Sometimes they come back...

So, okay…where was I? Hmmm…

Oh yeah, I remember.

Unceremoniously stripped of my title; offered "another job in the company" that added to my workload for a fraction of the salary; lived with a tribe of bushmen for five years in the badlands of South Dakota.

Well, okay… not the last part, but I am back.

Five years, 319 days, 15 hours later, I’m back.

No more being stopped on the street to be queried, "so Mark, when are you getting back in the newspaper business?"

Well, I guess the answer is Dec. 15, 2014.

Oh, and if someone could let Donna Keifer of Tyler know. She holds the record of asking me that question…um…let’s see. 52 x 5 + 49, carry the 1…well, let’s just say every time she saw me over the past five years.

So, I’m flattered that there are many of you who liked my work at the papers. That can certainly be tempered by the fact that I live in the Land of Scandinavians and Lutherans. Not many are going to walk up to me and say, "Wow! I’m still scratching my head over Chuck’s choice for editor. Tell him I said so…"

All joking aside (if I were actually joking), thanks for the great support through the crazy number of messages I’ve received since the news broke on the Hendricks Pioneer Facebook page last week and in print from our publisher. It has been humbling to say the least.

I would, however, like to say this to the 99.968 percent of the population on this planet who are NOT editors…you have no idea how good your life is for not needing to come up with a column idea every week. Trust me on this. After 11+ years of weekly columns and a couple of years after that doing some sporadic online blogging, I enjoyed a few years off. Oh, and yes, I am still whining about doing a weekly column. Some things never change.

The rapid rewind goes like this:

After six uncomfortable weeks of being unemployed back in ’09, I received two job offers within about 15 minutes of each other. I chose one in the windpower industry and for the ensuing 4-1/2 years, I drove to a building in the middle of a cornfield south of Chandler, where I worked for and with a fantastic group of people. The company took care of me admirably, until late 2012, when some silly corporate goon in California decided that it would be a good idea to move the company’s Operation Control Center to San Diego, where they could pay much less dedicated people a lot more money to monitor their wind towers. It took them nearly a year to pull off that move, but on Halloween 2013, myself and over 20 others had our jobs yanked from under us. But I’m not bitter.

Most recently, I was toiling on the other side of the area’s newspaper industry, working as a prepress operator at Page 1 Printers in Slayton. These talented people are responsible for printing our newspapers and making it look exactly as we imagined it should look when we sent the files. They do that perfectly.

I worked there just long enough to realize I had gotten a bit attached to these people when I left there Friday night. Thanks to all of you for helping me through the learning process and making me feel like part of the gang — Sheila, Gail, Craig, Terry, Stacy, Ashley K., Marcy, Myra, Jeff, Chad, Ashley B., Aimee, Shawna, and whomever else I missed, I will miss seeing you. Well, maybe not Jeff…but especially my cubicle neighbor Ashley, who on multiple occasions referred to me as "awesome sauce." I’m not sure what that is, but I think it is good.

Fortunately, I’m also going to be working with another great group of people here in Lincoln County. They’ve spent the last couple of months without a managing editor, proving that I shouldn’t get too comfortable by continuing to put out three great-looking local papers.

Yup, I’m expendable. That’s okay too. It keeps a person on his toes.

I do have one last order of business before I sign off. It did not go without notice that last week the staff here took a last opportunity to run a picture of me without me having any powers to "edit" it out of the final copy. The guilty parties are numerous, starting with Editor Steven Hurd over in Lake Benton, who not only took the picture, but decided it was worthy enough to send on to layout for publication. Then you can spread a bit of blame on the photo editor, the layout person, the final proofer… It got past all of them. I’ve decided it was exactly how a human would look if someone were standing on his or her tail.

A minimum of four people looked at this photo and thought, "yeah, that should go in the paper."

I can promise you as your "new" old editor, that if nothing else, I will do my best to keep this kind of ugliness out of your mailbox in the future.

There are some things that even Page 1 Printers can’t fix.

I haven’t got time for the pain mockers...

A couple of months ago, after a long silence, I posted a new blog for those of you who are starved for entertainment. It had been over a year and I had enough people nudge me into a new post that I thought I should make time to create a new blog again from time to time.

I’ve had a busy couple of months since then. I had the pleasure of performing with some very talented people in “Broadway Meets Lake Benton” at the Opera House back in March. The following day set building and rehearsals began for “Charlie Cox Runs With Scissors.” It has been fun directing a quality group of actors/friends, and despite the obstacles Mother Nature is throwing at us this week while attempting to rehearse, we will open Friday night at 7:30 with a wonderful comedy production. Please come if you can.

Oh yeah, and I started playing with a band again, when I agreed to play bass for the County 7 band.

Throw in the 2013 version of Wilmes Family Board Game Weekend last weekend, and I’ve had trouble finding time to post a follow-up to “Thumbing My Nose at the Pain,” the blog in which I shared the trials of a computer addict getting through the trauma of a paper cut…on the end of my thumb…in mid-winter.

I would like to thank many of you for your support. Here is a sampling of the comments from some of my true friends:

- From regular reader Shirley: Dear Brave Mark, You really “nailed” the source of your pain. I have to “hand” it to you. I definitely give you a “thumbs” up. Continue to be brave. This sojourn will soon be but a distant memory. I certainly won’t “thumb” my nose at you if you, oh I don’t know, won’t be able to do snow removal because of this tragedy. But I do have to comment that you are such a “cut” up. Wishing you well. And for Heaven’s sake, don’t touch them thar insurance papers. They’re out to get ya.
 

- From Ann: Put Super Glue on it - it will heal right up, it takes the pain away, and you can use it...  No really - I'm serious.  Try it. Works every time.

- From a nice reader out in Pierre, SD: "Loved reading this. I carry a little disc of meleluca paste in my purse and have several more around the house. It is great for cuts, burns, sores or anything like that. Takes the soreness out and heals over night. I gave one to the gal who owns the quilt store in Pierre for when she gets a pin prick. The other day I was there and she was using it on a cold sore on her lip, She said it worked great for that. If you know anyone who sells melalueca just have them order you some. There is gel in a tube but the paste works better I think."

 

- From Jeff in Northfield: "Aquifer" or "Triple Paste" will clear up your paper-cut. Be careful...cuts like that would've killed a pioneer....those things hurt like no other. Childbirth? I doubt it comes close, and I'm serious. A & D ointment will also make it feel better, but that Triple Paste really does heal 'er up. (it's mostly for diaper rash, but man it heals up the cuts, too). Just have the ladies try, TRY to hold a guitar pick (with a paper cut on the thumb)! Can't do it!

Then there was George in Tyler, who seemed to be mocking me. You decide:

- I don't believe I have ever been brought to tears by an email before. The pain, the agony, why didn't you call for support? …I will start immediately searching for the perfect get well card to guide you back to norms of healthiness. As I wipe my eyes again, get well soon.

George, however, at least had the common courtesy to thinly veil his lack of sympathy.

There were more than a few women making snarky comments. One of the more stinging communications came from Nicole in Minneapolis, who sent me the “definition” of Man Flu: An illness that causes the male of the species to be helpless and sicker than any other family member. In females; a cold.

If I were a cynic, I would have been thinking that she was implying I was overstating the severity of my injury.

Then I was subjected to this bit of fiction from Angie, one of Nicole’s equally unsympathetic friends (click the link to see the latest in female propaganda):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VbmbMSrsZVQ

Obviously conceived of and filmed by a female with an active imagination.

Of course, what makes these things funny is that it is so ridiculous to think that us hunter/gatherers could be so whiny.

We’re tough…we can handle a little misguided ribbing in the name of humor.

That being said, I have to go now. I’m going to see if Triple Paste works on hangnails… Those puppies are nasty.

Thumbing my nose at the pain

I’m writing this in a great deal of pain. It’s not just any pain, nay, but a pain that has nearly brought me to my knees many times over the past week. Yet, somehow I have gathered the strength and courage to trudge on. I have made quite an impression on myself with this bravery I exude. And let me tell you, I’m not easily impressed.

I know some of you out there can relate to my dilemma. You understand the sting. The throbbing. The inevitable and uncontrollable wince I experience every time I hit the space bar. I sense a knowing nod from the previously afflicted. The tell-tale signs of someone suffering through a desk jockey’s worst nightmare…

The searing anguish of a nasty paper cut.

On the end of my thumb.

In mid-winter.

The deepest I’ve seen. Ever.

A genuine gaping, yawning assault on my sensory receptors.

A glaring, obnoxious salt magnet.

Oh sure, I’ve heard the horror stories about nail gun accidents and table saw miscues and small radiation mishaps. There will be the haters out there who scoff at my misfortune, but I’ve spent enough time on Facebook in recent years to know that I have been needlessly suppressing any blatant sharing of my personal drama. I’ve seen some of the stuff that elicits an “fml” post on the social media site. My predicament has them beat in spades.

It all started after a 60-minute stint at the oral surgeon last Tuesday. After having my mouth ravaged with multiple extractions and a giant plastic hayrack inserted over a half score of stitches, I was fulfilling my follow-up oral check-up the next day. Little did I know that before I left home, I had inadvertently severed my epidermal layer on the latest insurance statement. (There is truly no end to the amount of pain Aetna inflicts upon me.)

After my official okie dokie from Dr. John, I went to the coat rack to retrieve my beige jacket. (Yeah, I know…it was free from my employer. They don’t care how I look in beige.) My eye was drawn to the copious amounts of blood splattered down the back of the jacket and surrounding right front pocket. After a startled half-beat, I deduced that the grisly stains probably were my own bodily fluids.

It could only be two things. After quickly eliminating “slashed jugular,” I spied the splayed abyss winking at me from the only opposable digit I have on my right hand. My heart sank as the realization came into focus of how my life would be altered over the next half month.

Worst paper cut ever.

I shudder to think of the murky pool that must have been left behind under the dentist chair.

I am a chronic right-hander. I’m the most right-handed person I have ever known. My left hand is so stupid it can barely operate a glass of water. The hurdles I cleared over the next few days were ridiculous, and would have felled a lesser man.

Washing dishes became a lesson in endurance. Every time I unconsciously licked my thumb to turn a newspaper page, or operated the storm door handle, or opened the cap on a bottle of shampoo, Kathy would hear a staccato “ohwhwww” in the distance. Do you know how hard it is to peel those stupid Curad bandages from the paper backing with one hand? Trust me, go with Band-Aid brand.

Hitchhiking became intolerable.

I haven’t even been able to signal my spouse from the couch whether or not I liked a movie.

But please, I ask that nobody makes a fuss over me. This too shall pass. The last couple of days have brought marked improvement. It has progressed to the point where I can barely feel my heartbeat in the troublesome crevice. And good things have come from this. I can now pet my kitty left-handed, although she still seems a bit disoriented from the modification.

Yesterday I used the proper hand signal from across the room to tell a co-worker he was doing a good job.

I’ve learned who my true friends are…it’s astonishing how few people will help a guy out with his fly in a time of need. (Note to self: take “no” for an answer the first time. Chasing them with a second request usually ends up involving local authorities.)

You know the old saying: “what doesn’t kill you…”

I’ll be fine, everyone. Cards and gifts are certainly not required. Thanks for kind thoughts and words, but if I can help just one office worker somewhere in the world, then baring my inner soul with tales of my epic voyage will have been worth it.

It only takes a minute to slip on a pair of nitrile safety gloves, people.

Believe me, you never miss the ability to simultaneously eat a hoagie and flip through channels until it has been taken from you.

Merry Christmas!

Hello all! Yes, it has been a long time. I haven't been a very good blogger this year. Only my second, as a matter of fact, the last one? January! I'll try to be a little better in 2013. In the meantime, I will inflict another Christmas letter on you. Have a great 2013!

Merry Christmas everyone! Didn't we just do this? Seems the years continue to go by faster and faster. We hope this season finds you all healthy and happy.
We are all still employed in the same vocations as the last time we talked. Mark's place of employment recently went through a rebranding, with the name of the company changing from enXco to EDF Renewable Services. The bad news, however, is that his office is getting moved from Chandler to San Diego. Since we don't really have any desire to be Californians, he will be looking for a job at some point next year. Scary stuff for a 40-year-old, so you would have to assume a soon-to-be 55-year-old is shaking in his size 13 boots.

On a happier note, Lindsay got great news on the work front. After a couple of years of working at Miller Legal Strategic Planning Centers in Tyler, last week she accepted an offer to work at Aerotek in Bloomington. We are very happy for her. We'll be very happy for US when she can afford a big enough home to store all of her clothes. We'll have enough room that we could maybe have a couple more kids.
Some of our highlights this year included a couple of family weddings. Kathy's nephew Ben married Amanda in May in New Ulm, and Mark's nephew Ryan married Emily in June in Cloquet. Both were beautiful and memorable weddings! Congratulations to both couples.
Kathy and Lindsay each were off to Lake Michigan in June for a mandatory "team building" fishing trip. They each had the pleasure of experiencing bumpy boat rides while reeling in their catches. Lindsay earned the nickname "Pail Burper" on the trip. Um...you'll have to ask her about it.
Mark spent more time at the Lake Benton Opera House, directing three shows. He took the fall play off this year for the first time in years. It was a nice respite. Kathy joined him in April as she appeared in "Sylvia," and both Kathy and Lindsay appeared with Mark in the Opera House Christmas Show in December.
Another highlight for Kathy was trading in her dinosaur...I mean collector vehicle for a relatively new Chevy Cruze. The Grand Am had nearly every inch of life squeezed out of it before she finally found a car that she liked!
Oh yeah, and she also got to see her first Twins game at Target Field this summer, leaving Mark as the only member of the family who hasn't been there yet. Maybe 2013?
'Til next year, may your bells be jingling and your pudding be figgy!
All our best!

Mark,
Kathy
and
Lindsay...

Our 2012 Highlights
January
Kathy attends TwinsFest with the Denney's.
March
Mark's family meets at Clay and Linda's home in New Hope for the
21st Annual Wilmes Family Board Game Weekend.
April
Kathy acted in and Mark directed "Sylvia" at the
Lake Benton Opera House.
May
Kathy and the "Thomsen Women" spent
their traditional Mother's Day Weekend Getaway
in Rochester visiting wineries and brunching with relatives.
Lindsay travels to Arkansas to participate in

Torii checks out the birds during our first snowstorm!

her friend Jessie's wedding.
June
Kathy and Lindsay are off on an MLSPC "team building" fishing
retreat to Algoma, Wisconsin.
Mark and Kathy make their first trip to Grandview Valley Winery near Belview. The owners are friends of the family. It was our first of several trips.
July
Mark, Kathy and Lindsay participate in Lincoln County
Relay For Life in Ivanhoe.
Aebleskiver Days in Tyler, as well as Tyler's 125th celebration.
Kathy attends her 35th Class Reunion and Lindsay gets to spend some time in Tyler with her dad and Jensen relatives.
July-August
Mark directs "Seussical" at the Lake Benton Opera House.
August
Kathy travels to see "Fiddler on the Roof" in Brookings with the Denney's
Kathy takes in a weekend pool party with her sisters in New Ulm.
Kathy attends the annual "Princess Weekend" with the Wilmes
women at a Maple Lake cabin.
Lindsay spends a long weekend camping with friends
and relatives at the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior.
Kathy and Mark make trips to see our friend Jeff Downs with the Johnny Holm Band in August and September.
September
Kathy attends her first Twins game at Target Field
Lindsay hits the Renaissance Festival and a Twins game with friends.
October
Kathy and Lindsay make a trip to see Dave and Karen and attend
Middle Eastern Night as well as do some Halloween partying.
Lindsay participates in her first Zombie Pub Crawl in the Twin Cities.
November
Celebrate Thanksgiving with the Wilmes family the weekend before and on the day of at Kathy's brother Mike and Jennifer's home in Lynd, after which Kathy and Lindsay headed to Mankato for Black Friday shopping.
December
Mark, Kathy and Lindsay participate in the Opera House Christmas Show.
Lindsay fights off the season's first blizzard to spend time with friends in Rochester and the Twin Cities and take in a Vikings win over the
Bears at the Metrodome.
Lindsay accepts a job offer from Aerotek in Bloomington.

I predict you will want a pet!

I have two orders of business to conduct in the blog you are about to read (or not read). The first involves my encouragement to all to go out and adopt a pet now that the hustle/bustle of the holidays is over. I admit to being totally manipulated by the ASPCA commercials featuring Sarah McLachlan urging us to rescue a cute, furry animal. It makes me realize that it is probably good I’m not a billionaire, because I would blow all my money on dogs and kitties. 

I'm Spook, I'm 2 years old,
I'm neutered, and I'm waiting for you!

While purebread animals are adorable and photogenic, I encourage you to go to one of the local animal shelters and rescue an animal that has been abandoned and needs a home. For a small fee, you can bring home a small friend who will love you unconditionally for as long as they live. I still miss my late friend Joe, who left us way too early in his life. Now I have Torii, who does some serious bonding with me every morning before I go to work, and most days when I return. The purr-fests have gotten to the point where I have adjusted my morning alarm from 5:45 to 5:30 so I don’t have to peel her off my chest in order to get to work on time.
I wouldn’t want to imagine my life without her.
I’m sure there are many area organizations that have pets available. The two I know of are the Tracy Area Animal Rescue (according to Facebook, the contact info is: email arvizu@iw.net, phone 507-828-8029). We met Torii at the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society, back when her name was Carmel and she looked so sad lying in that cage… If you go to http://www.sfhumanesociety.com/ you can see many of their current residents that are up for adoption, with pictures and a short description of many. Are you a fan of cats? They have over 100 on hand right now.
Tell them I sent you!
My second order of business…you know you’ve been waiting for it…is my fearless predictions for the New Year. Remember you heard it here first:
I present to you my Top Ten Predictions for 2012:
10. Trouble will erupt in Hell when Osama bin Laden finds out his new roomie, Gadhafi, wants to watch nothing but reruns of “Dancing with the Stars.”
9. About the second week of June somebody will break down and finally have to say, “I guess it will have to be you,” to Mitt Romney.
8. Kim Kardashian will start putting the shattered remains of her life back together by getting engaged to a hockey player and booking some TV time for the wedding.
7. Anthony Weiner will appear before the Board of Review hoping for reinstatement, but the Board Chairman (his wife) will inform him he will still be sleeping on (and tweeting from) the couch.
6. The Twins will rebound from The Season Of Which We Shall No Longer Speak to win the World Series as Joe Mauer catches 150 games, Francisco Liriano wins 25 and Tsuyoshi Nishioka wins the Gold Glove. In other news…Charlie Sheen will take a vow of chastity and Donald Trump will shave his head.
5. At some point during 2012 I will get to a point when I can picture in my head which actor is Dylan McDermott and which actor is Dermot Mulroney. (I have simple goals in life…next year I will work on sorting out actresses Mary Louise Parker, Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.)
4. My extreme denial and incredulity will persist throughout the year as my ego continues to take a beating over the fact that I can’t beat Paula Dovre in Words With Friends (Facebook Scrabble).
3. Residents of northwestern Lincoln County will gain regional attention with “Occupy Hendricks,” a grass roots attempt at bringing attention to the lack of cell phone coverage in the city. It will fizzle when out-of-town protesters find out they can’t send a tweet unless they drive to the cemetery south of town and stand under the tree while holding a wire coat hanger.
2. The Mayans will be proven right when the world ends on December 21^st, three days after Minnesota lawmakers approve a stadium plan for the Vikings.
And my number one Top Ten Prediction for 2012:
1. When my driver’s license gets renewed on January 26^th, I will be able to extend my streak of 10 consecutive license photos in which I resemble serial killer John Wayne Gacy.
Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

As I was under the glaring spotlight of a deadline to get our annual Christmas letter done, I thought to myself, "why should I only subject this drivel to the undeserving 50 people on our Christmas card list?" And so, I decided to expand the carnage to the people on the "Off the Mark" mailing list also. I occasionally mention the fact that, according to the counter on the website, about 100 people click on the link and read all or part of it. What I don't mention is the fact that there are 150 people are directly emailed the link to my blog, leaving about 50 who want me to THINK they read it, but really don't want to suffer through it! What you are about to read may be one of the reasons for that defection rate.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our 2011 Christmas letter. (For those of you on our regular Christmas card list, you have the satisfaction of ignoring it TWICE this year!)

Torii

Merry Christmas everyone! For those of you who were thinking, "I just can't wait until the annual holiday letter from Mark, Kathy and Lindsay arrives," your wait is over. For those of you who are thinking, "HOW DO WE MAKE THEM STOP," please just skip to the asterisk at the bottom of the page...

January got off to a rollicking good start with Mark getting sent off to Tracy, California for some work training. He chose to drive instead of fly...his chance to get an up-close look at parts of the country he had never seen. Unfortunately, he ended up in the hospital fighting an infection for the four days preceding his departure. It took more than a little sweet-talking for him to get sprung from his hospital bed in time to make the trip. Heavily medicated, he made the trip and loved every minute of it...as Kathy and Lindsay were back in Minnesota shoveling snow.
The women got a bit of a payback however, as at the end of the month they made a trip to TwinsFest in Blaine with Todd and Nicole Denney. Lindsay even got to hang with mascot TC for a bit...
In March, Lindsay started part time at Miller Legal Strategic Planning Center (where Kathy works) while finishing up her final semester at MnWest in Pipestone. Later this year (September) she was hired full time. She still works there and is living in Tyler while she searches for employment in other areas.
During her spring break in March, she was able to thaw out her feet for a short time with a trip to Sanibel Island in Florida.

Relay for Life 2011

Mark and Kathy spent the second weekend of March in an equally hot spot...the 20th-plus annual Wilmes Family Board Game Weekend. We gave Mark's brother Clay a one-year respite from hosting and the event was held at the Tyler Senior Center.
The biggest news of March, however, had to be the new arrival to our home—a beautiful two-year-old kitty named Torii. We have loved every minute of her time with us...and as far as you can tell with a cat, the feelings are mutual.
Mark spent a lot of time this year at the Lake Benton Opera House. He performed in the "Broadway Meets Lake Benton" show in March and directed a comedy called, "'Til Beth Do Us Part" in April. Not quite having enough of a theater experience, we all made the trip to Chanhassen at the end of April to see "Jesus Christ Superstar."
On May 12th, Lindsay graduated from MnWest with an AAS degree as an Administrative Assistant. Her and Mark were honored to sing at the graduation ceremony, performing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Armed with her new degree, to go with her previous degree in graphics, she hopes to take on a tough job market and score a career.
In June, Kathy and her sister Karen spent the weekend at the Sculpture Walk, as well as visits to Indian Island and Morgan Creek wineries in the Mankato area.
The first weekend of July ended up a memorable one, as horrific straight-line and tornadic winds hit Tyler and took with it many beautiful trees and damaged scores of homes and businesses. We had two trees uprooted in our back yard and two more snapped off, as well as thousands of dollars of damage to our house. Somehow everybody in our little town survived, and with the help of countless hours of work from volunteers from surrounding towns, we are getting back to normal.

Cast of "The Dixie Swim Club"

On July 9th, Kathy's dad, Lowell married Doris Kjellsen in Badger, South Dakota. The whole family moved to South Dakota for the weekend and had a great time.
Much of July for Kathy was spent as co-captain of her Relay for Life team, CUREious George. This year we combined with another Tyler team, CancerMals. It was a fun and rewarding experience. Mark spent much of the summer back at the Opera House directing the musical, "Camelot."
Lindsay's 10-year high school class reunion was held on Aebleskiver Days in Tyler. She also got to see many Jensen family members from Iowa, Colorado and Arizona at a family reunion.
It was trip time again in August, as Kathy and Lindsay spent a few days at the Wilmes Women Weekend...this year in Door County, Wisconsin. Lindsay also spent some time roughing it in the Apostle Islands with her cousins and some friends. In September it was another winery. This time Kathy and Lindsay made a trip with our sister-in-law, Linda, to enjoy a "grape stomp" by Jordan, MN.
On October 1, Lindsay was back at Chanhassen with some high school friends to see "Hairspray."


Merry Christmas from Mark, Lindsay, Kathy and Torii

Kathy and Mark were both at the Opera House in October. Kathy starred with four other women in "The Dixie Swim Club." Mark directed, and after two weeks at the Opera House, the show moved to Pipestone for one weekend.
Lindsay was back in the air again in October, off to see her friend Jessie in Little Rock, AR. Kathy made a weekend trip to the Twin Cities with co-captain Carrie Johnson for a Relay for Life Summit.
November saw Kathy and Mark on a return trip to Chanhassen to see "Hairspray." The first weekend in December both Mark and Kathy performed in the Opera House Christmas Show. Mark directed this show also.
*

Here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Mark, Kathy and Lindsay...

Happily ever after…

It seems I find myself constantly reminded of how quickly our lives go by. Here we are poised at the start of another holiday season, with sale ads trying to tempt us with discounted prices on artificial Christmas trees. If my first half century is any indication, the next two months will breeze by at a breakneck pace. I do love those holidays. While we are on the subject of time going by, I find it unbelievable that it has been 20 years since the infamous “Blizzard of the Century,” when a large swath of Minnesota was beaten senseless with several feet of snow and high winds.
That also means that come Thursday, November 3rd, Kathy and I will be celebrating 20 years of wedded bliss. For those of you who were there with us, you know we were supposed to be celebrating that milestone on Wednesday, November 2nd.
The quick recap, hitting just the high points, went something like this:
Halloween was on a Thursday in 1991. I was still eight years from ending my career as a rock band bass guitarist/lead singer. I clocked out of my job that afternoon at Tyler Wholesale and it was raining in Tyler. I packed up my band equipment and headed for the American Legion in Windom to play for a dance. My plan was to be back later that night, and use my Friday off to help with our final wedding preparations, slated for Saturday, November 2^nd. It was three days later before law enforcement would let me out of Windom to come home and get married.
I was snowed in with band mates at the Johnson Motel, and Kathy with my family back in Tyler. Our groom’s supper was the first victim, it was cancelled early. As the snow continued to fall we cancelled the dance scheduled for Saturday evening, and it became evident as the hours went on, the wedding wasn’t going to happen either.
I finally made it back to town on Sunday morning, by way of Worthington, and we had wedding rehearsal as our guests were arriving for our postponed vows on Sunday afternoon. Our wedding trip to the Metrodome to watch the Vikings play Tampa Bay was history.
The biggest downside was the fact that the wedding had to go on without some of our family and friends who were still unable to make it to town. The upside, I guess, is we have quite a story to tell of that weekend two decades past. It was even documented on the front page of the Windom paper.
Here we are 20 years later, still blindly, crazy, madly…okay, well we still get along pretty well. We still connect with a palpable unspoken closeness at home after all these years…me from the desk of our home office and her from the bedroom where she is watching “Project Runway.”
I get emotional when I think of all the ways Kathy has made my life better.
For starters, I never have to make a major decision in our life, although sometimes I get to pretend I do. Young people can’t imagine what a stress reliever that can be!
My days aren’t bogged down by financial management. My paycheck gets deposited directly into “our” checking account, and I never see it again. I don’t even have to think about it…as a matter of fact, I’ve been asked NOT to think about it many times.
I’ve been freed of any temperature control responsibilities in my home. I don’t even have to think about where the thermostat IS in our home…and yes, you guessed it…I’ve been asked NOT to think about it many times.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen…it’s the married life for me. I highly recommend it.
Of course it is not just me who has lived a blissful existence. Kathy never has to worry about me botching a handyman project around the home…although I’m pretty sure we have some tools somewhere in the house. No Tim Allen-type issues for her.
I selflessly keep the DVD shelf stocked so she doesn’t need to even leave the house if she needs entertainment.
There is seldom a day goes by that we don’t have access to some sort of pizza.
I almost blush when I think about how she must go on about me when she is out with her friends.
Of course, the fact that we live in such an elevated state of happiness has its drawbacks. Time flies when you are having fun.
Before we know it the date will be November 3^rd, 2031 and we’ll be celebrating our 40^th wedding anniversary, spinning tales about our snowy wedding weekend.
And, of course, if I have my way, we’ll be celebrating with pizza and a movie.
Happy Anniversary Kathy! Here’s to setting sail on our next 20… How lucky are we?