For a change, this column will begin with a running of the words!!
1.There is no water flowing out of Fountain Lake and over the grate under Bridge Street into Albert Lea Lake. (I’ve only seen this once before.)
2. I was honored to be recognized as she said, “Hi, Bob” with that trademark friendly way of the “Lerberg” family of Ellendale. When we met she jogging and me walking around Fountain Lake in Albert Lea. Thanks, Wendy.
3. The “Horned Trout” are biting in the channel between Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake. (For those not into fishing - a horned trout, Iowa Pike and Bullhead are identical fish!!)
4. How about the very pretty, big, full moon twice in August on the 1st and 30th. Wow!!
5. It’s time to start your diet of three weeks til the 18th of September when you can chow down at the soup and dessert supper at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea. You can mix or match five different kinds of soup with pie and ice cream as a finish.
6. The end of running of the words!!
The Freeborn County Fair this year was, as all other years, “Great.”
It was a bit on the warm side with no rain, which was good for attendance.
A minor problem was the fair entrance gate on the West side off of Marie Avenue was closed due to a shortage of workers willing to work at the going pay scale for gate attendants.
I suggest the fair board contact senior citizens, service clubs, churches, schools, etc. if this is a problem again. They will find more than enough workers - maybe even free workers!!
In this column July 13, 2023, I wrote: In watching parades, ball games, military in parades plus their events honoring July 4th, I noticed the number of people with no respect for the U.S. flag. All I can say to that person is, “Your disrespect for the flag will end when you receive a folded one.”
While grocery shopping at Hy-Vee an individual asked me to explain “a folded one.”
I explained that getting a U.S. folded flag honoring the military service of a deceased person would cause the receiver to recognize the appreciation given to the deceased for their service in the U.S. Military. I went on to use our family as an example: In Genie’s family, her grandfather, uncle and father were presented a folded flag to a family member. In my family, an uncle and brother were presented a folded flag to a family member.
I went on to explain why I wear a Korea Veteran cap on most occasions - “Cause I’m proud of the U.S. flag and I know a family member will receive a folded flag when I’m deceased.” Amen.
Sometimes I see a story of mankind that is worth passing along. For example:
A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a flyswatter. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Hunting flies,” he replied.
“Oh, killed any?” she said.
“Yep, 3 males, 2 females,” came the answer.
Intrigued, the wife asked, “How can you tell them apart?”
Husband: “3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone.”
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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.