Fire

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
The other day there was an almost new home in our Woodland residential area that caught on fire and had a lot of damage. Fortunately, no one was home. The fire chief said that it was harder fighting a new home than an older one. This house was insured. A co/worker and I were talking about the fire, and I mentioned that I can’t understand how I often notice that some homes that burn down are not insured with fire insurance. How can anyone have a home and not have it insured? I’ve heard that one reason some don’t have it, is because can’t afford fire insurance. I would think that there has to be a way for them to get help, so that they can be covered and that a homeowner needs to make fire insurance as much a priority as food and sleep.

Funny that we were talking about fires, today, we found out that a man who works in the same building we work in, had a house fire yesterday. The whole home was a total loss. He lost everything. He also lost his beloved dog in the fire. He is especially upset about his pet. As he said, material things can be replaced, but your loved dog? It’s so sad. Contractors were working on the house, it was being remodeled. They think it was electrical. His home was insured, he received a check right away this morning for $2,000 toward the settlement, to get him started to buy clothing, food, etc. What if he had no insurance? Of course, our society would not let him go homeless, and his friends would take up a collection, and probably do a benefit fundraiser. We have seen friends and community come together to support those that lose their uninsured home, and I am thankful that we do that. But, I think it’s important that when it comes to something as substantial and important as fire insurance, it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to make sure the home is insured. Our office is taking a collection for him, because we feel badly, and want to help. He is staying with friends. But, we are thankful that he will be able to replace his home because he had it insured, and that he will not have to scrape around for funds to replace it. (I'll bet he is thankful too!)

Honest People

Honest People
This week’s newspaper had a blurb about a woman who left her purse at one of the local grocery stores, and a store employee found it and returned it, intact. She was so pleased to know there are honest people in the city. I have a story too, about someone’s honesty. Several years ago when our son played hockey, it was a Thursday evening, we were leaving town the next morning to go to St. Cloud for a three-day stay for a hockey tournament. Usually I don’t carry much cash, even when going out of town, and don’t know why I did then (I think there was a reason, but can’t remember - probably was one of my “efforts” to stay on a budget!) Anyhow, I went to the ATM after work and withdrew $300.00. Then I proceeded on to Cub Foods, to buy some snacks and goodies for the hotel room. I wrote a check for the groceries. I wheeled my cart out to the car, and put the bags in the car. I drove off. I was almost home when I noticed that my purse was not lying on the front seat of the car. Oh my, you talk about panicking. I was just sick. I knew I must have left it in the cart. I was sure it would be gone, and with it all the cash. I drove back to where the car was parked, looked all around…nothing… then rushed into the grocery store to the customer service counter…well, the minute I started asking if they found a purse, the clerk handed it to me, and said is this it? When I looked inside and saw the money was still in the wallet, I couldn’t believe it… there ARE honest people in this world. Every dollar was there. I was so so thankful! The clerk didn’t know who brought it in, but said that someone found it in a grocery cart in the parking lot. You know, I was planning to write a letter to the editor, thanking who ever turned it in…but by the time we got back from the hockey tournament, back to work, and everyday hectic life, and my procrastinating personality, I never got it done! That was a lot of money, but then, maybe they didn’t look inside, who knows, I just know that it was a time in our life where we couldn’t afford to lose $300! I never put my purse in the grocery cart since that happened! Can you imagine how miserable my family and I would have been for a long time if we had lost that money! Plus, I would have never heard the end of it from my husband! (That would have been the worst part!) Thank goodness for honest people. Life is good!

"Baby It's Cold Outside"

Baby It's Cold Outside
Winter is here! The temperature was 4 degrees coming to work this morning and the wind chill (meaning what temperature it feels like, was way below zero). Yes, I actually had to dig up my winter coat and wear it. But, no gloves, I need to go to the basement tonight and find the winter gloves, as my fingers were pretty darn cold!

I heard on the weather that other parts of the country are getting it bad with sleet, ice and snow. Even Dallas, Texas had sleet this morning and very cold. So, guess we can’t complain. We had a lot of rain yesterday, and all of us were commenting that if it had been snow instead of rain, we would have had a ton of it!

I just came back from lunch, outside, and it is 13 degrees! Baby, it's cold outside!

Nephew and Uncle

Nephew and Uncle. Here is a photo I took of our son Rob and Grandson Skylar, when Skylar was in town a few weekends ago. Skylar is very close to his uncles, since they were young when he was born, they practically grew up like brothers.

Last Goodbye to Autumn

Last Goodbye to Autumn
Snow is coming down this evening. If we don't have snow in the morning, we will have ice and sleet. We'd rather have the snow. The temperature dropped today. The weatherman said there will be no more 50 degree days. Autumn is gone for sure now. It's the latest autumn I can remember in the 36 years I've been in Duluth. I'm posting some fall photos that I took in October and early this month. One of the photos show the bags of leaves ready to be put on the rose beds at the Rose Garden, putting the garden to bed for the winter. Fall in Duluth, it was a beautiful fall and season to remember!

Icky Morning

After such a wonderful Wednesday through Sunday, I sure did start this week off on an icky start! I had a yucky morning.
In an effort to solve some digestive and reflux problems, I had two tests scheduled this morning at 9:30 am. The first one did not go as planned, and we ran into problems, but not until after the tube was put in my nose and down my esophagus twice! (Manometry Exam) The second one was a follow up and couldn’t be done until the first one was done. (The problem was not created by myself or the tech giving me the test (she was wonderful), it had to do with what part of my problem is. Anyway, I was sent home and told to wait till the two Gastroenterologist partners could talk the problem over, to decide what step to take next with me. She said it might be a day or two before I hear back. She also said they might give me a different test than the one I had this morning. I am NOT looking forward to a repeat of what I went through this morning! It was not fun. As I was sitting there, going through the torture, I remembered something that someone once told me a few years ago, when he was referring to tests that we have to go through to stay healthy. He said that we have to be very brave to live in our bodies and keep them healthy. I guess I agree, some tests we have to go through do require bravery. Especially the tests that you are wide awake for! Hope the rest of my week goes better.

Flags of Our Fathers

Flags of Our Fathers
Rob and I went to see the movie “Flags of Our Fathers” yesterday afternoon. Since I like history, and I never knew that the monument that sits in Washington, DC, of the raising of the flag during War World II, was based on a photograph, or that the men from the photograph were used to stomp the nation to raise money by the sale of war bonds, I really wanted to see the movie. It was very good. Clint Eastwood directed the movie and I usually like anything he does. I was not disappointed. I had a hard time convincing anyone to go with me. No one seemed to want to see it. I finally “twisted Rob’s arm” to go with me. I guess I could go to a movie alone, but I always feel I want to “share” it with someone. I still find it hard to believe that I never heard or read about any of the background on that monument. I did see the monument, more than once in person when I visited Washington, DC on a few trips. It’s an impressive one to see. I did some background research last night on the web and found that Iwo Jima is the only battle of World War II in which Americans suffered more casualities than the enemy. The entire cost of the statue and developing the memorial site was $850,000--all donated by U.S. Marines, former Marines, Marine Corps Reservists, friends of the Marine Corps, and members of the Naval Service. No public funds were used for this memorial. Until quite a few years ago, it was the only World War II monument. There is now a new one there for World War II that I would like to see someday. Did you read that they are raising money now to build a monument to Martin Luther King. I’m glad that they will be putting one there in his honor. In the month of November, I have seen 3 movies in the theater … the total number of the movies I usually see in a year! That’s really unusual!

Lorie with the Kids

Lorie's concert photo with the kids

Next year maybe Madelyn will be able to attend the concert and be on stage with the kids. We didn't think she would sit through the concert, so are waiting for her to be older and more settled, before taking her along.

We sure had good seats. We were down front in the "orchestra pit" in the second row, to the left of center. I always buy them the first day they go on sale (August), and Dawn always worries that I will forget where I put them, by the time November comes around! Thinking that I would misplace Lorie Line tickets...oh my
that's one time she is wrong! Read my post below about last night's concert.

Lorie's Holiday Concert

Lorie Line's Holiday Concert
Last night, my daughter, grandson and I spent a beautiful evening together. We had dinner at The Pickwick Restaurant, shopped a bit in the Fitger’s Mall, next door, and then off to our Lori Line Holiday concert! We sure did have a great evening together. Usually, it’s Dawn and I, but this year we invited Skylar to join us. He hears about Lorie each year from us, and decided he’d like to hear her concert too. He agreed with us, that it was a great show. It was fun sitting next to my Grandson, he likes to tease his Grandmother, I’ve grown to love his teasing, I tease him right back, and we had fun together. It was nice for me to see him really enjoy the show.

Lorie Line is a pianist. She has a B.A. in Music, Piano Performance and started her career as a full-time pianist, serenading shoppers at Dayton’s Dept. Store, downtown Minneapolis (now Macy’s). Since her start there, she has recorded 28 CD’s and is owner of one of the largest independent music companies in the world. She has sold over 5 million albums. She and her Pop Chamber Orchestra performs to 100,000 people on over 85 stages a year. She tours spring, summer, fall and winter.

“The Traditions of Christmas” was Lorie Line’s theme for her Annual Holiday Performance that she and her Pop Chamber Orchestra bring to Duluth’s DECC each Friday after Thanksgiving. Each year there is a theme, one year it was the 40’s, last year it was “My Favorite Things”. This year it is “The Traditions of Christmas”. Lori told us this is the first “traditional” show she’s ever done in her 16 years of touring. She took us back in time, 2000 years to the birth of Christ, but she also told how we’ve come to celebrate this holiday and the wonderful customs that make this time of year so special. Her show included old songs, carols and all-time favorites, “visits” from Charles Dickens, the prophet Isaiah, and of course, Santa. She invited all the children under 15 to the stage, for a touching manager scene, with the children in costumes, cows, camels, lambs, stars, the wise men, and of course, Mary and Joseph. It was just darling! A photo of the scene can be viewed on her web site. The show is quite a production, beautiful costumes, and sets, in addition to her music which is really beautiful. We missed Robert Robinson, who has gone on after 15 years, to other endeavors. However, a new addition to her tour, Kelly Smith replaces Robert as the shows vocalist. She has a beautiful soprano voice that sends shivers down your spine when she sings. She sang “Oh Holy Night” and “The Lord’s Prayer”… beautiful! As we came into the show, each of us were given a battery operated candle. The finale of the show, lights dimmed, and all of the audience held their lit candles and sang “Silent Night” along with her piano and chamber orchestra. Inspirational! I am now ready for the Holiday season!

Check out Lorie’s web site: www.lorieline.com

Grandma and Granddaughter

One thing I’ve learned about my Granddaughter over these 6 years. She needs to be kept busy! She is not one that likes to sit for very long, and like most little girls, her attention does not stay on one project for too long. So that she does not think that coming to Grandma & Grandpa’s house is “boring”, I have become pro-active the last few times they have come. I start before they get here, planning for things that I can do with her. This time, I purchased a “Dora the Explorer” Candy Land game, because I know she likes to play Candy Land and she likes Dora. Then I dug out all my coloring books, markers, crayons that I keep here for her. I also got her a new “Christmas” coloring book, and set of “word” flash cards, and got out all the DVD and videos that she would like. I also made cookie dough ahead of time, cut out cookies for Christmas and even made the frosting.

Now, the secret to all of this, is to “space” the activities and not let her know ahead of time all that there is for her to do, or she’d want to do them all on the same day. Wednesday evening, before I wanted her to, she spied the new Candy Land game. She had fun playing it with her Uncle Scott, and again yesterday morning with Grandma.

Early yesterday morning she helped me to bake two kinds of cookies that required her to roll them into balls and roll in sugar. She also helped to eat them after, especially the peanut blossoms with the chocolate kisses, her favorite.

Yesterday we spaced the cookie baking, the coloring, and the games to keep her busy. When I was little, I was kept busy on Thanksgiving morning watching Macys Thanksgiving Parade. We stayed out of our parents hair by watching the parade and playing with our toys. It gave Mother the opportunity to make her Thanksgiving meal, without having to worry about kids underfoot. The kids now days don’t seem to be interested in watching the big parade on TV… I wonder why? It doesn’t even seem that kids play with their toys anymore. Kids now a days seem to hang on their Mother constantly and don’t give them any space. At least, that’s what I see with my Granddaughter. Kids seem to constantly want to be "entertained", it's like they can't use their own imagination or play on their own! Have any of you noticed this?

This morning at 6 am when Dawn wanted to leave to go do her “Friday after Thanksgiving power shopping”, Maddy whined to go along, and wouldn’t stop hanging on to her! So, Grandma brought out the cut out cookies, frosting and colored sugars. We frosted and decorated Christmas cookies at 6 am! Now, for a short while, she is watching a cartoon show on TV, so I am taking that opportunity to write. I’m sure within 15 minutes she will be looking for something else to do! At 8:30 she and I will leave to meet Scott’s girlfriend, Sarah and her Mother at Bridgeman’s for Breakfast. Sarah and her Mother are two of those power shoppers who are out there at the stores at 4:30 am in the morning! Not me. There is nothing in those flyers that would entice me to join those crowds of people that early on Friday morning, nor all day Friday, for that matter! I was known to do that maybe 20 years ago, when I was shopping for inexpensive toys for the kids for Christmas, but in those days, they never opened earlier than 7 am. I won’t do that kind of shopping anymore, probably because I’m not much of a shopper to begin with. To me, shopping and spending money is not worth my getting up at 4 am in the morning!

Later: Report from the frontline of power shoppers: Sarah and Cindi said they got some very good “deals” - good for them. They took a break to eat breakfast, and then they were off for more shopping. They offered to take Maddy along, and she was excited to go with them, she loves Sarah and hasn’t spent much time with her in months. I heard from Dawn that she returned home from shopping at 9 am, with two things from Radio Shack that she wanted to get for her husband and son. Even my husband went out at 7 am this morning. I haven’t heard a report from him yet. He and Dawn left at 10 before I got back home to go work out together at the gym. I passed Rob and Skylar on the road going toward the mall when I was returning home. They slept in, before doing their power shopping. The parking lots at the mall and all the stores around the mall were packed; I’ve never seen Target’s lot completely filled, like it was this morning. Cindi said at 4:30 this morning, Wal-Mart’s huge lot was packed full! I think people must be crazy. I’m just glad I was not one of those crazy people out there this morning. I'm looking forward to dinner at the Pickwick with Dawn and Skylar, followed by "The Lori Line Holiday Concert" at the DECC. Grandpa and the Uncles are taking Maddy to Sammy's Pizza for supper.

Thanksgiving with the Grandchildren

Thanksgiving with the Grandchildren

Madelyn and Skylar - Thanksgiving, 2006 - Brighton Beach,
Duluth, MN - Noon - 50 degrees & Sunny

Thankful For... Thanksgiving Day '06

Thankful For...
Things I’m thankful for – Thanksgiving, 2006

--My health

--Being able to share Thanksgiving Day and meal with our daughter and grandchildren

--Thanks for good travel weather for all those traveling over this holiday

--Sharing the "Lori Line Holiday Concert" tomorrow night with Dawn and Skylar

--The earth we live on and its beauty

--The beautiful city of Duluth

--Duluth when the snow has first fallen

--Our home on Owatonna Street

--Lake Superior - all its beauty throughout the seasons

--The beautiful sights of our Northland

--Thanks for the warm October and November that we’ve had

--Thanks for the 52 degrees and sun we had yesterday (we set a record!)

--Thanks for my immediate family
(husband, daughter, sons, son in law, grandchildren,
son’s girlfriend and her family and the love they show me

--Thanks for our children’s partners and the love they give them

--Thanks for a very special Grandson, who never fails to let me know how much he loves me

--The health of our family

--My friends in Duluth and Minnesota

--Friends who are like sisters

--My siblings in Pennsylvania - Julie, Steve, Tim, Mark and their families
--My Aunts, Uncles, cousins in PA
--My friends in PA

--Thanks for the time spent with the son who doesn’t live at home with us

--Thanks for the son who does live at home with us, that we can see him everyday

--My job that employs me for 37.5 hours

--A good supervisor at the job

--My co/workers

--The American Cancer Society that is constantly fighting cancer

--Thanks that I am part of the American Cancer Society and the fight

--Thanks to those that volunteer for the American Cancer Society

--That I have 2 more days of vacation left that I can use yet in ‘06

--That I work somewhere that has a nice paid holiday schedule

--like Friday after Thanksgiving…and reduced work schedule between Christmas and New Year’s

--My Covenant Discipleship Group at HOPE UMC

--My HOPE UMC family

--Our pastor at Hope UMC (Rev. Michelle Hargrave) and her family

--MEMORIES!!!
childhood
parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins
aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members, including one
brother, both on my side and Bob’s side, who have all gone on to their rewards

--The beauty of my home state of Pennsylvan and Adams County

--My husband who will be home this winter to snow blow and shovel, and have the path and driveway cleared for me when I get home from work

--My husband, who helps with the household duties, to make it easier for me to work full time.

--My husband, who is not only a great husband, he’s a great Dad

--The beautiful summer and extended fall that we have had this year

--Thankful that my brother Tim, and his family are now owners of Mom and Dad’s homestead and that they are taking good care of the home.
--Thankful that my brother Mark is farming the land of Mom and Dad’s farm
--Thankful knowing that Mom and Dad’s farm that they worked so hard on, is remaining in our family

--Thankful that I was able to go home in August and see my family and the homestead

--Thanks that there is not a military draft in the US

--Thanks for those who choose to be in the military and fight for our country

For all these named blessings, and blessings un-named
I am truly thankful

--Thank The Lord, on this day and everyday!

I wish for all my readers a Blessed Thanksgiving Holiday.
I hope you will each take the time today to think about all the things you are thankful for. May we also think of those in our society that do not have the blessings that we have, those that are homeless, or living in less than ideal living conditions, those that are in harms way, in need of encouragement and hope, and all children that need more than they are given. May we strive throughout each day to do what we can to help others in any way we can. May we each make a difference in someone's life whenever we can!

Two Goodbyes

Two Goodbyes
This morning’s newspaper had a front page story that just tore at my heart. It was about a Mother who earlier this week had to say goodbye to not one, but two sons that were going off to the military. One of them was on his way to the coast of Iraq and Iran, to serve as a weapons officer, and the other could very well be on his way in the near future to Iraq. Her sons are 24 and 28, the same ages as our sons (Rob will be 28 in January, and Scott is 24.) All I could think about when reading the article was “I’m so sorry for this Mother, and I’m so thankful that our sons are not in the military.” I’m not saying I wouldn’t be proud of their service, I’m saying I’m so thankful that they have not chosen the military life. I often think of the young people serving our country, especially those in harm’s way, I keep them in my prayers, I worry about our country being at war, and this war in Iraq just brings back too many memories of the boys I grew up with being drafted to the Vietnam war in the late 60’s. (My husband joined the army, so he would have some say in his career, rather than being drafted, and he served in Thailand, seeing war there) In all my thoughts about the war in Iraq, I am always thankful that none of my loved ones are there (although one nephew from PA was there, he is back home now). I’m thankful that the draft is not in place, I’m thankful for those that want to be in the military. I don’t think I will stop thinking of the Mother in this article and her two sons, the same age as our sons, for a very long time. I feel for her and for every Mother and Father who have to send their sons/daughters off to war.

November 21, 2006 - 50 degrees

50 degrees and Sunny, Nov. 21
Wow, I went out at lunch time today for a walk in the Rose Garden. I couldn't resist. It was 50 degrees at 12:30 and the sun was bright & beautiful! The Rose Garden is all set for winter. The bushes cut down and bags of leaves on all of the flower and rose beds to protect them from the cold, frost and snow of the winter. Not too many people there either, I saw two people, one walking her dog, and one speed walking through the garden, as part of her exercise procedure. I sat on one of the cement benches, the bench was very cold, colder than the air. I didn't sit long!

I don't remember another fall here where I only wore a winter coat one morning before the end of November! November is almost over and I only wore my winter coat one morning! We sure have had a great, mild fall. I didn't even wear a coat on Saturday night when I went to the DECC at 8 in the evening! We are to have 50 degree weather for Thanksgiving too, and mild, and dry through the weekend. It will be nice for those traveling. Maybe we are in for a mild winter ... let's hope so!

PS...see the post script that I just added to the entry about Smoke free Minnesota,
below...it's about France....

Smoke Free Minnesota - Public Places

Smoke Free Minnesota

If you are interested in seeing that all public places in Minnesota are smoke free, free of second-hand smoke, here is an address that you can go to and very easily express your wish to Governor Pawlenty. Just enter the address or copy and paste it on your browser and you can send him a message that is ready to go, or you may compose your own message and with a click it will be e mailed to him. If you want more information, click on my ACS CAN site on the left and go to the state of Minnesota.

Each year, 3,000 nonsmoking adults die of lung cancer as a result of breathing secondhand smoke.

Here is the address for sending your message to the the Governor:

http://capwiz.com/acs-national/mn/issues/alert/?alertid=9176876

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

PS... I just found out today, that the ENTIRE country of FRANCE will be going SMOKE FREE in all public places AND bars in 2008. This really surprises me, as friends who have visited France have told me that that there is a cigarette hanging out of almost everyone's mouth there! They have a high rate of smokers...now how do you suppose they were able to get a Smoke Free bill passed? I find that very interesting, and encouraging for us in the United States! Maybe the tobacco companies haven't spent as much money fighting the laws there, as they do here!

No Turkey

No Turkey
This year Thanksgiving will be more fun than usual. I will be thankful that our daughter and grandchildren will be spending it with us. This will be the first time in her married life that they have spent Thanksgiving with us. They usually come up on Friday, after having Thanksgiving with his side of the family. Her husband will be working that day, so she and the children are coming to Duluth. One thing that she has requested for the day, no turkey! She does not like turkey, and requested that I make a pot roast instead. Well, I will be happy to oblige, making a pot roast is much simpler and less time consuming than making a whole Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner! Rob and Bob, concur that they are not crazy about turkey and like the pot roast idea. They do ask though, that I make mashed potatoes and gravy with the roast, so we’ll have roasted potatoes, carrots, AND mashed potatoes. Then, I want to add the homemade stuffing, as that is what I like best about the T. dinner! And… she wants cheesecake along with the usual Thanksgiving dessert items! Well, we all like cheesecake. So, it won’t be the “traditional” Thanksgiving Dinner, but it will be great to have the children and grandchildren with us. (Well, most of the children…now, if I could just pull the youngest son away from the girlfriend’s family, it would be perfect!). I will invite them, but I know what the answer will be, so am prepared for that. I need to be thankful that our son is so well accepted into her family. So I will add that to my thanks list on Thanksgiving Day.

Peace and Love, Baby

Peace and Love, Baby
Thanks to the generosity of a friend, on Saturday night I was able to attend the Duluth Superior Symphony. The symphony chorus performed with the symphony and her significant other sings in the chorus. They have season tickets, so she asked if I would like to use the other ticket and go with her. I was delighted. The theme of the program was “Peace and Love, Baby”, and the music was themed around the ‘60’s. The works of the program paid tribute to the search for peace and justice and to the coming age. The pieces were: “Theofanidis “Peace, Love and Light You Me One”, and a newer piece that was written with the city of Memphis in mind, during the 60’s, it was piece was called “Dreams Interrupted” by Phillips. It gave us images of Memphis past and present, and included a mournful tuba lullaby for Martin Luther King. The second part of the program was Brahms's "A German Requiem, Op. 45" It was selected because it was written by Brahms as a means for him finding his peace in the midst of grief. He began writing it 2 months after he lost his Mother. It was beautiful. The performances that evening of the symphony and chorus was beautiful. It sure made for a relaxing, enjoyable evening! (Thank you Stephanie and Michael!) Note: Monday's Duluth News Tribune has a review of the evening "DSSO nicely mixes old with new",
click on my News Tribune link on the left to read it.

Speaking of Martin Luther King, and listening to the symphony and the chorus, reminded me so much of the late 60’s when I sang in a 200 member Oratorio Society for 3 years. We practiced one night a week from October through the spring and then we performed at the Forum Auditorium in Harrisburg. The first year I participated, we did “The Messiah”. My Grandmother took me with her one time to see the society’s performance of Handel’s Messiah, when I was about 14 years old. I was a singer from the time I was about 8 when the organist at our church had me do a solo at church. That was the start of my singing. Anyhow, when I heard the performance that afternoon, I told my Grandmother that someday I would be on that stage singing with the chorus and orchestra. So, one day I was! I sang with them for 3 years. The weekend that Martin Luther King was killed, that Sunday, we had a performance. We were doing the oratorio, “The Peaceable Kingdom” (by Hayden if I remember correctly). The streets in Harrisburg were not very peaceful that day. When we got there, there were picketers everywhere, upset that King was killed. They were always picketing in Harrisburg about the war, (Harrisburg is the capitol seat of the state of PA) and there was a lot of racial tension there during the 60’s, now there were protesters and picketers about King being shot. I will never forget that day. I lived out in the rural sticks on a farm, 50 miles from Harrisburg and 20 miles from York. York and Harrisburg were the cities near us that had the racial tension. When we weren’t in York or Harrisburg, we were not touched by the tension. We heard about it in the southern states, but we were pretty naïve that it was happening in our area. Living in the country during the 60’s, I guess we didn’t always know what was really going on our nearby cities. But, that day, I was made aware.

By the way, on a side note about Harrisburg. My husband was stationed in the army just outside of Harrisburg. During the racial tensions and riots of the 60’s, Harrisburg often had curfews, to curb the rioting, etc. Bob didn’t like what he saw there, I really didn’t know about it until he told me, and of course, in Duluth, Minnesota in the 60’s these things would never have occurred. So, that is how he judged all of Pennsylvania (of course I told him he was wrong to judge the whole state, by the racial tension in Harrisburg, but he did). That is the main reason when we talked about getting married; he insisted that we live in Minnesota, not Pennsylania! Yes, those years of the 60’s were turbulent years, in the south, west and east. I do believe the Midwest was pretty immune at that time (at least Duluth, Minnesota was!) Another reason, I ended up in Minnesota!

(The photos above are of the Forum Building and the Forum Stage in Harrisburg, PA,
where I sang with an Oratorio Society three performances, including Handel's Messiah)

Sweet, Sweet Movie!

Sweet, Sweet movie

A friend, Lois and I just came home from seeing the sweetest movie we have ever seen!
The movie was “Sweet Land”. It was filmed in Minnesota, and was about a mail order bride from Norway that came to the rural Norwegian community of southwestern Minnesota in the early 1900’s. It’s a love story, but really, much more than a love story. It is a “sweet story”. We highly recommend it. It has been playing here in Duluth for 5 weeks, so don’t risk missing it…. It will be a real Thanksgiving treat for you.

Want to Quit Smoking? Here's a Way. . .

Americans who smoke and want to QUIT are urged to call ACS’ QUITLINE – a FREE, clinically proven, telephone-based counseling program – at 1-800-ACS-2345. They can also log on to www.cancer.org/smokeout to create a personal plan to quit and, new this year, meet “The Quitter.”

30th Annual Great American Smokeout

Today is the American Cancer Society’s 30th Great American Smokeout. It is suggested that smokers use this day to quit smoking, if only for the day.

Smoking remains the most preventable cause of death in our society.

The Great American Smokeout is a day for smokers nationwide to unite and kick the deadly habit of smoking for a lifetime by starting with just one day.

The single most important thing a person can do to improve his or her long-term health and well-being is to quit smoking, and the American Cancer Society can help.

If you’re serious about quitting or helping someone else quit, the Society’s many resources are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help. Call 1-800-ACS-2345 or log on to www.cancer.org (link on the left).

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U. S. for both men and women, accounting for nearly one third of all cancer deaths.

2,160 people in Minnesota will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 2,430 will die.

Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for 87 percent of lung cancer deaths.

Each year, 3,000 nonsmoking adults die of lung cancer as a result of breathing secondhand smoke.

The American Cancer Society is committed to decreasing lung cancer incidence and mortality rates by focusing on five major goals:

--Prevent youth from starting to smoke
--Encourage adults and youth to quit smoking
--Improve access to smoking cessation treatment and services
--Eliminate nonsmoker’s exposure to cigarette smoke
--Eliminate disparities in tobacco use and its effects

Since the first Great American Smokeout in 1976, more than 2,200 communities and 18 states from all regions of the country-urban and rural – have granted citizens the right to breathe smoke-free air. “Although we’ve come a long way in the past 30 years, much work remains to be done because thousands of people in Minnesota remain exposed to secondhand smoke”, said Maribeth Swenty, Vice President for the American Cancer Society in Minnesota.

30 years ago cigarette smoking was the norm. Today, cigarette smoking has increasingly become the exception.

This post is in loving memory of my brother Jerry, who lost his struggle to lung cancer at age 52. Jerry was a smoker for years, the addiction was so strong for him, that it was hard for him to quit even while he was going through chemo-therapy. Jerry, we miss you and hold you in our hearts.

A Good Person gets Rewarded

Congratulations to Jim Soderberg! He is the Executive Director of CHUM (Churches United in Ministry). He has just received a McKnight Award in human service. He is one of 10 Minnesotans to receive the award today in Minneapolis. The awards honor people who give their time to improve the lives of people in their communities.

Soderberg insists the award isn’t about his work or about CHUM. He stated that the award should go to the community of caring people who make up CHUM, including the staff, board, advisory committees, volunteers and guests who use the services. Jim Soderberg has worked at CHUM for almost 10 years. His staff says that he inspires them all to do good, and that he has a vision for what CHUM can do to empower people to improve their lives. Rev. Michelle Hargrave, president of CHUM’s board stated that he has changed the shape of CHUM from delivering services of compassion to people in need to looking at ways to reduce the need. The award brings with it a check for $7,500, which Soderberg has already turned over to CHUM, asking that the money be used for staff development to reward the staff for what they do. Several people said that sharing credit is just what they’d expect from this humble man

CHUM in Duluth stands for Churches United in Ministry. In 1973 a group of churches started an organization called CHUM (Central Hillside United Ministry) 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 also remember Jim Soderberg coming to our board and talking about CHUM’s mission. Hope UMC (after our merger) has been a strong supporter of CHUM since it’s beginnings in 1973, in fact, our Pastor, Rev. Michelle Hargrave, is presently the President of CHUM. Also, the name was changed many years ago to CHURCHES UNITED IN MINISTRY, to indicate that this ministry is to all of Duluth, not just the Central Hillside.

Congratulations Jim Soderberg. Duluth is lucky to have you. Read more about Jim, about the McKnight awards and about CHUM, by clicking onto my Duluth News Tribune link on the left of this column. There is also a link to CHUM’s web site, for more information on the organization.

Sympathy for ...

I’m writing this on my lunch hour today at work, since I have not written since a week ago. It has been a busy week.

Last Wednesday afternoon I took a half day off of work to drive to Hudson, to visit with our daughter and her family. I needed to go to a training on Thursday in the Mendota Heights. ACS office (for work) and since Mendota Heights is only ½ hr. drive from Dawn and Bob’s home, it affords me the chance to spend time with them. I took Friday off also, so that Dawn and I could spend the day together while the kids were in school.

We had a good visit. I always come away feeling so sorry for our daughter, in all that she has going on in her life, I wonder how she handles it all and I worry about her. Her husband is a pilot, so he is gone a lot, and she often feels like she’s a “single Mom”. I do know, that when Bob and were raising our children, my life was much the same as hers, and somehow I was able to get through it to the “other side” and I must just have faith that she will too. She and Bob have a spread of 9 years between their two children, and isn’t it funny that between Dawn and our second child we also had a spread of 9 years! This means that they must parent a teenager at the same time as they are parenting a 6 year old. (We had two small ones to parent at the same time as Dawn being a teen). Although, I must say that I think a 6-year-old girl is much harder to parent than two small boys! Girls seem to be harder to parent than boys, when they are young. One thing that helped me to survive, was that I was not employed full time after the two boys came along. Also, my husband was home each evening. Dawn is dealing with the age spread, a husband that is not home every evening and a full time job!

There were issues with the teen when I was there, and while I am close to Skylar, I think he ignored my advice because it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He thought that I would side with him. Now, I have been trying to reach him since I got home to talk with him again, and he is ignoring my phone messages.

I pray for all parents who are going through rough times with teens these days, and pray for the teens also. It’s hard to make teens understand that as parents, the number one thought on their mind is what is best for them, even if it’s not what the teen wants to hear.

My daughter and her family are always on my husband’s mind, and mine, but this week we will be spending overtime hours thinking and praying for them.

VOTE TODAY!

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
I will be leaving for work early this morning so that I can stop at the local polling place
to vote. Hope you will be voting today too. Polls are open until 8 pm - VOTE TODAY!
Your vote is important!

Get Prepared!

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
Are you getting as tired of the signs around town and the negative, rude political ads that we have had to endure as I am? Thank goodness after tomorrow we won’t have to see them anymore. But, after tomorrow, we will have to live with who are voted in as leaders for our state and our country.

Here in Minnesota, we have some very important races. I have been doing a lot of reading and watching of C-Span, listening to Minnesota Public Radio, etc. in getting informed, so that I will be an educated voter tomorrow.

The legislature and the governorship are important decisions for us to make to lead us for the next 4 years. We have a governor’s race and a senator’s race, very key. Also, there is the legislature. There are also key races in other states. Mid-term election voter turn out is often not very good. I have a feeling that this year will be different.

No matter what your political feelings are, please look at who the candidates are, what their stands are on the issues, and most important get out there tomorrow and VOTE!!!!

North Dakota - PA - Hunting

North Dakota - PA - Hunting
Tonight I’m writing about North Dakota. Yes, I am feeling a lot better today, I’m eating a very limited diet. No, I’m not planning a trip to North Dakota. In fact I’ve only been to North Dakota once, and that was Fargo, N. D. which is a border town of Moorhead, Minnesota. Fargo is all I’ve seen of North Dakota, on a very long bus trip across Northwestern Minnesota with our son’s hockey team to play in a hockey tournament there several years ago. It was in the dead of winter, so can’t say I was impressed, and I wasn’t there to see the land.

One of my favorite columnists, Sam Cook, wrote a column in the Duluth News Tribune this morning titled “North Dakota offers more than a Stereotype”. I found it interesting because he talked about the “rural landscape, with gently rolling hills that are mostly treeless, except for the groves around farm homes.” The title refers to the sterotype that “you can see the end of the world from North Dakota”, Sam says this stereotype is not fair.

Sam is a hunter, and he goes to the rural farmland in ND to hunt, like my uncles and my uncles friends would come from the city to our farm to hunt in the fall, when I was growing up. October – December were busy at our homestead, especially on the weekends. The uncles and cousins would come and hunt with my Dad and brothers. All the men in our family hunted pheasants, rabbits, squirrel (and deer during deer season). My Mother would make a big meal for them over the noon hour, I would help. It was fun having them all around the table talking about their morning of hunting. My Mother always said she didn’t mind cooking for them, didn’t mind that they hunted, but one thing she refused to do was to clean their animals. Some farm women did clean the prey for their husbands, but she would not. I think it bothered her that they hunted, but she would never say that to anyone, I suspect that was probably why she drew the line.

Dad had a dear friend that would come up from York to hunt with him, his name was Sam. He was an uncle to my Uncle Bob. He came up with Uncle Bob for small game season. If Uncle Bob couldn’t come, often he brought along his wife Floss, to spend the day with Mom. I just loved when she came because she and Mom would talk and talk, and I would sit and listen to them. It was so interesting to me to listen to them, often they would include me in the conversation, which always made me feel grown up. A lot of girls when they were growing up, weren’t interested in being with “grown ups”, but I always enjoyed it, and took every opportunity to listen to their conversations. One time my aunt and she were talking about someone’s pregnancy, and their talk scared me, my Mother told me that I should not be listening to such grown up talk, as I didn’t understand. Well, I learned a lot about life being with grown ups throughout my childhood and teen years! On the first day of deer season, Floss and my Mother would spend the day baking Christmas cookies, squeezing the noon meal in for the guys. I really enjoyed helping to bake.

Now, I’m getting off track what I was going to write about concerning Sam Cook’s article on N. D. I enjoyed it because it brought back those “hunting days” at the farm memories, but all that was an afterthought. What really struck me when I read, was his description of the landscape there. It sounded a lot like what PA used to be 40 years ago. He described a lot of wide, open space left yet in North Dakota, it doesn’t sound like there are lots of homes being built on what used to be farm land, like in Pennsylvania. In the 36 years that I’ve been gone from PA, every time I visit home, I mourn about more farms becoming housing developments. There are less farms every time I go there, and I fear someday, all the little towns we have in rural Southeastern PA will soon be all run together! I do realize that the Northeastern part of U.S. naturally has more cities, towns and population, than states like North Dakota and some of the western states. Maybe the farmers in North Dakota have it easier to make a living, so they don’t have to sell to land developers? I don’t know. I just know I don’t like to see the farms and the wide open spaces where I grew up, dwindle as fast as they are dwindling. It’s just so sad to me. I thank The Lord that our homestead is intact, at least for our generation.

Some day, I’d like to go through North Dakota and the states in the west, like Wyoming (where I’ve heard also has open spaces). I have been to South Dakota, as far as the Black Hills. I was surprised to see the grasslands and open spaces there too. It was a beautiful state to see.

Please click on my link on the left for the Duluth News Tribune and click on "columnist" and Sam Cook. Read his article and you will see why it struck me. Thank you, Sam, for letting me know that there are still wide open spaces left in these United States!

Feel free to comment, your thoughts, feelings, etc. I’d like to hear what you think.

Three Days Down

Linda's Thoughts from Duluth
For three days I’ve had the stomach flu. Worse case I’ve had in years. Tonight I am finally up, taking some “nourishment” in the form of broth and tea. I feel much better, now just have to see if my stomach is back to normal. Let’s see, last week, Tuesday through most of Friday, no food due to gastro problems and now this week three more days of no food. Do you think maybe if I weighed myself I will show a weight loss? If so, I'm going to use it for a springboard to get back on my healthy eating habits and try to lose more. About 10 years ago I had my worst case of flu ever, that lasted over a week, the cold, virus and everything with it. After I got better, I had lost 10 lbs. I went on to lose 20 more pounds that winter! It's actually the last time that I've lost a substanial amount of weight. I think I am due that again. It would be nice to see a weight loss, not to have gone through all of this for nothing!