I'm back!

Longing for the old days when plays were staged and houses were sold didn't help me a bit. But our house will be listed today and I don't know what to do with myself now that I don't have boxes to pack. I am an excellent packer even if I say so myself but the idea of living in a house as if we aren't is not my idea of a good time. Enough whining...now that we're at this point I intend to blog more regularly.

We has a great weekend in SDak. My niece, Susan, married Kirk on Friday night. It was a 20s themed wedding. Susan's stepfather, Judeen and I officiated. Joanne found the old fashioned clergy daisy collars at church archives so we dressed the part. Our garb went nicely with Joanne's flapper dress so I'll post a pic.

I also/preached presided at the combined church and 4th of July celebration in town. The church was filled with Negstads and Berghs. My friend, 95 year old Walter Olson, told me a I did "a pretty good job then."

On Sunday Wayne & Angie Negstad, who farm the Negstad homestead, invited the family to celebrate 125 years since my grandfather, Lars Negstad, began homesteading. They also invited my mother's side, Bergh, so there over 100 people on a glorious day on the world's prettiest farm.

Lars, Melissa and Mai-Evy stayed with Joanne and me in our little Sinai house. It's a good thing I got the A/C fixed before they came. It was a warm, sticky weekend.

Oh yes...in case you haven't heard, we're looking for a condo in downtown Minneapolis.

From our latest trip to Chicago.

Mai-Evy dealing.

Making her second annual appearance at the Congress Hotel strike...now in its 8th year.

In her special chair from grandma.

Mai-Evy and the curmudgeon.

She's on the verge of walking.

More Mai-Evy pics.

Mai-Evy's first birthday.

Inspiring, profound, eloquent....

When Kao Kalia Yang, author of THE LATEHOMECOMER, spoke tonight I was mesmerized. She talked for an hour but I could have listened all night. Pearls of wisdom simply flow from her lips. How can a thirty year old be so asute? Examples: "Education is where caring and curiosity meet." "America is a country because we care for each other." Now I'm going to read the book again.

Want to hear her? Check her website for coming engagements. http://www.yaokaliayang.com/

Mai-Evy came for Easter!

It began in 1959.

On September 18, 1959 I reported to the USMC Boot Camp in San Diego. Ed and I were members of the same platoon there and housed in the same Quonset hut. Our friendship really began on the bus ride home for our first leave at the end of boot camp. The next step in our military training was Infantry Training Regiment on Camp Pendleton. Apparently they didn't want to start that four week training until after Christmas so we were all sent on leave whether we wanted it or not.
Ed was (and is) from Calamus, IA. near Davenport so we rode the bus together for two days on our way home. At Omaha, NB. and Ed went east and I north to SD. That long bus trip gave us the leisure we never had in Boot Camp to get acquainted. We've been frinds ever since.
We met again in Infantry Training Regiment and then were assigned to the same infantry company on Camp Pendleton for the next eighteen months. Not only were we in the same company but we were both clerks in the office, had upper and lower bunks in the squad bay and wall lockers side by side.
In June, 1961 we were sent to Asia and the same living, working arrangements existed for us until we rotated back to the states in 1962. My three year enlistment was completed and I was discharged. Ed served his remaining year at Treasure Island, San Francisco.
Two weeks ago Ed, his wife Mary Jane, Joanne and I met in San Diego to relive old memories. That will be the subject of my next blog.