A friend of my mother’s, Hilda, once told me she often likes to just sit and think - to rest - to allow things to run through her mind. I find myself doing just that at times.

I’ve always felt that the extremes of the seasons can help make up the character of those who live here. 

We start out with winter. There is a lot of adversity in winter, but it doesn’t sneak up on us - we know what is coming, we prepare for it, and some of us have learned to embrace it. We know that there will be an end to it; sometimes, it is just something we have to get through.

Spring; not just an end of adversity, but the beginning of new life, it is a time of planning and optimism.

Summer is a time that those in this part of the country have earned; long days making up for the short ones, a time when you can put in a full day’s work and still have hours of leisure time.

Fall – the term “September of our years” fits it well. It’s a time for relaxing after the bustle of summer before the winter sets in. It’s a time to slow down as the days get shorter, to appreciate the fall colors, to harvest what we have worked so hard for, and to prepare for what comes next.

I believe that our seasons help make us who we are.

In my daily ventures, on all kinds of roads, some less traveled and some I use every day, I cannot help but think there is something magical in the art along the roadside. Watching the changing of the seasons when fields that were once black then green with new life now turn brown, then become white, covered with snow before they return to black again.

It is rather Biblical in a way. God’s promise is that one should live and grow and when his task is done, it dies like a brown field before it is harvested, not knowing if times will be good, bad, or indifferent.

God said we should labor but that we should also take time to rest, but it doesn't always work that way.  Sometimes we forget, or there just isn't time. Hopefully God forgives us if we have to "juggle" that day of rest at times. We do have to remember how important those days of rest are in the cycle of life.

We also need to rely on the knowledge that new life will come again in the spring just as God has promised.

When the outside world seems difficult to take, and the stress in your life becomes overwhelming, look inside for your strength.

Let us not forget - even if we want to.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th. By the time the candidates this year throw enough mud around and bring up what the other person did or didn't do, would you really like to vote for anyone?

I know it is good politics to get the "name" out but I am sorry to say I feel many voters vote for a particular political party, or a family or special sounding name. 

Throughout the campaigning, if you dig deep enough and twist enough words you can usually make something out of nothing. There are those who know little or nothing about the candidates, but maybe they do better than some of us who think we know who we are voting for.

In this day and age one can look up almost anything, including information about many of the candidates, on the computer, but few take the time to do it. They just vote, and later complain because they aren't doing things the way one thinks they should be done.

One can only hope an honest person with integrity and intelligence for what he is working for, who knows the value of a dollar or who is spending it will be elected to represent us.

I for one feel the campaigning is too long and too costly. I don't really need a half dozen campaign cards filling my mailbox every day, whether it is good for the postal economy or not. And we can't forget the television, radio and newspaper ads, too. Meanwhile, who is running the government when everyone is out campaigning?

If candidates didn't spend so much money on ads and flyers sent out in the mail, and put that money into what we need to run our country, we would be in good financial shape. Maybe we need to think – if a candidate spends too much money on campaigning they will be just as extravagant in running the government.

It is important for everyone to get out and vote on Election Day, but it is hoped that you know who and what you are voting for! Be informed.

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. Also if you have an idea for a story that you think would be of interest to our readers, please contact me. 

If you have birthdays and anniversaries you would like include, or news to share please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P. O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

This week’s birthdays and anniversaries include:

• Thursday, October 30th: Lilly Jane Wacek, Gordon Goette, Angie Broskoff Klemmensen, Allen & Barb Dobberstein

• Friday, October 31st: Happy Halloween! Kyra Barbara Kotsmith, Brooke Hanson Berg, Heather Wayne, Emily Smith, Carrie Thompson, Roseann Kasper, Jerry Neitzel, Lorraine Lent, Kaye & Mike Cady, Vonda & Andrew Komba

• Saturday, November 1st: Dakota Wangsness, Garrett Wangsness, Troy Hagen, Mike Reistad, Jamie & Sergio Hernandez

• Sunday, November 2nd: Gary Dummer, Karen Osmundson, Tracy Farr Simon, Janis Klinger, Troy Sommers, Dan Nord, Sylvia Janet Baker

• Monday, November 3rd: Nakayla Joy Butler, Preston Dean Shaunce; Brian Muri, Paula Degan Conroy, Jennifer Misgen, Lois Conklin, Tim Hanson, Aaron Sargent, Sydney McCamish, Quinn Sebastian Briedenbach, Angie & Josh Lair

• Tuesday, November 4th: Jeff Carlson, Brant Hemingway, Stuart Vangen, Grant Neitzell, Scott Anderson, Andrew Farr

• Wednesday, November 5th: Faith Jennie Nielsen, Preslie Jean Nielsen, Hope Ann Nielsen, Alyssa Hagen, Kerri Newgard d'Eustachip, David Wayne, Mavis Langlie, Chad Braaten, Allison Hanson, Allison Jensen, Skyla Kundtson

Make your special day a day you'll never forget, filled with smiles, good cheer and laughter! And may you have a very happy Halloween!