Monthly Archives: June 2010

Wedding Day

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Lisa and I attended the wedding of Angie Zak and Matt Bruggeman last Friday in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. Matt honored me with a request to be a groomsman and so once again I amazed those who measured me for a tuxedo with the fact that I am square.

The wedding was really lovely; Angie made everything simple and elegant. Angie was a beautiful bride while Matt was; well Matt managed to button his shirt correctly with minimal help (just kidding Mattrick.)

I like to be included with any Bruggeman function as the boys and I are like brothers. They are such a close family and even being “like” their brother feels good. I felt proud to be with them and even better when my wife arrived prior to the service to watch us “cannonball” ham buns during the pre-matrimonial feed.

After the service, the wedding party, which numbered over 20, arrived via limousine. I got a little nostalgic on the ride and started taking little mental snapshots for one day when I am old; a freshly-wedded new couple in absolute bliss, Angie’s family and friends and the unbridled, tone-deaf splendor of us all singing along to “Home Sweet Home” in our best-dressed falsettos. It was a unique day that I will re-live but not live again.

My definition of a God smack is a revelation of thought that can vary from a gentle pat on the rear end to an open-handed smack to the head. I have received several of these over time and they are invariably helpful. Every relationship needs the occasional god-smack to keep it moving in the right direction. During the wedding of Matt and Angie, they were asked by Father Huck to hold hands. As most men lose maturity with age, all the groomsmen laughed at Matt’s public show of affection for Angie. Father Huck noticed this and sent us each on a quest to find our spouse, be seated by them and join the bridal couple in spirited hand-holding during his homily.

Father Huck then took each of us, joined at the hand, through a primer on marriage. He didn’t talk only about the work but how to accomplish the work of a successful couple. He said to pray for your spouse and for your marriage. I thought about how nice it was to see my wife in the basement of the church just prior to the service and how proud I was of her. I was sitting at a table across from Frank Bruggeman so he saw Lisa first. I felt a rush of happiness when Frank greeted Lisa with, “Hi Leeseycakes.” The revelation I received from this day was not the excitement I felt when my wife was nearby and it wasn’t that I love Lisa because I know these things. My God smack was that I chose to love Lisa several years ago and that had been an excellent choice.

It’s a good day when two people choose to join together in love for everyone to see. It is even better when they spread that love around through everyone touched by the event. Congratulations Angie and Matt; you accomplished both.
 

Gimme Back my Bullets

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Those who know me have probably heard me say, “just give me the bullets.” This is the phrase I use when I simply want basic information without embellishment or emotional theater (you know, drama.) This week’s column is dedicated to subject matter which either; has merit but lacks the meat to base a column, mentions an event which needs a little publicity or simply errant points which may only mean something to as few as one person.

Bullet One: Hey Travis, soul train is on.

Bullet Two: I created the phrase “breakfast burrito.” I used to eat like a carp when I worked at KKAQ radio (Thief River Falls, Mn)in the late 80′s. I would start my day with a stop at the old Valley Dairy convenience store to buy my morning burrito. I began to refer to it as my breakfast burrito but failed to copyright the fact. I am sure someone thought to wrap eggs, sausage and cheese in a burrito prior to my personal eureka moment but I will always feel like I am the father of this term. Never has one man been so proud of such a small accomplishment.

Bullet Three: Kjell Melvie asked me to mention the “Mailman and the Mayor” ride on Thursday, June 24th in Thief River Falls, Mn. He told me that almost all of the money generated by this event goes to either the Heritage Center or the Pennington Count Humane Society. I deeply respect our greatest generation and love animals so this is a nice event to give financial support. It is also a good way to use the new city atv ordinance which allows licensed four wheelers to ride most city streets and participate in the ride. It all starts at at four that afternoon at Gazebo park with entertainment from the “Wood Pics” and “Lois and Lois.” The Kiwanas are serving a picnic supper also with free will offering. Ride carefully, eat heartily and give with gusto.

Bullet Four:My mother in-law, Jeanette Walseth, has been writing the occasional letter to the editor in the Thief River Falls Times. Her common sense and sense of fair play are only on loan to the public as her full-time job is taking care of us. I have yet to get a word of bad advice from Jeanette; read her letters carefully.

Bullet Five: I believe use of the hands-free option on a telephone may be a breach of trust. A conversation between two people is one of the most intimate acts in which they can participate. I don’t care for the sort of “open relationship” that is created when one person believes they speak in confidence to another who unfortunately is too lazy to pick up the telephone handset. If you value my time and conversation, bend your elbow and place the phone to your ear; the hands-free option is to be used only when both participants agree to its usage. It is a shining example of how lazy we have become as a people and also very difficult to understand when you are on the other end.

I keep a notebook of ideas for my column, this was a nice way to clear up a few spiral-bound items that have been awaiting the spotlight. I hope you enjoyed the “bullet” format and I will plan to use it again when I find myself a few rounds short of a full clip.
 

Hobbit House, in five acts

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Act I When Whimsy came to town
Whimsy recently arrived in Thief River Falls. It was constructed in modular sections near Detroit Lakes then built into a tree located in my mother in-laws back yard. Solid carpentry skills met creativity in one focused, detailed act when Larry built the Hobbit House.

Act II Inspiration
Larry is my Uncle Larry Wold. Larry is Lisa’s Uncle by blood; however he is my Uncle by marriage and choice. Larry and his wife JoAnn, also an accomplished artist, live near Detroit Lakes but originated life locally. Two years ago, Larry was visiting Joann’s sister, Jeanette Walseth, when he decided a bird house would look nice in the crook of an oak in her yard. The progression from simple bird house to detailed Hobbit House would seem unlikely for most but it seems almost logical considering Larry’s energy and creativity.

Act III Construction
Larry built the house from one-half inch plywood. The siding and shakes are actual cedar and so are the corner boards. The doors are cedar also; they’re built using a template and sanded in such a way that they appear rough hewn. Larry had considered actual lights but simplified construction by painting the area behind the windows a pale shade of yellow that makes the house appear to be lit. The idea of Jeanette climbing two stories to replace a light bulb seemed unsafe so Larry instead opted for the pale yellow windows. The house is three feet square and 42 inches tall.

Act IV Barn Raising, Hobbit style
Brothers help you when others will not; Rick Wold is Larry’s brother. Although the Hobbit house was modular in construction, assembly was to be performed in the crook of an old oak, at heights which make anything difficult. Larry had already built, and then deconstructed, the house three times while it was on the ground in an effort to iron out any problems; assembly was still about three hours. Rick and Larry used ladders to first mount the base of the house then assembled the structure one piece at a time. The time spent making the base fit well paid off in smooth assembly of the house walls, which was good; the hobbits soon needed a home.

Act V Curb Appeal
The Hobbit house looks great. It is a flight of fancy and exists only to house that which already exists in your imagination. Lisa and I stopped by Jeanette’s place to sit on the deck and gaze at her new construction. I could almost imagine the new inhabitants as they get a phone line installed, wait for the cable guy, put a deposit down for electrical utilities and lug furniture up to their lofty perch. You can see the Hobbit House from the curb but I’ve found Jeanette’s upstairs bathroom is best for viewing its small details and architectural elements. However, that viewing platform is open only for family, close friends and Jeanette after her morning coffee. It’s a beautiful Hobbit house. Well done, Larry!
 

Letter to Dave

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Dear Dave,

I am embattled and tired, but still I stand. Dave, I wish I had some experience to back up that dramatic opening but it’s really just another summer for me. Lots of projects, lots of rain and lots of repairs.

You probably read about my time in the hell and the mud of our own yard. Maybe we shouldn’t have started digging in water pipe that day, but we did and it was a mess. I need someone to needlepoint a doily with the phrase, “never dig when it’s threatening rain.” Although if a person is going spend their life waiting for perfect conditions, you will spend your life-waiting. Another nice project for someone would be a picture of me stuck two feet deep in mud, also captioned, with, “discretion is the better part of valor.” I believe we will finish that project this week, successfully, so maybe time will cover these memories; check with me this winter.

I heard you had some rain the last few week’s, Dave. I know that is an understatement but victims of mother nature need to play-down the importance of her hurtful actions to limit the hurt; perhaps we should have an intervention for this old girl. We could tell her that her actions have affected us negatively and that if her conduct does not improve she will no longer be welcome in our lives. The wheat seems to have survived several inches of rain, however the soybeans look a little peaked. Most of the farmers around here are already spraying deep ruts into their fields as there is no choice but to act when the sun shines.

I like to do a little work after supper, Dave. I recently did a little repair work on the cattle waterer well after dark. Lloyd Noreen always told me to limit my work after nightfall as that is when you break things and get hurt (gotta get that in needlepoint too.) I completed a little work one night that required me to shut off the unit that powers our cattle fence. After completion, I should have turned it back on; I guess I was too focused on sleep to remember fencers don’t work when not plugged into an electrical socket. Two days later, Lisa and a little steer were out on the road having a conversation about respecting boundaries and how the steer must respect his. It was easy to put him back inside the fence but that is not the point. Here’s the thing; I build good fence because I believe strong fences make good neighbors. Twice I have left the fencer unplugged this spring and twice my fences have lacked strength which is really embarrassing. I hope I am still a good neighbor.

That John Deere skid steer I brought home has worked out nicely for us. I know it is the wrong brand but I put that Case/IH sticker you gave me on the side of it which really dressed it up. The lovely field of green against the white Case/IH letters creates an uncomfortable romance that would rival that of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet.

Dave, I am sending my letter in a bit last today because I had to clean the mud from my hands that indicates a finished project. Larry Kruse (Kruse Backhoe-St Hilaire, Mn) was over this morning with his grandson and together we finished our cattle well project. I love it when a plan comes together.

You’re little bro