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A time for reflection

Every so often, we should take time to reflect on the past and the present. It’s important for me to live my own advice so here are some thoughts on the past and the present. During a recent conversation with a friend, we found ourselves mentally and verbally meandering about our respective families history. As it turns out, we both share a good amount of Norwegian ancestry. And,both of our paternal grandfathers were from Norway, and surprisingly, my grandfather came from a Norwegian town just a few miles north of my friend’s grandfather. Wow! We wondered if maybe they knew ...

Sharing tailgating tales

Time was when tailgating was universally frowned upon. Tailgating meant that an obnoxious motorist was following your vehicle so closely that he could read the care instructions on the tag of your T-shirt. Tailgating has since taken on another meaning. This term is now used to describe the pregame eating, drinking, and socializing that takes place in the parking lot of a sports venue. If your team is on a winning streak, it’s a pre-celebration celebration; if your team has been losing lately, you can commiserate with other fans and mutter, “Wait until next year!” I’ve lived ...

Stacking up rocks or knocking them down

I walk or jog on Sleepy Eye’s Lake Trail. The trail has been a blessing. I used to run on the shoulder of Highway 14. That has become insanely busy. I was afraid of getting sucked into the wake of a semi-truck and ending up in Brookings. I mostly go on the quieter west side of the trail. In part of that, there is a field on one side and woods on the other. In the trees, there is a rock pile. There are rock piles all across the Corn Belt. Some of these are as old as when the first settlers came and began the work of turning prairie into cropland. The one we have in our grove is for ...

People skills: they’re important in any type of job

There’s a well known saying when it comes to career success that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. It’s true in both urban and rural areas. It’s true in any part of the United States. As far as I know, it’s the case throughout the world. When I was in my 20s I didn’t think it was fair. It was part of my idealism. I thought it was wrong if the most qualified applicant didn’t get a job, if someone else was chosen because of personal connections. I felt the merit system in the post office was the fairest way to go. If someone scores best on an exam or has the ...

The Vietnam War – Marland Burckhardt – Germany, counterintelligence school, and the Special Forces Course

We have been following Marland Burckhardt, a Russell High School graduate who enlisted in the Army and served in Italy before returning to college, marrying his sweetheart, and graduating with an Army commission. Marland and Barb arrived in Germany for their first Army assignment in April 1968 “I was going to 3rd Division, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion of the 30th Infantry Regiment in Schweinfurt. A sponsor officer met us at the Frankfurt airport and drove us to Schweinfurt.” The couple began their Germany adventure by renting an apartment. “We rented the upstairs of a ...

On the Porch

Cabinet cards are photographs mounted on stiff pieces of cardboard. They were introduced in the 1860s and gradually replaced the smaller carte de visite format. The front of the card is often printed or embossed with the photographer’s details, and the back of the cabinet card is often printed with elaborate designs or left blank. The popularity of the cabinet card declined around the turn of the 20th century, particularly after the introduction of the photographic postcard, snapshots, and personal photography, especially after the invention of the Kodak camera in 1888. Cabinet cards ...