The first day of winter came and went with no usual sign of winter like other years.
We did see an unusual omen of winter coming. A city of Albert Lea snowplow went up and down our street twice during the same day with no snow on the ground. I was very confused, so I flagged the truck down and asked the two occupants what they were doing. The reply was, “The city of Albert Lea only hires experienced snow plow drivers.” The driver needed two more trips up and down our street and down our street and then she would be an experienced snowplow driver. She would then be a new city of Albert Lea employee as of the first measurable snow fall. (The other occupant was her supervisor to be.)
The first ice fisherman on Fountain Lake this year was December 16. The ducks and geese were kind enough to let part of the lake freeze over, so he could ice fish. (I estimated about 5,000 ducks and geese keeping a big open water spot.)
One of my old friends believes any Christmas gift is better than no Christmas gift. He gives me gently used gifts every year. I decided to do the same, so I gave him gently used Minnesota lottery tickets this year.
Speaking of gifts, Eunice Bakken received the grand champion award in Christmas homemade edible goodies for 2020.
A few years ago we met two great people while we were staying at the Sleep Inn motel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina visiting our daughter and son-in-law. (Ava Rose, now 13 and her brother, Caleb, now 11.) They are both excellent students getting all A’s and B’s. They were curious about Minnesota, so I’m sending a copy of this column to each one.
In my world of hunting and fishing, three is a word to represent a number of the same kind of species.
For example A: Plumb of woodchucks, gaggle of geese, node of pheasants, bouquet of pheasants, puddling of mallards, coil of teal, spring of teal, wisp of snip, dray of squirrels, husk of hares, rafter of turkeys, drift of quail, flight of grouse, clutch of partridges, commotion of coot, piteousness of doves, tribe of antelope, gang of elk, rout of coyotes, sloth of bears, sounder of wild pigs, herd of deer, blind of salmon, fleet of bass, float of tuna, flotilla of swordfish, school of crappies, clew of worms.
P.S. A. 2020 may have been a tough year, but remember, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
B. Ava Rose and Caleb: I set the bar very high for you two, but I know you two are very capable young Americans.
P.P.S. The first snow blizzard of winter here was 12/23/20 – Just on time for a “White Christmas.” The blizzard was shown on “Good Morning America,” featuring the electrical lines sparking as the wind blew them together in New Richland, Minnesota!
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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 New York. 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.