Tennis courts to hospital beds

Last week I attended a Waseca tennis match where I ran into numerous folks.

 

Most notably, Blake and Blain Nelson.

 

It was a Thursday, so I asked Blake if he had read the Braves baseball article I published in the Pioneer.

 

Of course, he did.

 

“I can never talk to you during a game again!” He exclaimed with a large grin.

 

“You should have written about Kelvin shooing me away when I tried to take him out,” he added.

 

I wanted to, but I thought maybe that was ‘too personal.’ 

 

So now here I am, writing about it.

 

After Blake returned to the dugout after relieving Kelvin of his pitching responsibilities in the 5th inning of a state qualifying game, he told me under his breath. “It’s gonna be a long drive home tonight.”

 

I asked Blake how the car ride home went after the loss. 

 

He said it was good. Both the Nelson’s agreed the defense gave the game away. 

 

I’m happy for the return of fall sports, which brings with it a fresh new school year.

 

The fall weather this week has been very enjoyable. Walks are delightful.

 

Football begins this week and I am unlikely to be in attendance for the first time in many years. I have a procedure scheduled for Friday that requires general anesthesia. It is unlikely I’ll be making a drive that evening. However, my dad tells me I’ll be fine and that I’ll probably go take pictures. More reports on this next week.

 

I’ve been asked a few times about how Reed Waller is doing, former Star Eagle production manager.

 

Reed is doing well. He now lives at Prairie Senior Cottages in New Richland. He suffers from aphasia. For those who don’t know, this means he struggles to remember words/speak them. It has not been an easy process, but he is living in a good place and cared for.

 

Dad returned home from the hospital last week. He’s had a bad summer. His mental health and autoimmune disorder have taken a toll. Dad had successfully avoided a hospital visit for nearly four years. I’m grateful for that long stretch and optimistic he’ll come out of this as well.

 

More newspaper news. Our delivery driver, Darin, is still recovering from necrotic fasciitis. He is in long term care now, still months away from returning home. A flesh eating disease is no joke. We’re all thankful he’s alive.

 

Amelia Roessler is now the editor of this newspaper.

 

She has worked as my assistant for the past three plus years. 

 

Amelia is talented, smart and has what my dad describes as ‘it’ regarding newspaper construction.

 

I reminded her this week what Reed Waller told me during my first week in her job.

 

“The Editor is God,” Reed said in a stone cold voice.

 

He was holding his cup of black coffee, with a long beard and even longer white hair extending to the floor in a braid. I’ll never forget that moment.

 

I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve assembled at the paper and I look forward to where we go from here.