The scurs are positive this week they’ll get it right. They even got out the owner’s manual for the ’74 Gremlin to make sure the Weather Eye delivers on temperature and precip for the upcoming week. Starting Wednesday, mostly sunny with a moderate chance for an evening shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the low 80’s and a low around 65. Partly sunny on Thursday with a decreasing chance of a shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the mid-80’s and lows in the upper 60’s. Friday, mostly sunny with a decent chance of an evening shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the upper 80’s and lows in the upper 60’s. Saturday, mostly sunny with a good chance of showers and/or a thunderstorm developing. Highs in the low 80’s and lows in the low 60’s. Mostly cloudy Sunday with a modest chance for showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 70’s and lows in the mid-50’s. Monday, mostly sunny with a high in the mid-70’s and a low in the mid-50’s. Mostly sunny Tuesday with a slight chance of rain. highs near 75 with a low in the upper 50’s. The normal highs for August 25th is 79 and the normal low is 58. The scurs may need a tarp if they plan on napping in the hammock for at least another few weeks.

Area crops were on the move and progress was made toward the finish line although there is a long way to go yet. Corn was largely R3 (milk stage) as of last week with some starting to show some dough in places. Soybeans were generally a full-blown R5 beginning seed with the exception of replants and fields planted after peas. We will need all of September at this rate and will take more frost-days into October if we can get them to allow those replant soybeans to fully mature. Soybean aphid control measures have been taken on many fields although there are some remaining with levels well below threshold as well. The threshold is 250 per plant on 80% of the plants with levels increasing. 

Am writing this week’s edition from the road on the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour. This is the 11th tour of duty I’ve been on although it seems like it’s been more than that. At least packing went better this time around than last year. I didn’t find any dirty socks and underwear left over from last year in my luggage this time! The windshield survey on the drive to Ohio went about as advertised by others who had made the same journey over the course of the summer.

Iowa looked about as expected with areas directly south of us appearing eerily similar and looking much better the farther south we went. Crossing into Illinois the crop looked like a vast ocean of uniform corn and soybeans. Taking a peek in some fields it appeared as good as it did from the road. Indiana looked about the same on I-70 although there were some signs that too much water had visited the area somewhere along the line. Ohio showed more of the variability in height and more nitrogen deficiency on the corn. Pulling a quick sample the corn also was behind what we had found in both Iowa and Illinois. In the observation pulled from an Ohio field for the evening meeting of crop scouts, the soybeans were well filled and had completed flowering. These observations are very preliminary however and points up why we pull over 1300 samples of both corn and soybeans across the Corn Belt: you don’t know until you take a good hard look and generate some actual data. The numbers will come out on Friday following our wrap-up in Rochester at the International Events Center on Thursday night. Be sure to keep an eye on AgWeb, Twitter at #pftour14 and any number of other media outlets for information in the meantime as the week progresses. As always it promises to be interesting.

It’s always bittersweet to leave home for a while this time of year. It takes a while to take stock of things before we head out the driveway. The little ewe lamb Stormy born during our last major rainfall event in June isn’t so little anymore. When I return it will be time to wean her. It also involves making sure the birdfeeders are stocked and taking a quick peek to see how garden produce might be progressing. It’s nice to have someone pick the stuff so it doesn’t go to waste. It was great to see the plantings made the week before were coming up thanks in part to the fact the garden hose had been employed to make sure. Moisture has still been scarce even though we’ve had more than some. Ruby doesn’t seem to mind. Watering plants with the hose gives her an excuse to play with the water, swirling around like she’s 4 months and not 4 years old. Youth is wasted on the young.

See you next week…real good then.

For all of us involved in education—and here I include students, parents, and of course those of us who work in the field—this is an exciting time of year. The key word, I believe, is “anticipation.”  Something big is coming, and we want to be ready for it. 

As I prepare to tell you about all of the changes and preparations which have been underway over the summer, it’s hard to decide where to begin, so let me tell you about one of the best moments I have recently experienced. You see, there was a young man, a member of the class of 2014, who was unable to participate in this year’s official graduation ceremony because he had not completed the necessary number of credits. This fellow signed up for one of the classes I have mentioned previously—one which allows hands-on learners a chance for some practical, real-world training—and earned his diploma. This allowed me and our guidance counselor, Mr. Stoesz, to officiate at our second graduation ceremony of the year: It may not have been as big or as grand as the one in spring, but it was rich in pomp, ceremony, and heartwarming satisfaction. It was an uplifting reminder that our schools are here for everyone, and that we want all students to move forward with a foundation which will help them build their chosen futures.

Speaking of that class, its members helped make sure many very practical upgrades got completed. If you’ve been in or near the school buildings this summer, you couldn’t miss noticing some of the work being done outside. We have new sidewalks and curbs out in front of the secondary school; you may not yet have seen that there is also some fresh concrete out by the grandstands, where access is now better for all fans, including those with handicaps. I believe you’ll be pleased with the improvements when you attend football games or other events there. 

You may also have passed one of our new buses out on the roads; the school has saved money over the cost of purchasing these two new vehicles by entering into a long-term lease for their use. I bet the students who get to ride in them will enjoy the upgrade, and let’s just say the two buses they replace were ready to be retired.

Although it’s not as interesting, I want to quickly mention that lots of effort has gone into routine maintenance and upkeep in our buildings—work has been done on everything from the air handlers and boilers to the roofs and floors.

Over the summer, the school principals and I have paid a lot of attention to safety. We met twice with the Department of Homeland Security, getting some important input about how to keep our buildings as secure as possible. If you should visit the school and find yourself delayed by the tightened measures, please be patient. The changes are part of our mission to keep dangerous intruders from entering our buildings.

On the other hand, our new web site is part of an effort to allow more open access—to the schedules, information, and records which pertain to you and your family. Take note: to get to the new site, do not use the prefix www. Instead simply go to nrheg.k12.mn.us. There you will be offered a choice between the general, district-wide home page, or home pages for either the elementary or secondary sites. I am very pleased, so far, with the lively, user-friendly format we’ve arrived at. I hope you will try it out and feel free to provide feedback.

Something you will probably be anxious to learn about on our web site, and as the school year begins, are the many new people now working in our school district. Perhaps you remember that five long-standing teachers retired last spring. Besides that, two teachers have taken on special roles in the district: Long very successful as an elementary classroom teacher, Terri Engel will now guide the development of some of our curriculum and instruction programs. Robin Eder will be using her energy and insight to help secondary students as our student success coordinator. I hope you will find time to make the acquaintance of some of the newly hired paraprofessionals, bus drivers, teachers, and others who will now be working for the benefit of our communities’ children.

Probably also a big source of anticipation are the iPad tablet computers which will be available for student use this fall. We have nearly 800 iPads which will be used at the elementary and secondary levels; secondary teachers will also be using some more flexible technology to help them in their work. The most important point I want to make about this new equipment is not simply that it’s been acquired, but that informed, responsible use of technology will be important for all learners—even those who graduated school decades ago—as the digital age continues to advance.

There are so many new and exciting changes here at the school, perhaps even the students will be anxious to come back and find out what’s been going on. As for me, I don’t mind admitting that I’m filled with anticipation as well. I have had a year as superintendent to get my bearings and learn the lay of the land, and I hope to be able to make even more of a difference as I work with the staff, school board, students, and community members of our district through the coming year. I will be glad to hear your questions, concerns, and suggestions, whether you forward them on paper or use the contact information on our new web site to contact me over the internet.

Yes, “anticipation” is definitely the word that applies to this time of year: Something big is coming, and we have worked very hard to be sure we’re ready for it. I can’t wait to get started, and I hope you feel the same way!

Driving our HHR Chevrolet, Genie and I left in July and came back in August from Charlotte, North Carolina.

The reason was the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELCA) Convention in Charlotte. Genie attended the meetings and I ran a display booth for Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots (LAMP). Genie and I have taught summer vacation Bible school a number of years at “First Nation” locations in Northern Canada through LAMP (thus the connection). We were where the ice road truckers go in the winter!

Winston-Salem is where our daughter and son-in-law life. We met them at Applebee’s for a very good evening meal of shrimp. As you entered, the special of the day was, “Buy one beer for the price of two and get the second beer free.” (You might want to re-read the free beer purchase.)

We arrived at our destination early afternoon Wednesday and checked into the Holiday Inn. Genie helped me set up the LAMP display shortly after we got there as the activities started Wednesday evening and ended with Sunday morning church service.

While manning the display, I put about 2,000 red crosses on name badges of the 2500 that attended while giving a very short meeting about LAMP. As a committee of one, I got to give out three awards as follows based on attendance.

The first award was to the best grandmother, Gail Otteson (Nee Sorenson, formerly of Geneva, MN) of Delavan, MN, who brought two granddaughters.

The second award was to the best mother, Marie Tesch of Waseca, MN, who brought two daughters.

The third award was to the best giver of communion at the closing Sunday morning service, Genie Hanson of Albert Lea, MN (How many of you men have received communion from your wife?) Genie and I both choked up as she gave me communion.

We ate most of our breakfast meals at the Caffe Siena Restaurant in the Holiday Inn in Charlotte. Alem or Tomas were our servers. At one time Alem was the teacher and Tomas was the student. Now, both she and him are masters at giving great service.

An exciting 5 a.m. Sunday morning wake-up with bells and whistles followed by a deep male voice, “Emergency, evacuate building immediately. Take the stairs out to the street, cross the street and wait for instructions.” All 15 floor residents followed instructions. Thank goodness, a smoke alarm malfunctioned causing the fire trucks and firemen to arrive. They were glad there wasn’t a fire and so was I!

The convention center could handle up to 5,000 people. In other words, all the people in the NRHEG School District plus empty seats. The convention center was eight warm blocks walking away. Neither the temperature nor the humidity reached 100, but both came close.

Pat Goldman, Bonnie Schneider and Ben Cotter, all of Albert Lea, visited me at the LAMP display booth.

The parking meters in Charlotte are very interesting. There is a box with numbered keys. In front and behind the box are three parallel parking stalls with a four-digit number on the curb for each stall. You park, key in your stall number and pay $1 per hour for up to a maximum of two hours by inserting your credit card. You must watch your time by the parking ticket given after your credit card is accepted.

After leaving Charlotte, we stayed at Augustus T. Zeverly Inn (a bed and breakfast) in “Old Salem.” Daughter deb and son-in-law Roland stayed there too. When they say “old,” it is, with most of the buildings dating back to the 1800s. Well worth the three days we stayed.

Three more days on the road and we were home.

In conclusion, whether you take the road north, south, east or west, the road home is the best.

Thanks to Ken Bertelson for filling in for me at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church as greeter.

Thanks to Shannon and Kent Knudson for house sitting while we were gone.

———

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.

Echoes from the Loafers' Club Meeting

How much is the sweet corn?

It’s $6 a dozen.

Did you raise it yourself?

I did. Yesterday it was $5 a dozen.

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors — both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: a roof of a car makes a terrible cup holder.

The cafe chronicles

The sign read, "Searching for healthy options? You’re in the wrong place."

"Feather, leather, or fin?" asked the waitress.

A farmer, taking a break from a battle until death with thistles, said it had rained so hard that it was a pumpkin floater. He was in his 60s and trying to remember the 60s. He wasn't a vegetarian in the strictest sense. He ate meat with every meal. He ate sweet corn just as he attended church, seasonally. He had three speeds — slow, stop, and reverse. He’d given his wife a single rose for their anniversary. It made her happy. He preferred a cornfield to flowers.

Flying pigs

Lewis Carroll wrote, "The time has come, the Walrus said, To talk of many things: Of shoes — and ships — and sealing wax — Of cabbages — and kings — And why the sea is boiling hot — And whether pigs have wings."

I read about driverless cars — something close to flying pigs, but nothing new. I see driverless cars each day. The drivers are texting.

I don’t text while driving, but I do read bumper stickers on the vehicles ahead of me at red lights. They give me something to not text about.

Township thistles

Tom Donovan of Hartland said that his father, also named Tom, was a township officer. Tom the elder once responded to complaints about thistles growing on a farmer’s land. He visited the farmer and advised the man to do something about the weeds. The farmer protested by saying, "You have more thistles on your farm than I do."

Tom’s father replied, "That’s true, but I have nicer neighbors."

Crabapple helmets

Ted Hedberg of St. James said that when he and his brother were boys, they’d determined that crabapples were meant to be thrown at one another. Great battles ensued. Their mother worried that they might be injured, but she knew that it was difficult to discourage such behavior. Boys threw things. She lessened her concerns by making her sons wear football helmets when the crabapples flew. The boys wore the football helmets because they were football helmets.

You couldn’t feel the electricity in the air

A car hit a power pole. There were no injuries, but our home was without power for five hours. I found myself flipping light switches even though I knew there was no electricity. Force of habit is a force to be reckoned with. We don’t just talk about the weather. We say, "Is the electricity still off?" too.

Measuring manure piles by the foot 

Talking to plants is supposed to increase their vitality. I said nice things to my sweet corn, but my words fell on deaf ears.

Live and learn. I recall stepping out of the barn. It was spring. I could tell because the manure pile, that offered a shortcut, was thawing. John Burroughs wrote, "Leap and the net will appear." I leaped. No net appeared. I sank into the muck, which released a familiar fragrance. I became stuck and yelled, "Fire!"

My father rescued me.

"Why did you yell 'fire,'" he asked.

"Would you have come if I’d hollered 'manure'?"

A millionaire writes

The assignment was to write an essay titled, "What would you do if you were a millionaire." I turned in a blank sheet of paper. My teacher questioned my work. I told her that was what I’d have done if I had $1 million.

I became one of the "following people," as in when a school announcement said, "Will the following people please report to the principal’s office..."

Treppenwitz

Treppenwitz is a German word meaning "stairway wit." It's that crippling rejoinder that you think of as you go down the stairs when leaving a party.

Years ago, I visited a man at a nursing home. I didn't know him, but was told that he didn't get many guests. So I called on him. A few weeks later, when I saw his obituary in the newspaper, I remembered his last words to me. They weren’t a soulful farewell or a treppenwitz. His words were, "I should have bought that anvil."

Nature notes

A great horned owl looks bigger than its average size of slightly over 3 pounds, 22 inches long, and 44-inch wingspan.

Meeting adjourned

"Kindness gives birth to kindness."—Sophocles

As we do every other year we seem to shift into high gear and go roaring towards the next season as soon as another fair is in the books. As I look back on those days I can remember feeling like the start of the new school year was zooming towards me like a runaway locomotive. In all reality I’d guess that the reason for that was that I just wasn’t ready for summer to end. That feeling was almost the same one that I’d get as an adult when it was the last day of vacation and I was packing to go home or when I’d drive by my workplace on a Sunday evening knowing that morning would be there before I knew it.

Late summer takes on its own personality as the grass begins to turn brown and the weeds begin to wither and die. You may already see a hint of yellow on the leaves of some of the soft wood trees. The second part of the summer has been dry but in all reality that is not uncommon for this time of year. I really do like the month of August with the warm sunny days and cool nights – what’s not to like?

These are the kind of days that can rekindle my excitement for spending some time on the water. I am looking forward to once again heading north to the cabin but I really want to spend a couple of days fishing some of the lakes a little closer to home. My grandson Trevor has been doing his best to test the waters for bass on some of our area lakes and he has had some pretty good results. On one of his Fountain Lake excursions he boated two bass over 4 lbs. - now that’s a pretty good day of fishing. His cousin Dylan has beaten the waters of Fountain Lake hard this summer and has also done pretty good in the northern department. I hope to take both of them to one of the lakes that I haven’t fished for a few years but still have fond memories of.

For many years I would fish Reeds Lake by Elysian on the opener and then frequently during the summer. This lake used to be good for walleye early on and the rest of the year it was a good bass, pike and panfish lake. I have looked on the DNR website and they say there are walleye in the lake but do not list it as having stocked any walleye in recent years. I have to wonder if they quit stocking it or if they ever did. I do know that we did catch some dandy walleye in the lake years ago.

I’d also like to try St. Olaf and Beaver Lakes in the weeks before ice-over which, hopefully, is still quite a ways away. Once school starts the lakes in our area should be a little less congested but some outdoorsmen will be thinking ahead to the upcoming hunting seasons and may even make the mistake of putting away the fishing gear. Fall is actually a very good time to be on the water because there is a lot less boat traffic and on some lakes you could be the only one fishing it.

One thing that I have mentioned many times in the past is the importance of introducing our youth to the outdoors. I am proud of my grandsons and the fact that they all like to hunt and fish and will be carrying on family traditions. Our youth are the future of our outdoors heritage and statistically there are less and less youth getting involved in these sports. This is why it is important to at least give them a taste of what these sports are about.

Looking back on my own experiences; I learned to love fishing at an early age and although a lot of things have changed it still comes down to the basic concept of enticing a fish to take the bait. I’d have to say that once a kid fishes he or she will definitely want to do it again if their first experience is a good one. There are new lures and electronics on the market today that do everything short of guarantee that the fish will be jumping in the boat. The name of the game for a child is catching fish; so keep it simple, starting with the basic hook, line sinker and bobber and a worm or minnow which will usually do the trick. Young kids (and adult kids) don’t care what they catch as long as they are catching something because this will keep them coming back.

Yes, the outdoors is a wonderland of entertainment that doesn’t need batteries or a plug-in to be enjoyed. There is no substitute for the enjoyment that I have gotten from sitting around a campfire roasting hot dogs and marshmallows and making s’mores with my kids and grandkids. You can never go back but the memories will last a lifetime.

Until next time; there is still plenty of summer left so take some time to enjoy the great outdoors with a weekend camping trip, do some fishing or just spend a day at one of our areas lakes.

Please take a little time to remember those who served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today. 

I remember when I was just a tyke, my mother read my sister and I Mother Goose stories. One in particular.

"The lights are so shiny - so bright and so gay. Heigh ho - come to the fair.”

There was excitement even then in those old stories about going to the fair.

The quality and quantity may have changed considerably, but the reason and excitement have never changed. My mind goes back to what an occasion it must have been for the “peasants” to come to the fair to display and sell their wares, to greet their friends and dine on “pasties” that were only made for such special events. It has been some time since I've gone to the Renaissance Fair, which gives memorable ideas of what going to the fair might have been.

My days are long gone since I was in the flurry of preparing exhibits for judging in the 4-H classes and the ribbons I might win, but the sights and sounds are still there — only more so.

It may well spell the end of summer with an accumulation of goods and deeds and projects completed to share with friends and neighbors, but it is a celebration of worth and, for many, a last hurrah before they prepare for the winter ahead.

Enjoying the fair through my granddaughter’s eyes recently brought back memories of my childhood at the fair. The merry go round"is still a standard, as may well be the Ferris wheel, but it is all fun and a little bit scary for some. Kids who haven't been responsible for caring for animals still enjoy the animals, especially the little baby animals, and the biggest circus animals getting the most attention.

Fair food is fair food. Its smells intermingle with the noise, making everyone hungry even if they are not, and the variety is almost endless.

Merchants are there with their wares, some the same and many updated. I hear them complain about their long and tiring hours on their feet at the fair and many of them go from fair to fair, but I sense an enjoyment as well.

"Heigh ho, come To The fair" -  because, yes, the bright lights are there.

You wonder why people ride the rides that make them scream, but that is part of the fun I guess. Of course, there is always the act of improbability.

The finest things from needlework to garden vegetables can be found at the fair, flowers and pictures to "ooh and ah" at, and entertainment in almost every corner of the fair in case you get bored when you stop to rest from the long trek around the grounds.

If you don't show horses, you usually know someone who does. That is exciting. We can't all own horses but we can all admire them. There are still chickens and ducks and geese, lamas, goats and sheep. One might see some exotic animals too, or animals that you don't often see, like camels and elephants.

I guess I will have to look for that old story book. I've gotten a little nostalgic and would like to read it again. I did manage to find one version of the song, "Heigh Ho, Come To The Fair," but there are many. All are appropriate and may be a favorite.

“The sun is a-rising to welcome the day. Heigh-ho, come to the fair.

The folk are a-singing so cheerful and gay. Heigh-ho, come to the fair.

All the stalls on the green are as fine as can be. With trinkets and treasures for you and for me.

So it’s come then, young folks and old, to the fair in the pride of the morning.

So deck yourselves out in your finest array, with a heigh-ho, come to the fair!

The fiddles are playing the song that you know, Heigh-ho! Come to the fair!

The drums are a-beating, come on now, let's go, Heigh-ho! Come to the fair!

There'll be racing and chasing from morning till night, and roundabouts turning to left and to right,

So it's come then, young folks and old to the fair in the pride of the morning

So lock up your house, there'll be plenty of fun, and it's heigh-ho! Come to the fair!”

Kids always look forward to Kids Day and many still enjoy seeing all the different animals, especially those in the kiddie barn. (Be sure you thoroughly wash your hands after your visit.) The old farmers also look forward to viewing the great tractor displays too, and we can't forget the visit to the visit to the Fish and Game Building. The women always enjoy seeing what other women make, bake and create.

Some go to the fair for the grandstand performances, while others enjoy just sitting and watching the various entertainment and events taking place, as well as meeting and seeing old friends. 

Bingo was and is still an old favorite among many and we can't forget the cotton candy, mini-doughnuts, caramel apples, salt water taffy and all the real dairy delights.

Oh, my, I almost forgot the real lemonade.

Heigh, Ho, Come To The Fair.

— — —

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, August 21st: Lori Moon, Avery Hullopeter, Abriana Harris, Scott Tracy, Larry Klocek, Viola Klocek, Dawn Dobberstein, Mary Richards, Cindy Anderson, Roger Johnson, Sara Degan Misgen, Jodie Lee, Jaden Jensen, Cody Lembke, Michael Olson, Jasmine Obermoller Evans, David & Cindy Callahan

• Friday, August 22nd: Thayne & Becky Nordland, Ava Moon, Julie Johnson, Kyle Wallerich, La Donna Cummins Fallen, John Butler, John Glynn, Diane Butler, Dale Kelly, Aaron Ladlie, Dale Kelly, Nancy TaBelle

• Saturday, August 23rd: Jessica Lutgens, Jared Dawson Lee, Logan Dale Marzolf, Terry Holland, Ann Klemmensen, Matthew Knudson, Steve Wilker, Scott Wright, Quinn Vu, Vernon & Jeanne Simonson, Amy & Marshall Svoboda

• Sunday, August 24th: Rick Storlie, Michelle Gowlland, Nicholas Chrisensen, Sam Worrell, Tanya Hughes, Natalie Deml, Elizah Lee Ackland, Crystal Johnson, Terry Vaith, Jeff Kycek, LaNell Leak Sunde, Corey Peterson, Mary Edon, Alex Mutch, Ralph & Cheryl Dobberstein, John & Cindy Christensen

• Monday, August 25th: Chloe Lynn Muilenberg, Carl Glienke Jr., Evelyn Anderson, Renee Brandt, Ted Dahl, Jayme Hohansee, Craig Kammerer, Jessica Kubat, Pete Rietveld, Mary Larson, Melissa Peterson, Jim & Lynn Arends, Mark & Deb Killesheim, Deb & Jim Bohnoff, Rachel & Michael Grunklee, Leah & Dama Clark, Everett & Linda Lang

• Tuesday, August 26th: William Michael Rodney Tuttle, Christopher Cook, Clarice Pence, Catherine Haugen, Mike Riley, Elijah Lee Ackland, Catherine Mae Haugen, Tim Falksen, George Stieglbauer, Michael Rodney Tuttle, Sharon Peterson, Travis & Kelly Johnson, Angie & Michael Den Herder

• Wednesday, August 27th: Martin Johnson, Kory Kress, Alice Randall, Sandra Thostenson, Dee Ann Jensen, Jim Collins, Mary Lageson, Sharon Ramaker, Terry Pelzl, Angela DeGeus, Jessica Marie Nygaard Paulson, Corlyn & Janice Paulsen

Wherever this year takes you, may you find happiness along the way.

If I were keeping track, my most frequently asked question this summer would be, “What does your tattoo mean?”

For those of you who haven’t seen it, I have a tattoo on my upper back between my shoulder blades with the words, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.”

Honestly, I’m surprised at how many people don’t know what that quote is in reference to — only less than a handful of people have recognized it. I thought it was more well-known, but I sometimes have a tendency to find significance or inspiration in things that others might not.

“It’s from ‘The Outsiders,’” is my usual reply, and then the light bulb goes on and they nod to signify their awareness of the novel/film. Some, in what I’m assuming is an attempt to be polite (which is nice, but in this case unnecessary), leave it at that. Others develop another look of confusion and ask, “So, what does it mean?”

Well, my tattoo has many special meanings to me, so it took me a while to come up with a reply that didn’t require a lengthy explanation that told almost half my life story to random strangers. After enough inquiries and a few revisions, I came up with the most straightforward answer I could, “It basically means nothing good lasts forever.”

That usually brings an understanding nod, a smile and something along the lines of, “Yeah, that’s true.”

On a few occasions, the conversation continues when they ask why I decided to get that as a tattoo. I’ve had this answer waiting for years, as I knew as soon as my parents saw me with a tattoo, the first thing they would ask is, “Why?”

“Well, I’ve wanted it since I was 17,” I usually say, “and ‘The Outsiders’ is one of my favorite books. It’s also the title of a really beautiful poem.”

“I’ve seen the movie,” is a common reply, along with their opinion of the film — it’s generally well liked. “Well, that’s pretty cool. I like that.”

Yes, “The Outsiders” is one of my favorite books/movies of all time. Anyone who had Mr. Domeier for 7th and 8th grade English is at least somewhat familiar with it, and of all my middle school memories, that book has always stuck with me.

Not only is it one of my personal favorites, “The Outsiders” is a classic — published in 1967, the novel tells the story of two groups of teenagers (“Greasers,” and “Socs,”) and their rivalry due to social class differences. S.E. Hinton’s inspiration for the novel came from her frustration with the social divisions in her high school — something I can understand and relate to. Basically, the novel sends the message that no matter who you are or where you come from, everyone has their own problems and in the end, we’re not all as different as we make ourselves to be. Or as one character puts it, “Things are rough all over.”

The novel and film feature the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost. In the story, the poem is recited by Ponyboy to Johnny towards the beginning and quoted again at the end in another famous line from the movie, “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.” Many people are familiar with this, although I don’t think it’s really widely understood — to comprehend the significance of these words, you have to examine the poem itself.

The meaning of Frost’s poem, first published in 1923, has been studied by many and has various complicated explanations. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” is short, and the general theme is pretty straightforward:

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leafs a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down today.

Nothing gold can stay.

I could break down each line, but I won’t — a little time on Google will give you much better information than I could in this limited space. One interpretation that I did particularly like refers to the title and last line of the poem, “’Nothing’ of the last line receives special emphasis; the gold that cannot stay comes to represent all perfections.” (Mordecai Marcus)

Although it seems like a negative message, “Nothing Gold Can Stay” is just a reminder to myself to cherish all I have in life while I can, as much as I can, because — like the early leaves of spring lose their golden hue — nothing perfect will remain that way forever.

It’s also in memory of the loved ones I’ve lost in the past four years: my grandma, Billy Rosas, and Alex Reeves, three people closer to my heart than almost anyone else on this earth. Their deaths have affected me in so many ways, and when I lost each of them I lost a part of myself that I know I’ll never get back. This tattoo helps me though, as a permanent reminder of my beloved guardian angels. 

The font and location of my tattoo were inspired by a picture I saw online when I was 17, and when I won a bet almost four years later last March and was presented with the opportunity to finally get the tattoo I’d waited so long for, there was no doubt what I would choose. 

The day I got it done (well, night), I had printed out the picture along with a couple different fonts I liked, but somehow managed to lose them before my friend showed up. At the time, I was panicked — but now I’m glad I lost them. I wouldn’t want a tattoo replica of another person’s; although the words are the same, mine is unique its own ways.

I’ve gotten compliments, which I’m very appreciative of, but you have to remember the tattoo artist who spent almost three hours creating it. (Not only that, he brought his equipment from the Cities to my best friend’s house in Mankato, drew it up, and didn’t finish until almost 1 a.m.—and he did it for free) I’m just the canvas, my only job was to sit still and bear through the pain as he meticulously worked, forming a piece of art I waited years to get and will cherish for years to come.

The Rev. Ordean L. Grant of St. Charles died July 21 at the May Clinic Hospital at Rochester. He was born November 18, 1932, to Nelha (Erickson) and Leonard Grant at Austin. He married Eileen Neilsen at Ringslad, Iowa June 21, 1955. They farmed near Corning for 12 years. He was a Lutheran minister at Pickrell, Nebraska; Gaylord; Onalaska, Wisconsin; Alma, Wisconsin.

Ordean is survived by his wife Eileen, four children Kathleen and Rev. Kevin Olson, Lake Mills, Iowa; Marleen (Roger) Clark, Fall Creek, Wiconsin; Jon (Schield) Grant of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Dean (Cindy) Grant of Austin; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister in law Mrs. Lauren (Orlie) Grant and several cousins among them Margella Johnson, Beaver Lake. Blessed be his memory.

The Waseca County History Center has planned a multi-event fundraising day on Saturday, August 23 at the Waseca County Fairgrounds.

More collectors are needed for the first event, the “Herter’s Swap Meet,” 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Building #4. Larry Born, a Waseca native and lifelong Herter’s collector, is donating the use of tables for any and all collectors who would like to participate. This means there are no table rental fees as previously advertised. However, registration is necessary.

The Le Sueur River Watershed Network is sponsoring a potluck followed by a nature walk narrated by Al Batt to include tour sites with experts on water quality monitoring and conservation practices. The meeting will be on August 25, 2014 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. Olaf Lake Park east New Richland. The public is invited to this free event to join the conversation about the newly forming LeSueur River watershed group and to share a meal with watershed neighbors.