Columnists

Lisa just beat breast cancer

My wife, Lisa, just beat breast cancer. After a successful surgery and many visits to Owatonna, she is cancer free. Thanks to a fantastic surgeon, caring nurses, and smiling receptionists, she’s once again healthy. I’ve had a wonderful last couple of weeks: time for a full week at the Tetonka...

Featuring big tiny little, Jr. at the piano

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting I ate at the Eat Around It Cafe. They ran out of the special. I always order the special. So what did you get instead? A sub. Driving by Bruce's drive I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. I...

Time is valuable

Have you ever had your day or week thrown off? Where your plans just don’t get done or accomplished? Where your life has been interrupted? Sometimes we feel like our lives are turned upside down by an event or adventure. The last trips of the summer are happening, the golf course is calling,...

How did your home town get its name?

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting It’s nice to meet you, Alan. Please, call me Allen. I just went to the movie theater to see “Groundhog Day II.” How was it? It was a repeat showing of the original “Groundhog Day” movie. Driving by Bruce's drive I have a wonderful neighbor...

Slow down: Faster isn't always better

There’s a song by Simon and Garfunkel titled “Feelin’ Groovy.” It starts out: “Slow down, you move too fast, you got to make the morning last. Just kicking down the cobblestones, looking for fun and feeling groovy.” The world today just keeps moving faster–I wish it could take the song’s...

Difficult time slowing down

There are some kids that just struggle to sit still, have you ever noticed that? I was watching a child starting to learn how to run over the past few weeks. This child is talented at using their whole body to run. Not just quickly moving their feet, but arms pumping and shoulders rolling. ...

People hate math until they get a receipt

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting I didn’t catch a single fish on my trip to Ontario. How come? I couldn’t tell a single one from a married fish. Driving by Bruce's drive I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur to me. I was thinking...

Some of my favorite fishing experiences

I’ve had a couple of wonderful fishing experiences this summer. Pier fishing is available to people who don’t own a boat but enjoy fishing from shore. I decided to head to Fountain Lake in Albert Lea to fish from a pier. I took some buddies along, since angling alone isn’t my cup of tea: I enjoy...

Receiving faith in god as a kid

“Let the little children come to me.” There is something encouraging about kids feeling safe in church. You have probably seen these kids before. The kids that feel safe are the ones that sing loudly, move quickly, and don’t care that someone else is talking. This week at First...

Sniffing the south end of a porcupine

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting I’m glad it’s summer and not winter. Do you like hot, muggy weather? No, but think how terrible it would be to shovel snow in this heat. Driving by Bruce's drive I have a wonderful neighbor named Bruce. Whenever I pass his drive, thoughts occur...