Clippings...

      "Aunt Mary", so called becasue her aunt Mary used send her clippings and also her name is Mary, sends me packets of clippings from time to time and also, I to her. These missives always strike me as a 'care package' becasue they are evidence that she is thinking of me and the clippings are also very interesting.

    The latest offering from "Aunt Mary" included a newspaper article with a number of quotes. For example; "I fear many things, but this first and foremost. That when I reach the end of my days, I will suddenly discover that I never lived. So I must choose life and at whatever risk. To let it wear out, to let is slip away by the mere passage of time is to choose nothingness."  That's like the saying "it is better to wear out than rust out." Another; "Everyone has two lives. The second one begins when you realize you have only one."  One more "Memory is great but you can't live there."  Thanks "Aunt Mary" and because she is the other one who reads my blog she will see this. 😁

Takk for alt,

Al

PS October weather continues and would be more enjoyable if it were not the result of climate change.

Ordering Books

       Reading The Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21sr Century, Jessica Bruder, tipped me over the edge. It's so easy to order from Amazon that I often did, though had my qualms about it. After reading Nomadland and learning how Amazon workers are treated I quit ordering from it. Much of what I had ordered from Amazon were books.

      Bookshop to the rescue. It's also online but a portion of every sale goes to local bookstores (see below).  If you also want to avoid Amazon I recommend Bookshop.org  With an established account ordering books from them is as easy as from Amazon and each purchase supports local bookstores.

Takk for alt,

Al

$17,445,115.23 raised for local bookstores

Anniverrsary

      On this date 1929, Albert Negstad and Edith Bergh were married at Edith's parent's home in St. Paul, MN.  Later they became parents of Lucille, Richard, David and Allan. Edith always talked about how bitterly cold it was perhaps because they set off on a two month honeymoon in their 1928 Model A, Ford, which had a very poor heater. 

    Their first stop was the Palmer House, Chicago, where Edith signed in Edith Bergh 😀. It must have been a long days drive from St. Paul. What were the roads like? They continued on to Niagara Falls, Washington, D.C., South Carolina and points in between. They didn't arrive at their South Dakota farm until early February. It was fortunate they made the trip becasue soon up was the depression, drought years and four children keeping them from travel for many years.

    Why oh why didn't I ply them with questions about the trip; roads, sights, adventures, experiences? Among many regrets at this stage of life is all the things I didn't ask. In that I am probably not alone. 

Takk for alt

Al

The Little House

        The Little House was waiting for us as we returned.  Sorry ladies but no hot flashes yet. Maybe they will come in January when I'm always cold.  The weather's having a hot flash, it's 45 degrees. The lawns are greener now than they were in July. This was the first trip from Minneapolis this fall that there were no farmers in the field. 

Takk for alt,

Al

The news...

      Had I died of a heart attack at 70 I could have avoided this but I wouldn't chose that alternative. The results of numerous medical tests reveals that I have prostate cancer. It's not the most virulent kind and hasn't spread. Given two options, of, living with it or radiation, I've chosen radiation. Today I met with the radiation team at Methodist Hospital, got my tattoos and schedule. With the hormone shot today, side effect hot flashes, laugh it up ladies, there is no urgency about beginning radiation.

    On January 17, radiation will begin weekdays for 6-8 weeks, each day at 11:00. One of the anomalies of our medical system is that the insurance company determines the length of treatment. The doctor's recommendations don't count.  

     It is almost a given that a man living much past 70 will have prostate cancer, which I've long known. Treatment will be a nuisance, but mostly I'm grateful. There's gratitude for medical technology that can diagnose and treat. Medical professionals who prepare and can treat such cancers are a great gift. It's a blessing to have medical insurance to pay the costs. Thanks to Lars, who has accompanied me to the visits to support, ask questions and take notes.

     By January 17, much of the work of downsizing and staging of the condo for sale will be done. Fatigue, a side effect of the radiation, should not occur until much of the moving is done. There's a couple of questions. I forgot to ask: Will radiation make me glow in the dark? Will I radioactively set of Geiger Counters?  Perhaps those questions can wait.

Takk for alt,

Al

 

Lovely day!

      It was turkey with all the trimmings, good food, good conversation, great blessings. I am so blessed. Tomorrow I will write more and have an announcement to make, so stay tuned.

Takk for alt,

Al

Murmuration
by Barbara Crooker

Cold morning. November, taking a walk,
when up ahead, suddenly, the trees unleave,
and thousands of starlings lift off, an immense
river of noise; they braid and unbraid themselves
over my head, the gray silk sky embroidered
with black kisses, the whoosh of their wings,
their chattering clatter, patterns broken/formed/
reformed, a scarf of ragged ribbons. Dumb-
struck, mouth open, I say holy and I say moley,
And then, they’re gone.

Holidays

        It's been 43 months since Joanne died, but who is counting? She loved celebrations, perhaps because they always involved others. As the ultimate extrovert, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings...were opportunities to connect with family and friends. The more contact with people the more energy she had.

       At the family Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow there will be joy, happiness, much good food, conversation and the distinct presence of absence. One joyous presence will be absent and I know of no one who took more delight in grandchildren than she. One of her most abundant characteristics was gratitude and, of course, at its heart Thanksgiving is about gratitude.  

    At Thanksgiving, as at all times, I have so much for which to be thankful and my life with Joanne brought so many gifts for which I am grateful...yes, yes, yes! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Takk for alt,

Al

Enthusiasm, part 2.

        For weeks thoughts on awakening have centered on the work to be done to downsize from three bedrooms to one. This morning the thoughts on awakening were about the opportunities of the future at Lexington Landings. 😁

Takk for alt,

Al

From duty to enthusiasm!

       In the process of achieving residency at Lexington Landings, a meeting with the housing director was the next step. So today I met with her. As she talked, explaining life there, we filled out the forms, and she answered questions, I felt an internal shift. Ever since the decision was made to seek residency at the Landings I've been congruent about the decision. While congruent, the prevailing motivation has been duty. Knowing it was the right thing to do the prospect of downsizing from a three bedroom condo to a one bedroom apartment weighed on my mind. 

       Spending an hour plus with the housing director caused an internal shift from 'dutiful motivation' to 'this will be exciting.' One of my more through friends visited 12 senior living facilities before making a selection. Two were on my visit list, the first with a wait list of ten years would still be my first choice, but Lexington Landings looks like a great fit and, I don't have to tour ten more places. 😀

Takk for alt,

Al

PS These are both from the Minneapolis StarTribune. 

Briefly....

      Kaia and I arrived late in Minneapolis. There are stories to tell but they will have to wait!

Takk for alt,

Al

It's still dry.

      Fall rains have helped to replenish the moisture in the soil, yet the ground is very dry. The one tree on the grounds of The Little House is a large spruce. To prepare it for winter I laid a garden hose running fully open at it's base for three hours. It needed a good drink before freeze-up. The water from the hose only ran three feet before being absorbed by the soil. The ground is so dry the water didn't even puddle. Perhaps another drink is in order before the ground freezes. It is a beautiful tree which always accommodates nesting birds and deserves preservation. The wren nesting house that I received for my birthday hangs from it. Come the house little birdies! 

Takk for alt,

Al   

Why do I find this  funny?

Fence posts abound!

  "Bluebirds tend to live in open country around trees, but with little understory and sparse ground cover. Original habitats probably included open, frequently burned pine savannas, beaver ponds, mature but open woods, and forest openings."

"Place nest boxes in the sunniest, most open area possible, away from your house or deep shade. Bluebirds prefer large expanses of short grass with a clear flight path, ideally facing a field. Try not to place the house too close to feeders. Make sure it is mounted 5 to 10 feet off the ground."

    Today I mounted the three bluebird nesting houses I was given for my birthday. The pasture fence has wooden fence posts of the proper height, well space apart to avoid territorial disputes. Grazing cattle on the native prairie keep the grass short and a multirow of trees are nearby. Good habitat for bluebirds. Human scent on the boxes will have dissipated by the time the birds arrive in the spring. Now the waiting begins.

Takk for alt,

Al

   

Wind....

       There's "the wind beneath my wings" and "the wind in my sails". Out walking in the prairie winds the last couple of days causes wonder "why don't I like the wind?"  The wind is good for Kaia, bringing cooling while she runs actively. Scents are carried to her by the wind and she always prefers working into the wind for that reason.  

       But why don't I like the wind?  Early white settlers on these windswept plains had to contend with the incessant wind with few trees for protection. My homesteading grandfather planted a huge windbreak of trees around three sides of the farmyard. Many of those trees still stand today. That legacy of tree planting was continued by my father, brother and I. 

      But why don't I like the wind. Often I've been known to say "The wind beats me up."  That's the essence of my dislike for wind. It beats me up. It makes me uncomfortable. In the wind many of the activities outdoors are more challenging. Wind makes the cold bight. Yet, here I am in The Little House on the Prairie with the front door opening north into the cold gusts. Fortunately there is an enclosed porch on the north side of the house.

 Prairie wind blowing through my head

"(Prairie wind blowing through my head)
Trying to remember what Daddy said
(Prairie wind blowing through my head)
Before too much time took away his head
(Prairie wind blowing through my head)
He said we're going back and I'll show you what I'm talking about
(Prairie wind blowing through my head)"

Neil Young

Takk for alt,

Al

Unraveling!

     Last week when Dr. Jerstad sewed me up she said to refrain from strenuous activity for a week while I healed. This morning a nice doctor in Brookings unraveled me. She counted eight stitches as they came out to be sure she had them all. It looks like it's healing well she said.

     Kaia and I went out for a short hunt to celebrate. The 30+mph wind beat me up but didn't bother her a bit. Everything seems more difficult in the wind. But, I'm glad to have the stitches out and to be able to resume more normal activity.

Takk for alt,

Al

"See you in the comics."

      Now there's a phrase not heard very often these days. "See you in the comics."  It came to mind when I saw this HAGAR THE HORRIBLE this morning. Having just had skin cancer removed from my nose and sporting eight sutures the competence of the doctor was important. It was comforting to read on her business card "Fellowship trained in Mohs skin cancer surgery and cosmetic dermatology."  Healing is proceeding well.

Takk for alt,

Al

Kaia and the cat.

      Emerging from The Little House first thing in the morning, Kaia and I discovered a cat on our sidewalk. Kaia was intrigued and likely would have loved to give chase if the cat would have cooperated and run. However, the cat was totally unperturbed by Kaia's attentions. It calmly walked over to me rubbed my ankles and laid down. That's the exact behavior of the Dayton, OH, attack cat that sent me to the emergency room. With that attack in mind and not wanting to encourage the cat to linger I resisted the temptation to pet her. Given her un-willingness to flee, Kaia lost interest and wandered off. Apparently the cat shares a home with a Doberman therefore not intimidated by Kaia.

     Many years ago I was hunting with Kaia's predecessor, Kai, when he encountered a feral cat. Kai ran over to sniff the cat which leaped on his head, holding on with all four feet. Kai yelping, the cat squalling, they did a couple of somersaults until the cat leapt off. The cat ran one way and Kai another, having learned his lesson about cats in the wild. Fortunately he wasn't hurt, though I don't know about his ego.  

Takk for alt

Al 

Memories!

      Today the Minnesota Vikings football team is playing the LA Chargers. When did they leave San Diego and move to L.A.? In 1959 I attended a San Diego Charger's game. There was a time that I was a Vikings fan, but that was after attending the Charger's game.

    It's so long ago much of the memory has faded with mostly questions left. Who the Chargers played and who won the game has long been forgotten. Who made the decision for us to go? Why did they bring us? There must have been some commercial reason. Why else would busloads of Marines from boot camp be transported to a professional football game we didn't pay for.

   What is remembered is the fun of getting off base for a few hours that did not involve training. The only other times we were off base during our twelve weeks of camp was for either rifle qualification or a forced march in the desert. When subjected to a strict routine a variance like a football game was very special.  I wonder who the Chargers played and who won? 

Takk for alt,

Al

Don't think you know everything,
Father said, just because you're good
with words. They aren't everything.
I try to say the smallest amount possible.
Instead of using them indiscriminately
I try to conserve them. I'm the only one
in this household who recycles them. I
say the same thing over & over again,
like "Who forgot to turn out the lights?
Who forgot to clean up after themselves
in the bathroom?" Since you don't listen
I never have to think of other things to say.


Hal Sirowitz, “ReusingWords” from Father Said

Cold November

 

Cold November Lyrics

"Cold November's covered me with her dark and dripping wings,
carried me from cheer and light- out of mind and out of sight.

Cold November's buried me under heaps of rotting leaves,
soaked through with rain and choked by grief. Oh November, honestly.
She came upon me in the park, chased me homeward through the dark.
Then she squeezed her talons tight and took me helpless into night.

She has her own song to sing and she demands to finish it,
raises her slick and glistening beak and crows to those who can"t resist.

Oh November, I was once... Did you know me when I was?
Well, I don't remember now since November drowned me out.

But I just felt the summer's heat and tasted the tomato's meat
and took the socks off of my feet when she came to gather me.

Oh...

I am one who flies with you. I've forgotten all I knew.
I must belong to the moonless night. Oh November, you were right." Shannon Stephens

Takk for alt,

Al

Weather report.

"There’s been a change in the weather

Change in the way the wind blows(x2)
Think I’m gonna change this hat I’m wearing
Buy myself some different clothes"

Jason Boland

    The October weather that stretched into fall came to a screeching halt overnight. Awakening to snow on the ground and a 32 mile per hour north-west wind is a reminder that this is not the tropics. Snug in The Little House I don't suffer. Kaia thought the weather was grand for her run but she comes equipped with a fur coat. 

Takk for alt,

Al

What became of them?

       During my years in the Marines I had contact with many persons. For many we were together for two years. The first year was spent training at Camp Pendleton, CA. Then we were deployed together for another year in Asia. Of all those I've remained in contact with only one and he had a bit of contact with another.

    My discharge in June, 1962, was just as American involvement in The War In SE Asia (Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos) was increasing. Of those known to me during my enlistment, were any killed in that war? If so, who?  A record search could be done but I've never chosen to do one.

    The picture posted below of my squad was taken on Okinawa at the end of a multi-week training exercise. Even some of their names have been forgotten. What became of them? I'd like to know, but...

Takk for alt,

Al

                             Can you identify me?

"...won't you guide my sleigh..."

      Oh, ya, that's Christmas not Thanksgiving! Dr. Jerstad operated on my nose this morning for some skin cancer leaving me resembling Rudolf. It was more complicated than I hoped leaving me with eight stiches. As my father was known to remark at times like this "One of the little joys of life!."

   Of course the good news outweighs the bad. Treatment was possible, done at the hands of a highly skilled doctor and I have good health insurance. Vanity is a condition best resisted and it was a relatively benign cancer.  With the presence of sutures lazing around is doctor's orders. What more could I ask?

Takk for alt,

Al

What is so rare as a windless day?

        One of the stories that Joanne liked to tell was the adjustment she made from living in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul, to Concordia College, Moorhead. MN. There were two major adjustments. The first was topographical. The flat campus on the banks of the Red River were a big change from the hills of St. Anthony Park. Even more of an adjustment was the incessant winds that swept in from North Dakota.

     As a boy growing up on the windswept prairies of eastern South Dakota I would look in amazement at pictures of snowfalls in New England? Snow piling up on the top of fenceposts? I'd never seen anything like that. The only snow on top of fenceposts that we had was when the snow drifted deep enough to cover the fence. 

    All of this came to mind when today was so windless that lakes and ponds were like mirrors all day. Sometimes that happens in the morning but rarely all day. Usually the wind blows shortly after sunrise if not before.  Sweet day!

Takk for alt,

Al 

Running through the thistles.

       Some years ago Alban Institute published a booklet by Roy Oswald, Running Through the Thistles. When Oswald was a boy growing up on the prairies of Canada he'd walk barefoot to school in the fall. Taking a short cut across summer fallow fields on his way home he'd encounter massive patches of canada thistle. There were two methods of crossing the thistles. He could try to tip toe through the weeds or he could make a run for it at top speed. His point was that many pastors leaving a congregation opt for quick  departure like a boy running through the thistles.

     When contemplating downsizing from a three bedroom condo to a one bedroom apartment at Lexington Landing I wonder. Is it best to deliberately take time, tip toeing through the process? Or would it be better to run full tilt through the thistles and just get it over?  With occupancy available effective December 6, either method is possible.  Stay tuned!

Takk for alt,

Al

How much was saved?

       In conversation last night with a friend who's in Arizona he reminded me to set my clocks back. Without his reminder I likely would have forgotten. Ironically, Arizona doesn't do daylight savings. My clocks were duly changed and I'm making the internal adjustment.

     The entire enterprise of springing forward and falling back begs the question: With daylight savings time how much daylight was saved? Perhaps if that savings cannot be quantified it is time to end the practice. Certainly many parents with small children would celebrate its demise. 

    It's an odd country in which we live!  My lunch today was at the Sinai Volunteer Firefighter's fund raiser. So, these volunteer firefighters who protect us have do fund raisers to be able to protect us! What's wrong with this picture?  What is even more bizarre is that everyone assumes that's a normal way to operate! Were this logic followed to its conclusion we'd have bake sales to support the U.S. Army. It was a good lunch at which I enjoyed visiting with neighbors, but??????????

Takk for alt,

Al

Squeeze Play!

       Beginning in 1964 Joanne and I made mutual decisions about where to to live. Leaving Sioux Falls after our marriage we settled in St. Louis Park, MN., Mohall, N.D., Sioux Falls, Davenport, IA., Golden Valley, MN., and then to downtown Minneapolis. Now, in Joanne's absence, but with the excellent guidance of Lisa and Lars, I'm preparing to move again. 

     My new home will be Lexington Landings, a Presbyterian Homes, senior housing, (senior=geezer) in St. Paul, MN. If you know St. Paul it's at Old Lexington Ave. and W. 7th Street. My fourth floor apartment, #464...you can look it up online...faces south over 7th Street with a view of the Minnesota River Valley.  Occupancy will be effective Dec. 6, but I have no illusions that I'll actually be there by then. It's a rental arrangement and the rent isn't so steep that I can't afford for it to be vacant a bit. The apartment is in the independent living section but both assisted living and memory care are available in the building, i.e., continuum of care. The building is new and there are only two apartments left to rent in independent living.  

     The condominium is 1835 square feet, three bedrooms, and the apartment is a one bedroom and 856 square feet. Some squeezing will need to be done. Much downsizing was accomplished moving from the house in Golden Valley to the condo. This will be another step. Everything we own ends up owning us in some measure, so I anticipate an enhanced sense of freedom. A POW once said "I was surprised how free I felt when everything had been taken away from me." 

     How quickly this all happened is a huge surprise to me, other than a few bouts of anxiety about the downsizing, I'm at peace with the decision and look forward to being settled. The Little House, you ask? Occupancy of The Little House will not change and likely will continue to be primary locus for awhile. Kaia? She gets to go with me. 😀  

Takk for alt,

Al

November...

"Spring's wakening bugle long is hushed

Long dimm'd is Summer's splendour;

October yields her easel bright

To "black and white" November!"
~James Rigg, "November," 

Wild Flower Lyrics and Other Poems, 1897

     These first days of November are acting more like October , no "black and white" yet, except for the black of some tilled fields.  Some years ago staying at a hunting lodge with a group of guys about this time of year we stepped outside to discover cold had come overnight. The temperature was minus seven degrees.  Nothing like that yet, with 21 being the coldest observed. That's cold enough so the leaves are dropping from my big lilac. The mild temperatures would be more enjoyable if they were not symptomatic of climate change. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Invasion!

        When Lisa and I were visiting Nelson in Columbus, OH., this summer, he showed us some beautiful bowls he'd made from boxelder wood. The wood is light with streaks of cranberry color. Boxelder trees are plentiful around here and with them come boxelder bugs.

     Boxelder bugs are invading The Little House. How do they get in?  They annoyed Joanne and some years there are more of them, like this year. They are benign and do not bother me. Harmless critters so I just move them out of me way and leave them in peace. Kaia is not so benevolent and they seldom survive her attention.

     Imagine how placid a life it is when boxelder bugs are the news of the day!

Takk for alt,

Al

                 The cemetery this morning.

Frost on the pumpkin!

 When the Frost is on the Punkin

BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

"When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock,

And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’ turkey-cock, fodder’s in the shock,

And the clackin’ of the guineys, and the cluckin’ of the hens,

And the rooster’s hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;

O, it’s then’s the times a feller is a-feelin’ at his best,

With the risin’ sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,

As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock."

      Not having a silo on the farm of my youth corn was not chopped of ensilage. Rather corn was cut with a corn binder that cut and tied corn stalks in bundles. Then they were placed in shocks like little teepees to later be stacked in long piles next to the barn. It was called fodder and that's the poems refringence in line one  "the fodder’s in the shock". This process occurred around early September also often the time of first frost. 

         Given the reality of climate change the first killing frost just recently occurred.  There's a large catalpa tree in the yard next door to The Little House. All through October the tree maintained a full canopy of green leaves. Sunday night the temperature dropped to 25 degrees for several hours. Monday the tree shed all its leaves. This year it had none of the pods it usually produces.   

           The next night the temperature dropped to 21 degrees. These hard frosts made me think of Riley's poem. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Why did it take 14 years!

       Now that I've enjoyed my new chair for a few hours the thought occurs to me "Why did I wait so long to get it?"  Perhaps you've already guessed the answer. The answer of course is "lack of adult supervision."   \

    It's long been apparent to me what's required for a good night's sleep. The first thing is a clean conscience. The next requirement is practice. How can one expect to sleep well at night if one does not practice sleeping in the daytime? Practice makes perfect!  I just  practiced in my new chair and it passed the test I'm happy to report.

    That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

Takk for alt,

Al

                                            The new chair.

Boosted!

      Brooking Health System offered  COVID vaccine booster shots. Immediately I signed up online and today I was shot. 😊 The vaccines were given at the Swiftel Center, Brookings Convention venue The entire process was a model of efficiency. The woman who took my temperature is a neighbor in Sinai. Arriving with my paper work complete I was ushered in and sent to the Moderna line, because my previous shots were Modera.  I sat down, got the shot and was sent to the post-shot waiting area for 15 minutes and then out the door.  Thirteen stations were in operation. A big shout out to the Brookings Health System for offering the vaccines and superb administration!

      In the fall of 2007, shortly after my retirement, a house in Sinai came on the market. When I told Joanne that a house was for sale she said "Buy it!" no questions asked. The Little House was furnished with 'hand-me-downs and purchases from local auctions. "My" chair has been a gold, swivel rocker from Bernice. Not any more! Purchasing the first item of new furniture for The Little House, a compact recliner followed me home from Brookings. A gold, 1970's model swivel rocker is available to the first taker.  

Takk for alt,

Al

Yes, I bought it without adult supervision....so there!