As promised, more winter stories:

I remember when my Dad and Grand Dad used to tell us about how they used to cut ice on the lakes in the winter. It was quite a process and hard work as they cut the blocks of ice with human power on the end of a saw. After chunks of ice were cut, they were put on sleds drawn by horses to transport them to the creameries and other places in town, as there was no refrigeration.

The icehouses usually weren't much to look at, but inside, the blocks of ice were stacked high and wide with sawdust recycled from the saw mill. It is hard to believe that ice could last the entire summer, keeping cream from souring or food from spoiling in ice boxes in homes. 

When the ice man cometh the kids came running to get chips of ice to suck on. The kids wiped the sawdust off on their britches and thought they had a great treat. Come to think of it, the crystal clear ice from the lake was probably more sanitary and chemical-free than some of the water now used.

Grand Dad said when the horses pulled the sleds of ice on the Steele-Waseca County line to the Bath creamery, they had to hook up another team of horses over the hill at the "Sullivan Corners" because it required more than one team of horses to sledge up over the steep hill. Once over the hill, the second team went on to its next destination.

Ice wasn't the only thing hauled by horses in the winter. The farmers had to get their cream to the creamery. 

There weren't snow plows a plenty and they weren't as good as they are now, so roads weren't always open or ready for travel shortly after new fallen snow. My grandpa hauled cream wearing his old sheepskin coat, wool cap with "ear flappers" and woolen mittens inside of leather choppers. The neighbors took turns hauling the milk to the creamery, but grandpa was the furthest north and had to go south to pick up cream cans from the neighbors before he went. 

Often times, it was faster and easier to cross the field rather than use the road. In the spring, there were fences to be repaired before the cattle were "let out to pasture."

Any groceries needed were picked up, as well as the mail, at the same time the cream was hauled to town. Mom remembers the grocery list included staples like oatmeal, yeast, sugar, and flour; the same things people cooked with back in the days of the "chuck wagons." 

Grandpa would often bring home treats, like horehound candy, Smith Brothers cough drops, Christmas candy and chocolate humps, or haystacks, as they were often called, which was Grandpa’s favorite candy. Back at that time, the smell of chocolate made my mom sick, so many of those treats weren't treats to her.

Mom’s favorite candies were hard, red raspberry candies in the Christmas mix and more or less, tasteless ribbon candy. Unless you got a piece of red cinnamon candy, most Christmas candy back then tasted the same — just sweet.

Bestemor, who was my mother’s grandmother, often made the grandkids a can of “pepper nuts,” a cookie, like nuggets, that were hard and peppery. They were a special Christmas treat. Depending on what country your family came from, the recipes were a little different, making them different sizes and more or less peppery.

Great Grandpa Christensen, Bestefar, as he was called by many, always looked forward to when the itinerant "fish man" came door to door in Geneva. His favorite was the dark, skinned herring, neither boned nor skinned. Grandpa kept them frozen until he would use them. Grandma Hanson would leave money and an order of what fish she wanted to buy with Bestefar, as the "fishman" didn't come to their farm.

He also liked cod. It came salted in a little wooden box. Thawed and soaked to get some of the salt out, it was creamed and poured over potatoes. Mom says that the last she knew you can still find it in specialty stores, only the price has greatly changed.

Bestemor was a good cook and Mom remembers Abelskiver, Cistakage, sugar cookies, sweet soup, chicken soup, and dark bread, among other things. Tea and coffee too, with lots of cream and sugar, drank with a spoon sticking up on one side of the cup. My Grandma Hanson drank cocoa the same way: with the spoon in the cup being held there by a thumb. Why? Who knows; habit, I guess.

Getting to school was the best way you knew how, even if it was by horseback. However, there was a "bus sleigh" of sorts, with tarp sides and Eisenglas plastic windows. If you were lucky, there was a foot warmer: heated bricks or stones.

My Aunt Helyn would walk from their farm about a mile and a half to the Gilbert Thorsen farm to catch the bus. Girls didn't wear jeans or long pants to high school back then, but many did wear cotton stockings, long underwear and woolen snow pants.

When my mother started high school, the buses were much smaller than they are now and she only had to walk down to the corner, which was about a quarter of a mile, to get on. She can still remember one time when the bus driver, Johnny Stadheim, turned the bus too short on the corner and got stuck and the kids all had to get out and push!

My dad enjoyed winters, and Mom can remember an old pair of wooden skis he had that he kept in our garage after we moved to Geneva. Evidently, they were too handy, and one day they disappeared. Dad also had a pair of snowshoes, while Mom and Dad lived at St. Olaf Lake. Mom said that they were hard to walk in, and they disappeared, too. My dad liked to try his hand at making fun little projects from time to time. He made a pair of ice grippers out of those metal brackets that they used to use on the joints when they made rafters. 

He used them while trying to get around on the ice. Many times, Dad was a little bit ahead of the times. Too bad he didn't market them; he may have become a rich man.

Mom also talks about one winter when they got so much snow that Henry Langie’s weren't able to get their door open from the inside. As a result, the boys went upstairs and opened one of the windows and were able to ski down the roof of their house. (Mike Marcus now lives were Henry Langlie lived back then, which was south and west of Ellendale, but the house has changed.)

My mother said that she had a picture of Bernice Thompson, who is Lois Johnson Aitchison’s mother, skiing behind the horse. Leighton Langlie and Howard Langlie got pretty good at this event as well and they would travel on down the road, as well as up and down in the neighborhood ditches, behind their horses too.

I can think of many years when we had epic snowstorms like those described by the "old-timers" and also years when we've had little snow. Since records have been kept, snowfall averages haven't changed much. 

That begs the question, "Has there been a change in the winters, or is it the fact that we are better able to deal with them now?" New and bigger equipment is a consideration, but nature is stronger than our ability to handle all she throws at us. If we do get "the big one," (snowstorm), we'll deal with it just like our rural relatives did: we'll stay at home, do some baking, take a nap, stay warm, find ways to entertain ourselves, and deal with it when it blows itself out.

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

• Thursday, March 21st: Amy Foster, John Krell, Doris Krause, Trent Steven Pence, Kelly Marie Dobberstein, Phillip Ingvaldson, Pam Farr, Kent Paulson, Diane Marlin, Kelly Nelson, Glea Hyland, Doris Krause, Brody Grunwald, Darrell & Cindy Farr.

• Friday, March 22nd: National Goof Off Day! Gordy Carroll, Brenna Lynn Hagen, Shannon Johnson, Karin Lieberg, Bob Sommers, Leah Elaine Bergerson, Jerry Peterson, Nancy & Jerry Walterman, Dennis & Glenda Blouin.

• Saturday, March 23rd: Chris Newgard, Penny Obermoller, Alan Edwardson, Troy Johnson, Troy Wagner, Jason Dwight, Alexi Jo Kitzer, Alex Dobberstein, Delaney Sue Vander Syde, Alexander James Thompson, Peter Bergerson, Chris Rutheford, Phyllis Anderson, Glea & DeLores Hyland, Rick & Liz Wangsness.

• Sunday, March 24th: Gail Ottesen, Seth Chad Staloch, Dave Meixner, Kurt Hanson, Laurie Phagan, Lucetta Kermes, Wes & Ruth Neidermeier, Angie & Cory Klemmensen, Tony & Sandra Tonsing, Lonna & Dean Broitzman

• Monday, March 25th: Brad Hagen, Michelle Ritz, Pam Anderson, Faith Jensen, Tom Marlin, Trevor Loverink, Bernice Farr Mattson.

• Tuesday, March 26th: Nikita Zelpha Peterson, Mary Lou Faldat, Jackie Draayer, David Hanson, Ray Coxworth, Lonnie Misgen, Ginger Cornelius, Dillon Hanson, Daryl Jensen, Duane Morreim, Amy Dobberstein, Marge Wobschall, Mary Lou Spurr, Gerrit & Jean Molenaar, Jeff & Robin Christensen, Jennifer & Matthew Dinneen.

• Wednesday, March 27th: Kim Weckwerth Farr, Jim Ottesen, Verona Winegar, Tom Lund, Tina Jensen Wangen, Jodi Loverink, Neil Born, Ralph Randall, Todd & Sheri Utpadel, Wes & Julie Schroenrock.

It is your special day, get carried away.

The event of snow, a word not foreign to those of us who live in Minnesota, brings many things to mind; sometimes so many I tend to ramble. As I have said before, English wasn't my best subject in school, but my own memories and tales told by my family are important to me and may take a week or two to relate.

I hope you find them interesting, as well as help bring "Whatever Comes to Mind" for you, too. As a writer, I know I have done my job if I am able to get readers to think of their own stories.

There wasn't a lot of interest in snowmobiles around Geneva before my dad got his first winter toy, a second-hand Polaris snowmobile. It was built like a tank and just as heavy. Everybody had a good laugh because that year we got little if any snow until the boys’ state basketball tournaments. That seemed to do it every time — they bring in the snow, and we got a "doozy" that year.

Nobody was prepared for that much snow at one time. My dad had a glorious time delivering everything from people, to mail, bottle gas, groceries, and what not. I remember someone commenting that they didn't care if it didn't even snow the next year, they were going to have a snowmobile just in case, and Geneva reached its peak in snowmobiles.

Snowmobiling was the thing to do. When the snowmobile crew went like a convoy down to Nodine (a small community close to Houston, Minnesota) to snowmobile with Everal and Lenard Lageson, people in the area stood outside on the streets and stared like they'd never seen such a sight before. They told the Lagesons they "must have rich friends.” The next year when we came back for another visit we were astounded because it seemed like everyone had a snowmobile and the hills, valleys and trails just reached out to them.

My oldest daughter was just a baby (she and I didn't take part in the ride), but we met up with the group at one of the many tavern/restaurants in the area. Krista was sleeping so I laid her, wrapped up in her warm blankets, on a pool table. As the snowmobilers arrived, they shed their gear and tossed it on the table until someone yelled, "Hey, there is a baby there!”

I can imagine what I'd think now if someone did that to their baby. I was lucky, not one person turned me in for child abuse!

Many of our local snowmobilers back then also traveled up to the Duluth and Mackinac, Wisconsin area where there was a lot of snow and places to snowmobile. Many of the men discovered a "ski jump" area and every man that went up there tried out the ski jump and came home with broken windshields on their snowmobiles.

My mother had a Raider snowmobile, which had "cat tracks." That snowmobile was terrific for going up and over the snow piled in the ditches. The snowmobile was so heavy it would sink in the soft snow, but it was great on the hard packed snow piles.

Looking back at those good old days, mom says that some of the things they did were not very smart, an observation most of us came to realize, as we get older.

My nephew, Kade, was born in the middle of October, and my mother made him a snowmobile suit and would take him along with her. She would put him down in front of her, between her legs, which would keep him out of the direct wind, but all of the exhaust would come back at him.

Mom wonders now if that little suit was warm enough, as the material she used really wasn't that thick. Manufacturers later made snowmobile suits that were really warm for those long rides in the wind and snow.

A few times there were about 100 snowmobiles taking part in trail rides. When traffic got heavier and heavier and restrictions were placed on riding on the roads, snowmobile trails were developed.

It is funny the things that one forgets and how something, like a big snow storm, comes along and triggers your memory.

Snow seemed to be prevalent in the arrival of more than one family member. My aunt, Phyllis, and her soon-to-be-delivered daughter, DeLoyce, had a hard time getting to the hospital from their farm southwest of Ellendale in March of 1951. The snowplows could only "punch through" the snow banks to a mile from their farm, so they made an improvised sled for Phyllis out of an old car hood. They also couldn't get home again, and spent several days at my Aunt Ellen’s home in Albert Lea. That same snowstorm also resulted in a minor airplane crash near Ellendale; the airplane skis couldn't accelerate in the snow, and the airplane went up on its nose. My cousin Jim owns that same airplane today. When he restored it, he had the mechanics leave the wrinkled cowling on it. "It's part of the airplane's history," he said.

The birth of my second daughter, who was born on the 10th of April, was proceeded by a short but freakish snow storm that trapped her dad in Albert Lea and me at my parents’. We had to get the snowplow out to get me there before she was born.

My nephew Cameron was born during the Super Bowl storm, back on the 8th of January in 1975. What started out being a rainy day turned into a full-fledged snow day and mom was ever so glad that Kaye had been able to get to the hospital before the storm really hit hard. The blizzard would have prohibited anyone getting through to get her to the hospital. Kaye and Cameron had to stay in the hospital an extra day, which wasn't to Kaye’s liking, as she hates hospitals. When they were finally able to come home and realized that traffic was only one way and traveling almost like through a tunnel, she understood why she had to stay that extra day.

Next week I will share a few more winter memories.

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. If you have news 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.

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

• Thursday, March 14th: National Potato Chip Day!  Laura Katherine Worrell, Connor Duane Klemmensen, his 5th; Sierra Christine Krause, her 4th; Brian Cerney, Brent Huber, Marcia Hutchins, Lee Loverink, Mark Finch, Kathy Molenaar, Trevor Titus

• Friday, March 15th:  Angie Haberman Lyman, Marvel Beiser, Andy Ditlevson, Robin Jepson, Judy Lunning, Tim Phagan, Steve Clausen, Tony Motl, Julie Peterson, Don & Cindy Gould

• Saturday, March 16th:  Ava Pospesel, Blair Pospesel, Al Batt, Cortnee Langlie, Judy Waage, Tyler Lewis Hagenbrock, Jackson Taylor William Churchill, Harold & Pat Wayne, Hugh & Karen O'Byrne

• Sunday, March 17th: St. Patricks' Day, Ashley Marie Hagen, Shannon Weckwerth Pacholl, Mike Cady, Dakota Ray Janning, Nicole Hanna, Patrick Wobschall, Harvey Zicafoose, Mandy Galbraith, Joel Hill, Jenifer Jensen Pietari, Carol Scott, Kevin & Marsha Jensen

• Monday, March 18th: Ashley Marie Hagen, Lynn Sommer Eaton, Chad Cornelius, Randy Brandt, Michelle Bartness, Dan Enzenauer, Matthew Larson, Wanda Stanley, Kent Toft, Matt & Jennifer Van Hal, Dean & Sue Westrum

• Tuesday, March 19th: Samuel Bartness, his 1st; LaVern Klocek, Jill Rye, Jill Neitzell, Tyler Crabtree, Bethany Butler, Tori Lynn Sage, Wyatt Marcus Westergrin

• Wednesday, March 20th: Jayda Moon, Tricia Renae Hanson, Nicole Christensen, Neva Lembke, Gary Reichl, Jim Butler, Tammy Harpel Nielsen, Winfred Bergdale, Shelly Hoeve, Billy Jo Johnson Schwierjohann, Dennis Olson

Surprise somebody. Call someone. Send a card and make their day. Little things mean a lot.

While we moan and groan over moving the snow, it does have its fun side, too. For those who have sat on their expensive, impressive snowmobiles all winter with no place to go, it was like a gift from heaven when the snow recently came falling down.

Though times have changed and today’s machines are like comparing a Cadillac to a Model T in my snowmobiling days, it does bring back memories of fun in the snow. We didn't go fast and I won't say we didn't travel far, because we did travel great distances inhaling gas fumes along with the great fresh air. Back in those "good old days" we didn't have snowmobile trails to travel like they do now, either; we made our own.

Our snowmobile suits were pretty much plain old suits, either black or navy blue, but the quilted material was high tech compared to the woolen coats that came before them. They were not a fashion statement, like those worn today that look like something from NASCAR with all the bright colors and designs. Also, we didn't have all the great helmets that are now used to protect one’s head either.

For the young at heart (and body) as they zip across the mounds of snow, it brings back thoughts of the movie Dr. Zhivago when they traveled across the snow-drenched plains with horse and sleigh. Before the days of snowmobiles and water skiing, horses (not horsepower) pulled many a skier behind them on wonder skis on untamed trails. In fact, even horseback riding in the snow was an adventure.

Kids still do love the snow because they can build caves and snow forts, and have a few snowball fights, as well as do a little sliding. Which is correct, sliding or sledding?

Sliding is what you do on a hill — sliding over the snow. Sledding may mean going down a hill on a sled, or it may mean traversing the snow on a sled. It might help to remember to think of horse-drawn sleds.

It is hard to believe in those early years of snowmobiling that we use to go to Clarks Grove on our evening snowmobile jaunts. Interstate 35W was still in the making. Where does time go? It seems like only yesteryear.

Many are the times we used to park on the hill east of St. Olaf Lake to watch the herd of deer that made their appearance with little apparent fear of the bunch of us on our snowmobiles. It’s sad to think that lately we seem to still be watching deer, but as road kill along the highway. There is still something impressive about a deer with its Bambi eyes and distinctive white tail bobbing along the road and across the fields that impresses me.

Wild turkeys were "new on the scene" about the time my girls and my sister Kaye’s boys were small. I believe the New Richland FFA raised and released them in our territory, and others did too, and now they are about as familiar as robins but still fun to see. I can still picture them running down Brian Espe’s hill to my folks’ cabin at St. Olaf Lake when my dad was ready to give them a "handout," though they much preferred acorns to corn. They often pecked on the picture window, much to our enjoyment, ti to let us know they were hungry.

They say turkeys are dumb, and you could believe so if you saw them high in the trees behind where Tom McCrady lives at St. Olaf Lake. It seems the stronger the wind the higher they went, but turkeys are wily and difficult to hunt. They have little sense of smell, but their eyesight is keen.

My folks had a few white turkeys visit them while they lived at St. Olaf Lake. Interesting how they would harvest seeds from weeds and grasses, pressing their beak around the stem and pulling upward, so the seeds went directly into their mouth.

Then there was the time we went to Como Park and the kids spotted vultures that they thought were turkeys. I guess there was some resemblance. Maybe they were turkey vultures; but that is another story.

We often frequented both the Como Park and Minnesota Zoo back in those early days. Kaye would plan those trips on short notice and we'd just go, often taking lunch with us prepared in a hurry as we were practically going out the door. Imagine the surprise when biting into a sandwich to realize some tops and bottoms got mixed up in the rush and we had a sandwich McDonald’s never even thought of: peanut butter and tuna fish!

As a youngster my nephew, Cameron’s, dream was that he would someday work at a zoo. Well, maybe he still does sometimes but not the zoo you think, and his interest and his love of animals has taken him many miles as a guide and a hunter. With our family, reunions probably are the zoo! How did I get from snow to turkeys to the zoo? Easy, I live in Minnesota and you can expect anything, any time here — the same as the name of this column – it’s “whatever comes to mind."

A favorite time for my mom and dad were their jaunts around St. Olaf Lake every night on cross-country skis. It was a stress-free time; quiet, beautiful weather, dark or under a sky sprinkled with stars. We all had cross-country skis. Probably not brave enough to attack the ski slopes. Not your speed skier, it was more fun to go slowly, taking in the sights, identifying tracks, and listening to the birds and animals that lived in the wooded areas.

My dad was always a master of making snow people. He was tall enough to make them tower above our heads and it was always a sport to talk my Grandma Hanson out of accessories to make them stylish.

There have been years without snow; in fact, my mother tells of the war years. There was green grass under Grandma’s evergreen and she had Uncle Paul pose in his swimming suit so she could take a picture of him on New Year’s Day. It got sent to the boys she was so faithful to write to while they were serving our country.

Winters have been both colder and warmer than what we have experienced in the last few years. I guess that’s why they changed the term global warming to climate change - since weather is never static, they can’t be wrong!

I also remember when Daryl and I lived in the old "Olson house" in Geneva. Grandma had given me pansies to plant one summer. Imagine my surprise to have them blossom the next spring in one of our late snowfalls.

Speaking of snowfalls, they say that no two snowflakes are the same. I’ll have to take the word of the experts; how in the world would one know?

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. If you have news 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.

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

• Thursday, March 7th: Jace John Goslee, his 7th; Marlee Diane Dutton, her 9th; Jake Ortiz, Emily Horan, David Otterson, Chuck Hagen, Lorna Reistad, Kenneth Peterson, Lance Cummins, Peggy Evenson and Rose Myhre

• Friday, March 8th:  Derek Alan Lee, Janice Olson Paulson, Greg Nelson, Carla Paulsen Haugen, Melissa Trindad, Kathy & Mike Plunkett, Stephanie & Tom Pulley

• Friday, March 9th: Reese Sharon Glynn, her 6th; Taylor Jensen, Chris Clausen, Peter Dammel, Curtis Langlie, Mark Sawyer, Joel Wacholz, Dean Waltz, Jaclyn Cromwell Olson, Chris Farr, Joleen Thompson

• Saturday, March 10th: Julie Stieglbauer Dahl, Sue Misgen, Aaron Callahan, Travis Johnson, Michelle Olson Bedney, Tom Vavra, Heidi Mattson LaFave, Chuck Hanson, Gayle Dummer, Douglas Schmidt, Linda Anderson, DeLynn Johnson Rohrbacher, Hannah Emily Brunsen

• Sunday, March 11th: Elsie Jacobson, her 1st; Marian Mast, Carolyn Flesche, Leroy Folie, Kari Thostenson, Jon Carlson, Michelle Meyer, Larry Richards, Tim Simon, Joan Ahlstrom Diderrich, Tanya Swearingen, Tom Arbogast, David Callahan, Dean Lembke, Spener Sebastian Sommers, his 10th; Doug Blouin, Wendell Kuehni, Paul & Shirley Nelson

• Monday, March 12th:  David Paulson, Jason Bowman, Terri Engel, Robert Hall, Harla Stanley Malz, Spiering Brody Sundbland, Gary & Barb Paulson, Jack & Virginia Jensen

• Tuesday, March 13th:  Joanna Ver Hey, David Mangskau, Lynda Kruckeberg, Darla Waltz, Jessica Liverseed, Craig Lunning, Tony Tonsing

• Wednesday, March 14th:  National Potato Chip Day! Laura Katherine Worrell, Connor Duane Klemmsensen, his 5th; Sierra Christine Krause, her 4th; Brian Cerney, Brent Huber, Marcia Hutchins, Lee Loverink, Mary Finch, Kathy Molenaar, Trevor Titus

Wishing you sunny smiles to warm your heart on your special day!

Isn't it wonderful how different our lives seem when the sun shines through? After days of seemingly gloomy weather and ice that not only kept us more or less captive, a new day arrives.

It’s hard to believe that another month is gone already in this new year. The shortest month is such a busy month, maybe because we have so much to accomplish in fewer days. 

It will be nice to be able to look ahead to things that remind us spring is coming. In the not too distant future, we will be able to dig in the dirt, mow the lawn, pull a few weeds and pick up sticks, which is much more attractive to one than slipping on the ice, pushing snow or donning an extra sweater in this cold winter weather. 

Earlier this month, we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Why do we need to have a special day to tell people that we love and care about them? Maybe because it gives us an excuse to make a special point in saying so to the people we know and love. 

My aunt Helyn has a February birthday. Helyn is a beautiful lady who fits right in with the Valentine mood. The love she gives to others shines in their eyes and thoughts.

I reap rewards as people recognize me as Helyn’s niece and often come up to tell me how much they enjoy her presence at Thorne Crest in Albert Lea. It always gives one a lift to spend some time visiting her — having coffee, though neither she or I drink coffee,. 

Nevertheless, we just enjoy sitting or talking about the good times. Things we weren’t always able to do in the past when we thought we were too busy to take the time to count our blessings.

I've never been disappointed in visiting the elderly. They have so much to offer. They put a smile on your face and a spring in your step, and I guess I can see that "getting older" doesn't seem old anymore. 

One wonders if a younger generation will step up to the plate when they are vacated by the forever young or growing older crowd. Perhaps when one’s self grows older, one recognizes so many who are in attendance at church, showers, benefits and the like are apt to be in the older category. Do they have more time to volunteer and play a part in community events?

On second thought, I am not being fair. Where would some of our senior citizens be if younger people didn't get them where they need to go and look after their welfare? 

Sometimes, we do forget that young lives are busy with dual employment, making sure their children get to practice or games, attend school and benefit events, march in parades and promote the elderly so they not only live longer, but comfortably as well. 

Older people have the advantage of experiences. Young people have the enthusiasm, energy, imagination and muscle needed to keep things advancing. 

It's great to see a lack in the generation gap as young and old work together. Isn't it wonderful that those with silver hair or none at all can blend in so nicely with these youngsters who are learning from their older experiences?

Yes, antiques are worth their weight in gold, or should I say the silver in their hair reminds us that they have lived through times both good and bad?

They are tough! You have to be if you’re old, because from what I hear, it’s not always the picnic people think it is going to be.

My dad described the golden years as tarnished tin. My mother said they are more like rusty barbed wire. They both were kidding of course! My great aunt, Carol Christensen described the golden years as a time you have reached when you have a tendency to cling to a special bond that forms with a different love than that of long ago.

When I was a child, people sat around kitchen tables and told their stories. We don't do that so much anymore. 

Sitting around the table telling stories is not just a way of passing time; it is the way the wisdom gets passed along. Despite the awesome powers of technology, many of us still do not live very well. We may need to listen to each other's stories once again.

The stories we can tell each other have no beginning and ending — they are a front row seat to the real experience. Even though they may have happened in a different time or place, they have a familiar feel. In some way, they are about us, too.

Real stories take time. We stopped telling stories when we started to lose that sort of time, pausing time, reflecting time, wondering time. 

Life rushes us along and few people are strong enough to stop on their own. Most often, something unforeseen stops us and it is only when we have the time to take a seat at life's kitchen table to know your own story and tell it, to listen to other people's stories, and to remember the real world is made of such stories.

Honor your senior citizens. You, too, will be old someday. Think of all the fun things you can talk about regarding those good old days with your younger family members and friends.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, February 28th: Troy Utpadel, Neil Pence, Jackie Miller, Steve Engel, Dan Nesdahl, Bennett Dobberstein, Atom Oquist, Sharese Lehmberg, John Marlin, Gerry Flim, Michelle Nelson, Michael Nelson, Tyler Titus, Tiffany Mischke, Michael Coy, Jim & Diane Butler.

• Friday, March 1st:  Dan Nelson, Arlen Brekke, Chet Alan Hansen, Jordon Cook, Rick Loberg, Sara Ihrke, Duane Reichl, Nicole Farr, Emily Ayers, Paula & Richard Conroy.

• Saturday, March 2nd: Willard Christenson, Wilfred Christenson, Laurie Jensen, Angie Hagen Rasmussen, Joanne Kaiser, Roger Langlie, Casey Lyman, Abner Smith, Alexis Elizabeth Klocek, Ronnie & Marcia Hutchins, Paul & Kathy Underland.

• Sunday, March 3rd: Jeff Lageson, John Crabtree, Valerie Tobiason Quiring, Maurine Larson, Frank Thompson, Bill Draayer, Terri Jensen, Darlene Christensen, Charlie Hanson, Jessica Tufte, Terri Miles, David Underland, Darren & Christine Hanson, Angie & Jeff Rasmussen, Nicole & Nathan Milender.

• Monday, March 4th: Dawn David, Teresa Hove, Larry Spear, Julia Elizabeth Neitzel.

• Tuesday, March 5th: Dayna Schember, Nicole Ella Schultz, Tim Toft, Vickie Haberman, Steve Van Ravenhorst.

• Wednesday, March 6th: Valerie Schember, Aaron Reese, Larry Reese, Dawn Dulas, Lynda Maddox Norland, Wade Wacholz, Ryan Schimek, Marlene Peterson, Lillian Weaver, Jami Ann & Travis Marzolf.

Wishing you quiet moments of beauty on your special day!