On Tuesday, July 31, 2018, 57 Twins fans boarded a bus from behind Hy-Vee in Albert Lea driven by Don Richter, leaving at 4 p.m. headed for Target Field. The occasion was the 25th Lutheran Night at the Twins. The bus was sponsored by FROG (Fully Rely on God), an outreach ministry of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church to promote fun, food and fellowship.
Each person was given an Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau plastic bag with coupons inside. The coupons were from Appleebees, Arby’s, Cabin Coffee, Dairy Queen, Kentucky Fried Chicken and the Heritage Restaurant (Ramada Hotel) in Albert Lea. The manager (Sara Mogen) and assistant manager (Val Heskett) from Arby’s were kind enough to give a free meal coupon to all on the bus. They were also on the bus. Thanks to Shannon, a Beanie Baby was also in each bag.
Four people from the bus who hadn’t led in singing the National Anthem before led in sing the National Anthem before the game. They were in a group of about 125 led by a choir director from center field looking at the stadium crowd. The four were Holly Bagley, Karen Borneman and Judy Hellie from the choir at East Freeborn Lutheran Church along with Kenneth Hansen, a well known choir singer from Forest City, Iowa. (Four choir singers who haven’t sung before can lead in singing the National Anthem in each bus at Lutheran Night at the Twins).
If your birthday is the same day as Lutheran Night at the Twins, your name (if you say O.K.) will be shown on the scoreboard. Thus, Jim Bagley, whose 65th birthday was July 31, 2018, had a “Happy 65th birthday Jim Bagley,” on the scoreboard. Jim was presented a signed-by-all card on the bus as we all sang “Happy Birthday” to him. Jim can say he is one of the very few to have his wife sing to him while she was in front of about 30,000 people. Wow!
On the bus on the way to the game, “Deal or No Deal” was played for Twins-related prizes. When your number that was on the Convention and Visitors bag was called, you got the corresponding prize if you said, “Deal.” If you said, “No deal,” the item was sold for $1 to $5 and your number was re-entered with the eligible prize numbers. The money from the sale was kept until the final cash drawing. Prizes ranged from Twins caps to Twins shopping bags with Twins clothing. The $30 no deal cash was split with two winners of $15 each (sad to say, my number was not called!)
The ballgame with the league-leading Cleveland Indians was not good. The Twins, in the last five days, traded away a starting pitcher, two relief pitchers, infielder Eduardo Escobar and second baseman Brian Dozier that afternoon. The trades meant the Twins management gave up any playoff hopes in 2018. The fans were shocked. The Twins played like a lost boy in center field. They just played in shock and the score showed it.
The only conclusion is, “Wait until 2019 and after for maybe a winning team.” Maybe the former governor of California (Arnold) said it best: “I’ll be back.” And I hope so. So will the Twins.
Dates of importance:
1. The annual Soup and Pie Supper Monday, Sept. 24 at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.
2. Church Basement Ladies bus leaves at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 14. Call 373-8655 (Hansons) or 826-3267 (Indrelies) for reservations.
3. Saturday, Dec. 1 at 4 pm., bus to “Christmas by the Lake.” Details to follow.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.