local bank loan so I could get a car)….I was shopping every pay day. We thought the “Mall” was great, all these stores under one roof, especially nice when it was winter. In Southeast Pennsylvania we thought our winters were terrible! I used to think that when I married I was going to live somewhere warm! In defense of my wild spending, I will
say that by then, I had a little sister, and I bought some things for her too. I remember the first Christmas I had a job, how happy I was to be able to buy nice presents for everyone.

I told you this background, so you know that when Bob said he’d take me to “Target”, I was expecting to see this large mall. I was excited to shop once again, like I did back home. (Little did I know then, that being a new wife, with husband’s starting salary to work with, that I would have to be like my Mother and not shop…that reality hadn’t hit me yet). Off we go to Target. We drove up Central Entrance, which was virtually empty at that time, maybe a gas station or two, a new building sat to the right on the hill “Highland Village”, exciting new apartments, that was about it. There were no fast food places, no office spots, it was bare. (look at it today…umm!!) Imagine my surprise when Bob pulls up to Target and I say “THIS is the wonderful shopping “center” that Josie was talking about. Why Bob, this is just like one of our JM Fields back home,
where oh where is the mall???? That is the day when I began to realize that Duluth was not the large city, like Harrisburg or York that I thought it was. I also had no idea then, that the MIDWEST was behind the east coast in many ways. I would learn that over the years.

A month or two later, “Shoppers City” opened in the western part of town, (west end, closer to us) that was like Target. It is where Bob & I would shop for groceries every payday, and groceries would be the only shopping I would be doing for many years. My shopping days were over…even when the MALL finally did come to Duluth. I think that was in 1972 or 73. The people here were so thrilled, and again…the mall here was nothing compared to our Malls back east. I also would find out that Josie and her husband made many trips a year to Minneapolis to shop at the “Dales”,malls that were built in Minneapolis about the same time as the east. Duluthians appreciated a mall being built here so that they didn’t have to make that trip to Minneapolis. (Remember, there was not a freeway from Mpls to Duluth at that time, south on Hwy. 61, through every small town, quite a trip)! I was in Duluth at least two years before I went to the big city of St. Paul for the state fair.