tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809380889354655252024-03-12T23:26:28.251-05:00Along the way...Seeing the fascinating in everyday life...Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comBlogger412125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-7900148141955074502021-11-13T14:29:00.001-06:002022-03-13T12:30:40.025-05:00<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">Johnny Western - Minnesota's </b></p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Hall of Fame Singing Cowboy!</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How many people get to do the things they dreamed of as a kid? </p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Five year old Johnny Westerlund of Northfield, MN knew back in 1939 when he saw a singing cowboy movie starring Gene Autry in Guns and Guitars that he wanted to do that too.</p>
<p style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And <span style="background-color: white;">17 years later, Autry would put Johnny under contract and take him all over the U.S. and Canada until Autry retired in 1957. Then Johnny worked with singer-songwriter, Johnny Cash, for almost 40 years! </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Plus making his own adventures in the country music business. He was under contract to Columbia Records as a singer but could also play on other people’s recording sessions as a guitarist. “So I played on 71 singles and five albums for Columbia with Johnny (Cash),”</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>I want to be…</b></p>
<p style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Johnny Westerlund came from a musical family. </span>His mother, Dolly, “had studied to be an opera singer when she was young…until the money rang out during the depression and she took a job as a secretary.” His dad, John, worked his way through college playing piano in college dance bands.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Neither one was in country music,” Johnny recalled, “but they were both very musically inclined and I liked all kinds of music because of that.”</p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And when his folks got him a guitar when he was 12, Johnny was on his way!</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Having moved from Two Harbors, MN to Northfield in 1941, Johnny recalled that the town had a population of about 5000 people in the summer. It’s over 20,000 now.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Our family’s big thing of the year was to go up to the twin cities and shop at Dayton’s (a large department store).”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Radio opportunity…</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As a teenager, Johnny got the opportunity to host a 15 minute radio program on KDHL at its Northfield link. Paul Shea, KDHL program director recalls: “Johnny Western was and is a talented broadcaster, actor, and musician and we at Townsquare Media were fortunate to have Johnny bless our airwaves during his broadcast career. He is a true Hall of Famer.”</p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was on Johnny’s first show in July 1950 that the announcer decided Johnny needed a different name than Westlund. They were going on the air in one minute when the announcer looked at a calendar on the wall and saw the sponsor’s name: Great Western Salvage Company.</p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He told Johnny: “You’re going to be Johnny Western”.</p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A couple years later Johnny legally changed his name to Western.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>His hero - his guest!</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gene Autry showed up as a guest on his show in Northfield. The situation led to Autry commenting: “if you ever come to Hollywood kid, I’ll try to help you.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Johnny added, “And that’s exactly what he did.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But there is more to the story.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Johnny married in 1953 and left Northfield for a job in the Austin, MN broadcasting system. Then moved to Hollywood in 1954. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So how did Gene Autry help him? It happened when Johnny was the entertainment at a private party at a ranch in the San Fernando Valley. Guests were Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, all of the Sons of the Pioneers and their wives… along with Gene Autry. Two weeks later, Autry’s personal guitarist for 30 years decided to retire and Autry got hold of Johnny. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was 1956 and Western was just turning 21 years old.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I went all over the world with him for the next two years. More people in the world knew who Gene Autry was than knew who the president of the United States was.” he recalled.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b> </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Greatest era of country music…</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And so Johnny got to be in “the beginning of the greatest era of country music starting 71 years ago.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When Autry retired a couple years later, it gave Johnny “prestige for my first film”. This venture included parts in western TV shows like a<span style="background-color: white;"> gunfight with Richard Boone in the TV show, Have Gun Will Travel.</span> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was this show that captivated him on the day his daughter Leslie was born. While waiting to return to the hospital to see her (they had different rules about “visitors” then), Johnny explained that he was going to be alone “so I picked up my guitar and the idea was in place and I wrote that song in 20 minutes.” It’s <span style="background-color: white;">“The Ballad of Paladin,” from the television show. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Another time, <span style="background-color: white;">Cash and Western combined their talents to write lyrics for the theme song for Bonanza.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Singing in the prison…</b></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Every year in California, some of the best musicians would be featured in a show in San Quentin prison. </p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Johnny Western was there with the Johnny Cash concert. He recalled, “When Cash came on the stage and sang "Folsom Prison Blues” (the place) just went crazy!”</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western noticed one prisoner, a trustee, sitting in the front row. Afterwards he talked to him. It was Merle Haggard. He was finishing a sentence of 2 1/2 years for attempted armed robbery.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Haggard told Western, “I want to be a country singer when I get out”. He was coming up for parole in a few months.</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western reminisced, “The next time I saw Merle - he was playing with a band in Bakersfield for $15 a night. And he thought it was ‘all the money in the world’.“</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western continued: “That’s a true story. I was booked in that night club as the guest star and (Haggard) was in the band.”<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Later on, when Haggard got popular, Governor Ronald Reagan pardoned him.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Years later, Western booked Haggard in Wichita, Kansas for a show. Western recalled: “The ballroom seated 2000 people and I paid him $25,000 for that one show.”</p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Recalling the traveling…</b></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“As of January this year,” Western explained he had “been on the road over 4 million miles…100,000 miles with Johnny Cash, 100,000 miles with Gene Autry and then all the concerts with my own band.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western has been all over the world. From </span>hosting The Great American Cowboy in a sold-out Carnegie Hall in New York to being part of a musical group playing on the Great Wall in China in 2006. The latter was a result of the show at Carnegie and a two year negotiation by the Chinese who had seen it.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Another country music icon, Waylon Jennings, introduced Western to his wife… now of 55 years. His first marriage had ended in divorce. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jennings had booked Western for a three day stand back in April 1966. On the second day he introduced Western to this nice gal and four months later they married. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The 86 year old Johnny Western happily recounted they have a family of several daughters, 17 grandkids and 20 great grandkids - with more on the way!</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Country music today…</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western’s thoughts on country music today? “It’s not country music today… basically. 1950 - 2010 was the high in country music. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“There are a few people like George Straight that keep making country records, but most are like rock and roll… they’re just recording pop songs.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“We have lost so many great artists. These giants will never be imitated… but we have the memories.”</p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Western continued, “People are hungry to hear real true country music.”</p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And that’s what you hear when you listen to Johnny Western (The Singing Cowboy from Minnesota!). </p><p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Photo of Gene Autry and Johnny Western in 1958.</p><p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Photo of Johnny Cash and Johnny Western in 1978.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px;"> <span style="background-color: white;"> </span></p>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-45064072641975731292020-09-10T17:34:00.031-05:002020-09-10T18:12:26.416-05:00Wynne's 90thhttps://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZiWSpbB6Is/X1qgx6Pb_mI/AAAAAAAAC3U/s_IvgdYhKlg0I8Naemoz0u4W10PexM3fACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSCN5534.JPG Birthday Party Celebration<br /><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span> </span></span></span>When you want a party... <br /></b><b> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>someone figures out how to have one!</b></h1><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span> </span>Ray and Mariellen Wynne have been married for 66 years... but they could not see each other since his surgery due to covid19 virus regulations.<span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">They are waiting outside the Mayo Health System building in Cannon Falls to see what Ray thought would be a few family members wishing him a happy 90th birthday,</span></span><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qrNHj1sjFv9BsTQvKbcZmTCaZMEjdIX7rJ0nGH1xNiqsgnENmPSzNKYdlY53N35h8WllokI3n3Zt4b66_jku9PBAFZt-owDQFWtMX2HsPiPkbD1YFWUGxMndMaq7G2xSO6LnV-jeMu8g/s2048/DSCN5513.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1873" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qrNHj1sjFv9BsTQvKbcZmTCaZMEjdIX7rJ0nGH1xNiqsgnENmPSzNKYdlY53N35h8WllokI3n3Zt4b66_jku9PBAFZt-owDQFWtMX2HsPiPkbD1YFWUGxMndMaq7G2xSO6LnV-jeMu8g/s320/DSCN5513.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>When you can’t have a party!</b></p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He thought it would be nice to have a band at his 90th birthday celebration, Ray Wynne’s wife, Mariellen recalled. But that wouldn’t happen because Ray fell recently and was rushed to the emergency room in Red Wing with a broken hip. </p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ray had surgery last Saturday and was sent to the Cannon Falls hospital to recuperate. But because of safety regulations with the covid19 virus, even his family wasn’t able to see him. </p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Wynne's have been living in Red Wing since they moved from their home in the Cannon Falls area where Ray had a farm and also was a barber for many years.</p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>According to their son Greg, now living in San Diego, CA, he started the ball rolling to have a “Drive By” birthday party for his dad. Then, when he heard how well the party planning was going, he hopped on a plane to come back home and join in!</p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When he arrived, he borrowed a bike and decorated it and rode in the parade celebrating Ray’s birthday with a couple dozen cars of friends plus police and fire vehicles carrying greetings, balloons, etc. </p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And Greg really surprised his dad - as if he had ridden the bike all the way from California.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2hNMWEa1pjncoAuiuMBjmxxGXtUNtehsWjwdDrJtlqMg1s7MVZnFrBcCUkHQfAzsnOXVm068Ky0N48_sCwaG-GSmvJqOQowzd4pEYTVculazV4rj8K1P2Rt5daTMTQnx1CdHBPVV-LFl/s320/DSCN5528.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span> <span> </span></span>Mayo Clinic staff did their part by getting Ray ready for the celebration and bringing him outside for the parade.</p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ray had been told that some family members were going to stop by outside and wave. But he had no idea so many others would bring their greetings too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobuAJtN2cH0zWg0VtROadrBeiYJlGvSm2ci8zvWbsi2UkW5skjODrzcMYlVz623sCCHHcQjFNpFtd-IRieP410tkVitdGdPzaIAyH0QZKXfwjiIXxMlKEvLfaYT_qZo2UgsZMMtd1ZIPn/s320/DSCN5532.JPG" style="text-align: left;" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxGjb04DwiObiYZWwf7XjGkSpZ0rj5Fu0s5J1_1lTvEZPV7rWI1aZUitZWzsqjVYBD1Yr59Vf3g_OL4Gq1U-1pNOXypTPCom3odVCciDc0f2hfPe8Tk2n-UrTu1oF4mLJ6EiF3W8gFpCj/s2048/DSCN5534.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxGjb04DwiObiYZWwf7XjGkSpZ0rj5Fu0s5J1_1lTvEZPV7rWI1aZUitZWzsqjVYBD1Yr59Vf3g_OL4Gq1U-1pNOXypTPCom3odVCciDc0f2hfPe8Tk2n-UrTu1oF4mLJ6EiF3W8gFpCj/s320/DSCN5534.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKFQxPL85A43MkMrEZjd4f5iNzdHgOcg18L8RS7SucKYdEziyUcnG2alwseE5laTPF4wjDCx-Y-_vg7t3Ym-xGiELoUUWmcGyNuuTqfg-MwBaSsTkHbUDLFbmMCNPZXVsS6TnIYpjuYqw/s2048/DSCN5535.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKFQxPL85A43MkMrEZjd4f5iNzdHgOcg18L8RS7SucKYdEziyUcnG2alwseE5laTPF4wjDCx-Y-_vg7t3Ym-xGiELoUUWmcGyNuuTqfg-MwBaSsTkHbUDLFbmMCNPZXVsS6TnIYpjuYqw/s320/DSCN5535.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGjbun8i7rUM0j8_YDO0RZ7tIWuHvBCFBE-hlfR_UKwyfiVYCenRbIa2IQ81kNADHztTdEbx6FsNjddJGoJk1hwYSzj4amOdUVHgq2pP6Xlu7Y6E6XqYDHIIQIoiaictp2c1aGG-Y3Ccu/s2048/DSCN5537.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGjbun8i7rUM0j8_YDO0RZ7tIWuHvBCFBE-hlfR_UKwyfiVYCenRbIa2IQ81kNADHztTdEbx6FsNjddJGoJk1hwYSzj4amOdUVHgq2pP6Xlu7Y6E6XqYDHIIQIoiaictp2c1aGG-Y3Ccu/s320/DSCN5537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrk-mbfzehyphenhyphenAo5KziXwr2XGonyuH9BMdyuphI6oTg6YNvaGLOOOtNa_zvxnmkKkVE7BdO5rfqgeoPwKdKLupjf-ISucn1s0JaLTLmnYL4MZpOS1o6H2NvIl3PGwq4uGjp2-Sdz9ixJgYq/s2048/DSCN5538.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrk-mbfzehyphenhyphenAo5KziXwr2XGonyuH9BMdyuphI6oTg6YNvaGLOOOtNa_zvxnmkKkVE7BdO5rfqgeoPwKdKLupjf-ISucn1s0JaLTLmnYL4MZpOS1o6H2NvIl3PGwq4uGjp2-Sdz9ixJgYq/s320/DSCN5538.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY!</div><div><br /></div><br /><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunVbAtEfMIoS3qw1stwOPfzbW_U7Jl4eA_5HIJC9Gh19L43_4kTMvxULBp-yvBXhMKby3nlvfMWVTJc9rWEfsQKPkFqExrSjdClce5TaHG_T0okGw0ulasywOut8zHGjda4EglIC_FLmx/s524/+++++reporter+-+Rosie+picture.jpg" style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="253" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunVbAtEfMIoS3qw1stwOPfzbW_U7Jl4eA_5HIJC9Gh19L43_4kTMvxULBp-yvBXhMKby3nlvfMWVTJc9rWEfsQKPkFqExrSjdClce5TaHG_T0okGw0ulasywOut8zHGjda4EglIC_FLmx/w80-h165/+++++reporter+-+Rosie+picture.jpg" width="80" /></a></p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></p><div><br /></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-1992276306068199592020-06-19T07:00:00.001-05:002020-06-19T08:28:51.814-05:00<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">A graduation speech not given…. </span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">A pep talk not shared…. </span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Advice only for myself! </span></i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">(Or if it works for you!</span>)</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">What do you want?</span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Good news/bad news. Which do you want first? OK - I’ll choose for you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Bad News - the sadness and pain don’t stop hurting but they may ease a bit.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Good News - they don’t have to stop hurting for you to see good things happen.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s the plan…</span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whether it’s physical pain or emotional, whether it’s rejection or failure… it’s rough, but here’s a plan:</span></span></div>
<ul>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">You don’t stop hurting… you just take one step and then another.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">You don’t stop being scared… you just take one step and then another.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">You don’t wait until you feel happy… you just take one step and then another.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">You don’t stop loving… you just - well, you know the routine.</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Figuring out a plan…</span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whether someone leaves you… or you find your job is no longer there… or your health is challenged… </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You might do some difficult things.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Then one thing looks pretty easy. But you can’t do it.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So you put it aside… for another day.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And then you can take that step… or decide to give yourself a break and avoid it for awhile.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But you’ve considered aspects of the problem… and that’s taking a step too I guess.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Consider…</b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is not the life I would have chosen… but it’s still good.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Just consider all the different choices I would have made for my life.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What do you want to be </span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">when you grow up?</span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As a little girl I would have chosen to be a “princess”!</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or a cowgirl! (Actually, being a cowboy looked a lot better. The girls in those western movies seemed kind of “dorky”.)</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Then I would have chosen to have 12 children!</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(Two were just fine, thank you!)</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or I would have chosen to be a space ranger.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Then I wanted to be a journalist!</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Then I wanted to be with a guy named Paul!</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Got the picture?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Some of those life choices came true.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But none of them were for “ever”.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The challenge now is to enjoy the choices that are available.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They can be good.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>So, instead of being a “princess”… </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>maybe I’ll be a “queen” … </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>when I grow up!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><br /></span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-76661867709781972312020-06-10T18:17:00.003-05:002020-06-10T18:30:15.637-05:00<div class="page" title="Page 1">
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<span style="font-family: "times";"><b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">How dumb do you have to be... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">to be a farmer?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">A recent political quote got some folks thinking about how dumb a farmer is. Although I’m not a politician, I’ve said some stupid things over the years myself. But I appreciated someone taking the time to educate me instead of just attacking my remark!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">So here is some educating done by Anna Beckman, 20-year-old </span></span><span style="font-family: timesnewromanpsmt; font-size: large;">daughter of Jeff and Cheryl Beckman at Golden Meadows Dairy Farm south of Cannon Falls, as to what a dumb farmer - and his kids - really do out here in the country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">4 a.m.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">Anna explains: “A typical day starts at 4 a.m. Why? Because we create a raw product that needs to be to the market quickly, or converted into a different product that can be stored.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">“So the first thing we do in the morning is walk the animals to make sure all are healthy and </span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">doing well. This consists of looking at their eyes, watching how they walk, checking to see if they are chewing cud, which means that they are doing well and eating good, among checking a few other things.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next... cleaning and milking</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">“After that, we move the cows out of their area, clean that, then bring them in to get milked. When milking, we check each cow to see what their milk looks like and test it if something does not look right.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">“It is important that I know and understand how to test the milk to make sure that the milk is safe for us to drink, as well as for where we ship it that it is safe to consume.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three hours later...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Milking takes roughly three hours including prep beforehand and after. It is critical that our lines are sanitary so that our product is consumable, so we have been taught from a young age the importance of being careful and responsible to take care in everything we do.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">Time for a break...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">“Now, if all goes well, we can take a break and go get some breakfast!<br />“But if a cow decides it’s time to have her calf, then we are there watching her to see if we are </span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">needed to assist in the birth.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">She delivered a calf!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">“By the time I was 15, I was able to deliver a calf on my own, understanding when and how best to help, when to just watch, and when to call the veterinarian for additional help.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other aspects of farming...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">“We work with a nutritionist and veterinarian every two weeks. This is to make sure our animals are healthy and taken care of. I have learned the importance of providing the right feed at the right time and how to care for the animals in the best way possible.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Most families don’t see a nutritionist even once a year, let alone every two weeks. The point </span></span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">is, our cows are well cared for.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nutrition and nurturing...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">“I am learning how to balance meals for the animals to meet all their nutrition needs as well as how to take care of a sore foot when that comes up. I am responsible for the animals when my </span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">parents are not around. The first time was at the age of 17.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why be a farmer?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Why do I do this? It started because it was a part of our life as a family... that we all work together. Now it has turned into a passion for me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">“I love the cows and enjoy working with them as well as seeing the difference I can make first </span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">hand. It is hard work--mentally and physically, but it is also very rewarding.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">“To know that I am responsible for the animal’s health and remembering the animals cannot tell me verbally what’s wrong... it is of huge importance that I understand and know how to accurately read the signs of a sick animal by looking at her and checking her over.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">“After considering the possibilities and consulting with the veterinarian we treat them naturally when possible and make sure they are well cared for.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";"><span style="font-size: large;">And so Anna concludes her explanation of what it means to be a farmer.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you Anna. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: large;">And to Mr. Politician... this farmer sure sounds smart to me!</span></span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-18503808841705853342020-06-09T21:20:00.001-05:002020-06-13T10:07:59.734-05:00<div class="page" title="Page 1">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=680938088935465525" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "bookantiqua"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Whatever you call it... act of kindness... a day brightener... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookantiqua"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">or finding “flecks of gold” sparkling in our lives. Share the good things you notice. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "wiesbadenswing"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(12, 52, 61);"><b> Ripples... a ripple of kindness</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "wiesbadenswing"; font-size: x-large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(12, 52, 61);"><b>reaches the farthest shore</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">Ever thought of doing something nice but "dorky"? And then wonder why you would do it because no one would ever see it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;">Sad reminder...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">So maybe just do it for yourself. And then the surprise can come when it means something to someone else!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;">An old toppled pine tree...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">A couple of years ago, tornados tore through the Cannon Valley. My house was spared, but many beautiful trees were toppled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">One huge pine tree partially covered my roadway. I sawed off some branches but the main tree would have to wait.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">It was so sad to look at, so I decided to put a sign on it... just a laminated piece of paper with a red heart and the words: “Love Lives”. Or something like that. Just to remind me of something better every time I passed by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">Maybe it was kind of “dorky”. But I smiled when I drove by. And who would ever see it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-weight: bold;">Time goes by...</span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps";"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">A year went by. Then two. My little laminated sign got weathered and I took it down.</span><b style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS; text-align: center;"> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;">But wait!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">That’s when I met someone who had loved my old sign! He stopped by because he missed seeing it! It had meant so much to him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">He is a “sanitation driver”. I would hear the crunch of his truck coming down our gravel road. He would wave at me if I was outside. Then, after picking up my recyclables he would head back up the driveway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;">Here’s the amazing part of the story...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">Recently he stopped to share something with me. It was a beautiful hand crafted wooden sign he had made that said ‘WELCOME’ on one side... and “LOVE LIVES” on the other!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;"><b>Here's how he explains his reason...</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">“I waited a long time to be married and have a family. Then I met the woman I fell deeply in love with. I wish I could tell you that it was going to be a happy ever-after but after several years it didn’t work out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">“I took the truck driving job and put my mind into my work. I had my fair days and days I just could hardly breathe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">“The only thing I knew to do was to push forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanps"; font-size: large;"><b> Then...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">“One day, when learning my new job, I was leaving your driveway and saw your sign.... “Love Lives”. I broke down and cried.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">“I wanted to believe that “love lives” but my heart was so broken. I found myself wishing I could turn back time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">“But time kept going by... and every time I read your sign I prayed that the pain would be less and life was waiting to show me some happiness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">“I don’t know if it has but I’ve done my best to push forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">“After two years of reading your sign and then seeing that it was gone... I couldn’t let it go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;">“I knew from our visit that you were a widow. I thought to myself that you had had a special time with someone you loved. I enjoyed our conversation from time to time and to me this was something I had to do... your sign meant so much to me. But to me you needed to keep that sentiment as much as I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">“Maybe someday love will live in my heart again. Until then I will just keep </span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt";">being me.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you my friend... and as for me, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: large;"><i>I will keep your gift in my heart forever.</i></span><br />
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-76256258959727580552020-05-29T10:06:00.000-05:002020-05-29T10:07:56.449-05:00What changes can come from the pandemic?<div style="font-family: Georgia; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">What “good” can come </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">from the pandemic? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Part 2</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 16px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">We’re not denying the bad effect of the Covid19 pandemic but trying to focus on the possibility of finding some good things to come out of it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I was fascinated years ago when reading about the Black Plague hitting Europe in the 14th Century. That plague killed perhaps 50 million people. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I read that one religious group wasn’t affected as much. It is interesting to check out what they were doing differently. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It appeared that they had many rules referring to sanitation… what you should eat, what you should touch, etc. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This was the century when you had to watch out when walking along a street because household garbage and you can guess what else, was thrown out the upper windows.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get the point?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>At the start of the quarantine…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It seemed a little strange that I had just picked up a book, published in 2020, at the library telling how technologies were transforming business, industries and our lives. (Title: The Future is Faster Than You Think.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One study stated that the internet created 2.6 new jobs for every one it eliminated.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So what can we look for from a pandemic? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The “Bard of Sogn Valley”</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Here are some of the thoughts from Joe Garbarino from “Lake CoVidBeGone”. (Hmmm. I remember Lake Wobegon from A Prairie Home Companion. Must be nearby.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Here’s what Joe predicts:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My Bold Predictions for the Post CoVid World. OK. So some are obvious. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>These are the “macro “ changes I see for the world where we will live.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Work at home…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b>Businesses will accelerate converting to more or all personnel permanently working at home. A lot of businesses will now view buying and maintaining a physical building is a big expense and time commitment. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Robots…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Robotics will accelerate. Human workers will be seen as an expensive and fragile option. Just like hi tech military jets became drones because pilots became the weak link requiring too much support material.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Groceries…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grocery delivery systems will become a significant market share even outside of major urban areas. Local product delivery will eat into Amazon’s market share.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Restaurants…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eateries will expand their outside capacity for immediate social distancing reasons. But it will remain seasonally.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Remodeling…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Remodeling will be the construction industries’ sweet spot. Homes being modified for better home office space. Businesses becoming more social distance friendly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Travel Industry…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Who knows? Consumer attitudes will shape it. CEOs will be largely reactive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Disposable products…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b>Disposable products will be back in style. Don’t bring your old cloth bag back to Aldi’s. Please use that disposable straw. Disposable restaurant table settings because who knows who ate off that plate or how well it was washed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Large crowds…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Big crowds of people will be ones we know. Company picnic, Parish festivals. Want to kill attendance? Advertise as “This event will attract people from all over the world !” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Elderly…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Care for the Elderly. More choosing to care Grandma at home than at “Petri Dish-like” nursing homes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Career Choices…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Health related companies become a consideration. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rural migration…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>With internet, working at home, and health issues… suddenly living in Podunk seems more attractive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">X Factor…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There will be a major shift in something we can’t now see - but in hindsight it will seem obvious.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(To our readers: Your ideas on possibilities for the future are welcome. There’s always favorite stock investment tips!)</span></span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-83068989613360093772020-05-23T11:28:00.003-05:002020-05-23T11:28:33.640-05:00Can anything good...<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Can anything good come</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> from the pandemic?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The pandemic crisis changed lives… </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But besides recognizing the difficult things… can we see any changes that could be used for good? That could make your life better,,, easier… more thoughtful? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or finally just obeying your mom who told you to wash your hands and stop touching your face!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Future scenarios?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Easier and safer visits to the doctor.</b> How about having doctor visits via “Zoom”- no contagion spread in waiting rooms which used to be petrie dishes of possible contamination or just miserably long waiting times.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>More online meetings -</b> a person doesn’t have to travel distances to present a 15 minute update. Also, while watching online you can work out - clean your desk - or make snacks! (Or scratch!) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>If you’re sick - zoom-watch:</b> your church service, city council meeting, book discussion group, etc.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>More online shopping…</b> at least to check out what each store has to offer so you can get in and out quicker.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Keeping up with neighbors. </b>No, you’re not snoopy…well, maybe a little! But they can be a safety net surrounding you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Thoughts from folks on Facebook</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So here are some ideas from folks on Facebook’s “Cannon Falls Open Forum”. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Emily Springer</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“…thinking of “growing some of my own food (better gardening), the need to control more of where I spend my money (locally, smaller businesses), the importance of making and maintaining connections (phone calls, writing letters, sending birthday cards, letting people know you're thinking of them), how much clutter I've allowed into the lives of my family (over obligations, strict timelines, little free time, unnecessary physical items in our home).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“The importance of positive and realistic talks with the family about serious issues (we can be flexible, resilient, compromising, compassionate, and loving even in hard times of uncertainty and a lack of control) and allowing to hear their concerns... listening.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Ultimately, it makes me re-evaluate and re-focus on how we want to live our lives and what's important. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Again, this is a personal perspective, I understand many cannot see the light in these "times as they are extremely strenuous, and my thoughts are with everyone who is struggling right now.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dawn Lanning </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Young families enjoying time together instead of running from one activity to another. Working from home -- employers are finding that employees may even be more productive working from home because they are happier and can better manage family and work life.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jean Radke </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> “I think people are learning they don't need everything and to be grateful for what you have. Also I think a lot of families are spending more time with their children at home and not running around. I also think that it's going to make people think: do I really need all the things that I have to have?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Corey Landon </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Community gardens/hobby farms would be good for if there were to ever be food shortages. Would most likely be a lot better for you too.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Suzie Stachowski </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I would hope that those who can work from home will. It helps decrease pollution, less traffic and maybe (we) won’t have keep building wider highways, etc.”</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> More suggestions in following column.</span></b></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-80576726208701527582020-05-13T10:20:00.002-05:002020-05-15T08:11:35.094-05:00In memory of an editor... and a friend.<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><i><u>A memory of a friend..</u></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>Getting to know you…</b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The jobs of a journalist and their editor can be stressful to negotiate. When I left the "big city” for rural Minnesota, a friend asked me how could I do it? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It wasn’t until I had settled in the country for a couple of years that I got interested in the local newspaper. I was disturbed by its approach to a situation - so I called the editor to complain. Dick Dalton took my call and after a few minutes he said: Come in and we’ll discuss it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Many years later…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It’s over 35 years now and we continued “discussing” things! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One of the funniest episodes happened in his office. We were on opposite sides on some story. I have no recollection what it was!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But Dick finally said, “Let’s go home and sleep on it and talk about it in the morning.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The next day we were back on opposite sides of his desk and Dick announced that he had changed his mind and had taken my position. The only problem was that I had changed mine to his!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I said, You can’t do that! Now we’re just as bad off as before!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>But another time…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Another time, I got a story that scooped even the big city television stations. I couldn’t believe the information I was given as a small town reporter. I had explained to world class attorneys and court house employees and the defendant himself, that I was working for a small town newspaper and wanted to give folks the best information I could - and they all helped me!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But the story happened to involve a close friend of the editor. When the result of the trial was announced I figured I had a front page story. But it didn’t get there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I saw where the editor had placed it, I “lost it”. I burst into the newspaper early the next morning and saw the editor working at a table. I exclaimed, “My story should have been on the front page!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He didn’t look at me… I could see he seemed sick… and he said, “I know… I just couldn’t do it.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I stood still. Nothing to say. It was then I understood the tragic emotionalism you have to endure when you care about the people that your newspaper will write about.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And I learned to care about an editor who helped me fine tune the journalism career I had chosen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">-30- </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">(Old journalistic symbol </span></i></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">to indicate the “end of story”.)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">************</span></i></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">My friend and editor</span></i></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> passed on </span></i></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">a couple days </span></i></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">before my column </span></i></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">was written. </span></i></span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-91263626313773792972020-05-03T07:10:00.000-05:002020-05-03T07:11:52.732-05:00What's ahead for you?<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Perspective: how do you deal with fear…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The earth’s present pandemic is requiring its inhabitants to alter their life styles in order to change the onward progression of sickness and death. It is disturbing and fearful for all concerned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But to some folks who have seen tragedy in their life before this - it’s simply something to deal with… but not turn yourself into a fear-filled, paranoid acting creature, hiding from life.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>This point in time…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Perhaps it’s only in this period of time that people expect a disease to be an unusual event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What if you lived during the epidemics ravaging the world a hundred years ago? Or when marauding raiders came pillaging through your little village?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Even American school children in the last century had a taste of programmed fear when they were ordered to hide under their desks as a practice for when Russian bombs would explode outside their windows. Ever wonder what was being told Russian children?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And remember Korean “Police Action”, Vietnam, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>So while you are “hunkering down”…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Here is some insight from a gentle lady in rural Cannon Falls, who as a child went through the terror of her country being taken over in a revolution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Marta Garbarino remembers her parents tried to keep her and her sister safe but they couldn’t hide the terror and misery surrounding them in Cuba during that revolution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She remembers “cowering in bunkers and under beds when the planes dropped bombs and shot down into the towns with their machine guns.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>And what happened to “grown-ups”?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Marta remembers learning that a cousin of her mother’s had been shot by a firing squad… and that her aunt had been imprisoned for speaking her mind." </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was terrifying to realize that her father was being held in custody because he refused to sign over the oil refinery of which he was the supervisor. He tried to explain that he did not have the authority to hand it over! </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Their schools closed…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Their Catholic schools were closed and most of the priests and those with religious vocations were forced out of the country. Food became scarce. (Not just toilet paper.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Who could you trust? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They had to hide during the day “so the government agents wouldn’t know we weren’t in the public school. These were now schools of indoctrination into Communist ideology.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Marta continued, “There was terror in not knowing which of your neighbors were collaborating with the enemy. You had to watch what you said to whom.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>They decided to leave…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Her family knew they would have to leave their homeland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There was a block in time when they could visit the U.S. and ask for political asylum. To disguise the fact that they were leaving forever, they could only have “three changes of clothes and one pair of shoes. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Marta continued, “My mother said one of the hardest things she ever went through was looking out the window of the airplane and seeing her country recede beneath her and knowing she would probably never see it or the rest of her family again.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“They eventually became naturalized citizens and were always deeply grateful to what they truly believed was the greatest country in the world. They worked hard to live the American Dream.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>And for Marta?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And then in the fifth grade in a U.S. elementary school, Marta met Joe, the boy she would marry… and end up living on a farm near Cannon Falls, Minnesota... in America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>And what good things can be ahead for you?</b></span></div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-10377235013310825432020-04-09T12:02:00.003-05:002020-04-09T13:40:16.075-05:00Advice for "Captive Families"!<div style="color: #1d1e1f; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Making memories… </b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">20 years of Home Schooling </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">advice to “Captive Families”!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">This is the last year of home schooling their four children by Tim and Joyce Trost, rural Cannon Falls. They are in their last year of home schooling their four children. They range from: Emi 24, running professionally, graduated from UMD in Sports and Exercise Science and English and will soon be pursuing more schooling for Nutrition and Dietetics. Karl, 22 will be graduating this fall from University of WI Stout in Engineering Technology and will be pursuing work as a Mechanical Engineer. Dan, 20 is a junior at University of Northwestern studying Engineering, Bible and Math and Aaron, 18 is a senior this year and will be attending University of Northwestern pursing Communications-Radio broadcasting and Music.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Today’s “forced” home schooling is different.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Trost’s explain: “Most of the families that are having to teach their kids at home now did not choose to do so, and are having to do it without planning, education in how to do it, having to follow the curriculum of the schools and during a time of significant other stresses. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Our hope for families having to do it now is that they would embrace these next few months, ride the wave of being home together, and make memories for a life time!</span></span></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Key point…</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kids will learn the best during this time if you make it fun, take breaks and do things that are not typical for classroom learning, and do things that are memorable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> How it’s different today…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“</b>Online learning is different than home education in that the schedule and curriculum is set with live lectures, group meetings and work packets. But as much as possible, work to find a rhythm that works for your family. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“This is a change for the kids and and parents both so talk as a family about what works best. Sometimes our teaching took place early in the morning or later in the evening to flex around our work demands, and sometimes work was interrupted and needed to wait. Parents many want to engage an older sibling to help the younger ones.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> What was an important skill for you? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Take time to teach your children things that you as parents always wanted them to learn or experience. Things like having them be responsible for making dinner once a week (no sports means more time for learning to help the family), doing a house cleaning chore every day (now would be a great time for them to learn to do the laundry, clean the bathroom and do dishes!), and learning to change the oil or do car repairs. All great life skills for after high school too! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> Fun challenges!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Set up daily/weekly challenges. Give them a box of junk or a pile of wood and have a competition to make a contraption, an instrument, or a wagon, or something else... give them a food and have them come up with a recipe to use the food in....or give them some sports equipment and have the kids create an obstacle course for you as parents or each other to do...or have them build a Lego or blocks creation and then either tell you the story around their creation or write about it. Take a walk in the woods for a scavenger hunt and have them wirte about what they saw.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Family bonds…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“These are great times to solidify family bonds. Great time to have kids learn that their siblings are cool and fun to be with. Time to snuggle on the couch and read, read, read, and time to learn grace for each other and your differences.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Most of all, don't fret over the small stuff and enjoy the memories that this challenge is allowing you to make.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Note from their youngest son, Aaron… </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b>The importance of flexibility in learning styles… “for example one year we fixed up an old John Deere snowmobile and for that we got a shop/small engine credit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“The main issue was being sure to get all of our scheduled classes (math, science, history, etc.) completed. When we were younger, mom and dad created a checklist, with a schedule of when we needed to start and finish each class. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“This allowed us to check off what classes and lessons we had completed for the day. Everything was laid out with a start and end time. This allowed us to stay on schedule and keep that accountability of having a test, or homework, due on a certain day.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Trost’s concluded with this point from Chuck Swindol: </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"We are convinced that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it!" </span></b></span></div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-50700980959938809842020-04-03T20:57:00.004-05:002020-04-03T21:04:39.075-05:00<div style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;"><b>Friendliness found even </b></span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: x-large;"><b>during the quarantine.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Even if you are “quarantined”… you don’t have to lose contact with folks and feel estranged on this planet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cannon Falls kids are seeing friendly looking homes as they walk along the sidewalks for exercise.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeU0Vt0A-z640TBYomAnM9UT98l7UnxU6xgxAQERPdBon74a6Vfu2WUbQA7vqSBwhDAVQt2bES7OjmkfbvAJL9f-1LWRcRA32RbcNR-PvxgU9UDQccxGK5_L5mZ-apbkFm3QlO6CA9CgE/s1600/513fcdeacf47c5983349cfd5eaae54cf.jpeg.max900+copy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is because homeowners have been putting drawings and pictures in their windows. And so, even though they are quarantined and can’t come outside to meet you, they can see the happy expressions on passers-by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A lot of these are children who are delighted that although they can’t “play” with you… they can still feel the friendliness and companionship that is around them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><b>“Going on a Bear Hunt!"</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeU0Vt0A-z640TBYomAnM9UT98l7UnxU6xgxAQERPdBon74a6Vfu2WUbQA7vqSBwhDAVQt2bES7OjmkfbvAJL9f-1LWRcRA32RbcNR-PvxgU9UDQccxGK5_L5mZ-apbkFm3QlO6CA9CgE/s1600/513fcdeacf47c5983349cfd5eaae54cf.jpeg.max900+copy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="273" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeU0Vt0A-z640TBYomAnM9UT98l7UnxU6xgxAQERPdBon74a6Vfu2WUbQA7vqSBwhDAVQt2bES7OjmkfbvAJL9f-1LWRcRA32RbcNR-PvxgU9UDQccxGK5_L5mZ-apbkFm3QlO6CA9CgE/s200/513fcdeacf47c5983349cfd5eaae54cf.jpeg.max900+copy.jpeg" width="125" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There are kids like Aubrianna and Sophia Farnum out on Gerlach Way near Lake Byllesby. Their mother Brittney explained, “We live off the lake right down from the beach and park so we get a lot of people walking by! </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But of course you can’t go outside to mingle with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brittney continued, “I first saw an article from Rochester MN of the bears and thought it would be a fun, cheerful idea for the people who walk by!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">So pictures of bears are posted in windows for the kids to “hunt”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><b>Look for the rocks!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNnPurEJclFLn6jkNRdBA4ccX0hphk7BrVtnV1kvKFQbis32njgXPrcVy-4VTnxPQDUNfJOvG0hVJ5lKMYaRk6m_sqQFbG8tG9aahSZBaCN-hb-4S5LSaN2_HKdI5CPGkfKfSp0aUEIzd/s1600/76633660_10218134627670789_6515618653939957760_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BRbDDQqd7Yz4o3oz6zM6B9JannL8md9-WMQ7x3baydc9LfU89cdR4fLzQ4HF81bnrXg-nTge55CIUefk_pPwZ5_AYJciCCVtRC1Rr0DYbKs4pyRfLcRe9eZ39F1sV0yhXAWhXOwMaUlQ/s1600/75412306_10218134627350781_3005355820088033280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Then there’s Katie Lundell, who with her husband Derek and 4 year old son, Oliver, have been decorating rocks to place around the community. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They put them out and want you to enjoy them. If you can, let them know and they would love to see pictures of where you found them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Age doesn’t matter!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It seemed lonely walking in my woods until I saw the " Pine Cone Peeps”! As you walk along the trails you just might see little pine cones peeking out of old dead trees. (Added beads help their expressions.) So take a picture of them and at the end of the trail you might find some that you can make too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jpNr7zKFXT9kpQxWhroNrA_ndpLCUEo0j1KkAKt5mOY5FOnk-QJ8v9MnYzvKmCf1WKetdKPSnH09T6Aae6dbtXUl4GXNao-IQpaxw__Rl9BUmZlUwz3PePZ3mFrMZ8ENwj_gFkVvin6E/s1600/Pine+Cone+Peeps+IMG_4994+good.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jpNr7zKFXT9kpQxWhroNrA_ndpLCUEo0j1KkAKt5mOY5FOnk-QJ8v9MnYzvKmCf1WKetdKPSnH09T6Aae6dbtXUl4GXNao-IQpaxw__Rl9BUmZlUwz3PePZ3mFrMZ8ENwj_gFkVvin6E/s320/Pine+Cone+Peeps+IMG_4994+good.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Other ideas are welcomed… </span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none; font-size: large;">we’re all quarantined </span><span style="font-size: large;">for a while yet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> We’re on this planet together!</span></b></span><br />
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-11953590208115176132020-01-18T21:25:00.000-06:002020-01-18T21:35:33.857-06:00<div class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: center;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: x-large;">Stay Safe! </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: x-large;">Like an “Outdoor Cat!”</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="">Are you safe? </span><span class="">At your job or in your home? </span><span class="">Pam Collins, a realtor with Edina Realty, recently gave tips to keep you safe in many situations at a Cannon Falls Area TRIAD meeting.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Realtors, for example, meet alone with strangers looking for properties which have been publicly located on the internet, newspapers, etc. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: large;">A cat… really?</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Collins suggested you think of yourself as a cat. But not a cuddly, comfy indoor cat! You are a vigilant, constantly aware, always on alert, feisty outdoor cat!</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: large;">Keeping safe!</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Here are some suggestions that realtors may consider… and good advice for others too!</span></span></div>
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<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lock your valuables in the trunk of your car BEFORE you leave home.</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Neighbors are a good source of protection if they know what to look for so you could check with them.</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t park your car in a driveway as it can get blocked in. </span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Observe surroundings before getting out of the car. Is it unusually quiet or is there much activity in the area? Anyone loitering? Are there spots someone could hide in?</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After opening up the house, lock the door behind you while you set up your informational display.</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Arrange access to safety devices like pepper spray. Remember: violence is violent. Rehearse in your head: “I will live… I will go home to my babies… my family.” </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Take out your cell phone. Review 911 access. A family member’s number for quick access and a code word to use if you want help sent. This shouldn’t be anything dramatic. Just asking them to email a red file, for example. But they’ll know you need the police.</span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Hide your purse. Plan escape routes. Never get pinned in a room where they can block the door. Never follow them to the basement… stay on the stairs.</span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or if you just want to leave the house and get to your car, explain that you left important information in the car or “Another agent with buyers is on the way.”</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mentally rehearse your plans… see yourself fighting so you can go on “automatic pilot” in a bad situation.</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Later on you can report suspicious activity/people (even if you’re not attacked) to your local office, other realtors, and if appropriate, law enforcement. </span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or take a self defense class.</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep your house and car keys on separate rings when you hand them over for something like car repairs. Don’t hide them outside the house in the usual places near a door.</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After the open house ends, check the home for windows or doors that have been unlocked with the possible idea of a return visit from a criminal who was touring.</span></span></li>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=680938088935465525" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: large;">Also keep in mind…</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=680938088935465525" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=680938088935465525" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There are other threats to complicate the situation. Like angry pets left in the house, squirrels trapped inside and … ghosts! (But that’s for another column!)</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="text-align: center; white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> <b>For now remember: Be an outdoor cat! </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b> Prepare… then Run... Hide... or Fight! </b></span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-16810485116299881962020-01-09T07:14:00.003-06:002020-01-09T07:19:27.591-06:00Memory from the past...<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="">A picture from the past</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span class=""><span style="font-size: x-large;"> means something else today... </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">A man died… way too young. At his funeral in a distant town, many pictures were displayed representing his life.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I didn’t know him. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I wasn’t there.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So why do I care?</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: large;">Pictures from the past...</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A friend of mine was at the funeral and when he looked at the wall of photos displayed of the man’s life he noticed one that turned out to be important to me.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You see, I was in the background in the picture.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But it hadn’t been taken of me.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: large;">How did you know?</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The scene was of my horse corral.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I had mowed the grass and shoveled the manure.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I had worked and trained the horses.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I had fed them every day and called the vet when needed.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: large;">Plus this…</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the picture's background I was walking with another horse and a small child was on it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And the man - whose funeral was now being held - was standing smiling next to another child riding a horse.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was several years ago.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And I said to my friend who had snapped a picture of the photo displayed… “I want a copy.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b class="">Why?</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I wanted a copy… not because I was in the picture.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But because it touched a part of my heart - just like in the movie, <b class="">It’s a Wonderful Life.</b> This is a classic about a man who had given up his dreams but his guardian angel showed him all the people whose lives he had touched.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And although I’ve never sat and watched the whole film, I like the story.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b class="">And…</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That day years ago, when parents and kids came to play at our farm, was a wonderful time for me too.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But now, so many years later, it means a lot to have that memory revived.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And I have the gift of knowing that it was good to have worked so hard to create the scene in the picture for others to enjoy. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b class="">His smiling face…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I wish I could tell him “Thank You” for coming that day… and smiling.<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-30534607103566951722019-11-18T16:45:00.002-06:002019-11-18T16:59:00.977-06:00<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Confused? A new way to find help!</b></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre;"> A new car seemed to be in my future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> Although </span>I have been driving many years, I thought it would be good to check out the new options you can get. The car came with about seven manuals!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Driving history…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep in mind that I have driven a “stick shift”… a RAM truck with a 16 foot horse trailer… and a mini motorcycle - (spun out on a gravel road while wearing shorts… no damage except some scrapes to me and I was wiser).</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Special features…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Anyway… after test driving a couple of cars I chose a cute red one. The dealer set me up with voice recognition for my phone, etc. and I headed out to drive the hour or so to get home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’m still getting used to the beeping sound when I get near a line on the road and yes, I know I can turn it off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The cruise control is fascinating because as I was following a semi I watched as my car automatically slowed down behind it and actually came to a stop a few feet behind the semi when it stopped… and I hadn’t touched the brake. (Yes, I had my foot ready to do that!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So I figured: we’re good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Until I got home…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I parked the car and started turning off gauges. Shifted into “Park”. Turned off the ignition button.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But I didn’t dare get out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>I worried:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What if I hadn’t turned off everything and the car started rolling? My mind raced. Could I have missed something?</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Saved!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All of a sudden my eyes saw one of the “TV screens” on the dashboard. It had information on it. It said: ”Good bye”. I could get out of the car!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Whew!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After this I found the driving was good… but I wanted to figure out more of the options. And I found I had accidentally canceled some and couldn’t get others to work. (You knew I would do this,)</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Frustrated because I was too far from the dealer to check in… and I didn’t know friends who had this info… I also searched on the internet… and I finally put an ad in the newspaper! Under “Wanted”. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>My ad…</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My ad explained that I wanted help from someone with my type of car so I could learn from verbal instruction rather than just reading the manuals. I also said that I was an 81 year old grandma who had bought a car that was good for “off roading” and although I didn’t plan to do that, I was leaving the streaks of mud on my car to make a good impression!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Help was coming!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I got four replies! One turned out to be from a friend I hadn’t seen in years. We had a good time catching up on our lives… and she patiently “walked me through” some of the stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But I also know that if I need help again I can contact Jenny, Sue, Kent or Tricia!</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thanks to you all!</span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-41309254563117712852019-11-15T15:04:00.001-06:002019-11-15T15:08:25.747-06:00<br />
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<b class=""><u class="">Ripples column by Rosie</u></b></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Most quit… but not him!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br class="" /></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span> He started running as a kid in school but 43 year old Ryan Cooper of Cannon Falls didn’t take it up again until 2012 when he tried a half mile and found it rough! </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But he kept on… and his first “Ultra Marathon” was in 2015 at a race called Goosebumps in La Crosse, WI. He completed 50k in just under six hours. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>An example of his total running miles ranged from 313 miles in 2012 to 2,327 miles in 2017 and 1,969 miles so far this year.</span></span><br />
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIuDIJkhtmOCYeJWClFqvYFCXt7VeVm6pkYD-pXdAZ7T6xkFXP6ejYGXzVClBA28aWx3QtdPRoNNnKfTcPAVmIuTV0tau3X3gLj8xn7nCG64RBHLY_HDcr3yCuMoZHGKkosO7czz-00RE/s1600/73141605_3134173039942721_3714584315137359872_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn6hQ7w4z5DNIHHxM-BnsULNko1iSBHynitmueNh2ShhLUVzsguMa5uuoyCssGwbUU4gQNHNuC8DBv70IbKR9uyi5plRvA6ueAL8of3isj3EOIAHjfIGjhF2pW77iNCoKIKOoBoXgV_OC/s1600/67786043_10216089706048066_689918433755660288_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn6hQ7w4z5DNIHHxM-BnsULNko1iSBHynitmueNh2ShhLUVzsguMa5uuoyCssGwbUU4gQNHNuC8DBv70IbKR9uyi5plRvA6ueAL8of3isj3EOIAHjfIGjhF2pW77iNCoKIKOoBoXgV_OC/s320/67786043_10216089706048066_689918433755660288_n.jpg" width="316" /></a></span></b></span><br />
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Most never finish…</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ryan’s first attempt at running a 100 mile race was last June at the Kettle Moraine 100 in Whitewater, WI. He explained that most people attempting such a long race never finish. And neither did he. He dropped out after 16 hours at about 62 miles. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After “licking his wounds”, Ryan decided to make another try and found the Savage 100, in Savage, MN. It’s only offered every five years. Ryan finished in 14th place in 29 hours 33 seconds.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIuDIJkhtmOCYeJWClFqvYFCXt7VeVm6pkYD-pXdAZ7T6xkFXP6ejYGXzVClBA28aWx3QtdPRoNNnKfTcPAVmIuTV0tau3X3gLj8xn7nCG64RBHLY_HDcr3yCuMoZHGKkosO7czz-00RE/s1600/73141605_3134173039942721_3714584315137359872_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIuDIJkhtmOCYeJWClFqvYFCXt7VeVm6pkYD-pXdAZ7T6xkFXP6ejYGXzVClBA28aWx3QtdPRoNNnKfTcPAVmIuTV0tau3X3gLj8xn7nCG64RBHLY_HDcr3yCuMoZHGKkosO7czz-00RE/s400/73141605_3134173039942721_3714584315137359872_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Why run?</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b class="" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Ryan explained that some run because “they are recovering addicts or have depression/anxiety etc. A number of them will point specifically to running as the thing that saved them or keeps them healthy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“My personal struggles with depression help drive me at times to keep up my running routine.” Ryan explained. “The natural endorphins that are produced while running help the brain to function better and allow me to think clearer. I have asthma, a bad back, heel spurs and countless other ailments, but yet I power through my miles knowing that the overall feelings inside me outweigh the physical pain I endure.“</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ryan continued, “Spending countless hours running I have come up with many personal questions about myself. Running a 100-mile race answered one of my personal questions, but also brought up more new questions. I now need to run some more to figure out even more answers.”</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ryan encouraged those who want to know why people “run” to “head out to the trail and find out yourself. Overcome some fears and see what questions you come up with. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I can’t guarantee that it will be easy and you won’t have pain, but I do know that you will be in nature and find overwhelming joy to be in the outdoors.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s not just about him!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #121318;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Ryan wanted to thank some special people who made his 100 mile race achievable.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a class="" href="https://www.facebook.com/chefhenryward?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARCl0M-w6iP9vKcQ0aNslCHTRzqoQrkCbu02Ee6lUpTv2NCeVXNQzJH5351RMTy_0Copjvcb2fuI0CKC&fref=mentions"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #094fd1;"><b>Henry Ward</b></span></a> provided expert level advice to Ryan and his crew and pacers.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a class="" href="https://www.facebook.com/zack.delong?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDjCe6LhDdU6GXmVnzCq3L-PJJ9AiCWRx8BZMC5wS1J6sTn8XIgRQs07VESK4BXFsmdonBXBBdi3L94&fref=mentions"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #094fd1;"><b>Zack Delong</b></span></a>, had the courage to help out a complete stranger. He paced me during my 4th loop (which was probably my hardest loop)… he was able to keep me moving and not quit. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a class="" href="https://www.facebook.com/andy.hurd.12?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAKRMYNjNt7nJv1zUSO7l37lBXTfHgJg8zbnSbodz9V15KOkREUIGTOjpXMnAfuASYBG7sWYwvUXT6R&fref=mentions"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #094fd1;"><b>Andy Hurd</b></span></a> pulled a long shift of slow going with me through the night for my 5th loop. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">Matt Kelly</span></u></b> crewed the entire event, took care of the kids, took pictures, drove around to meet me at almost every aid station and encouraged me with his words. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a class="" href="https://www.facebook.com/erin.kelly.9659?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARBJPdvUwr4tC84knWf1t4d0nU771i0Y86c5nI-WNFAGomHSLZ8mZ8qS8Qk2CmGw-AkMW9KG9vAHxk2M&fref=mentions"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #094fd1;"><b>Erin Kelly</b></span></a> paced me for most of my 6th loop and helped crew by updating my progress and keeping me moving at the aid stations. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My wife<b> <a class="" href="https://www.facebook.com/carlyn.cooper.7?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARCSmaNUdwu4Ml0LQAY7-7batDWUX00fNbsgu62TVM1bIC6CFXkWmXhxuw5cP2ld3ElTA6T8qwkpKF6n&fref=mentions"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #094fd1;">Carlyn Cooper</span></a></b>... on little sleep because she ran her own Marathon Saturday morning and then paced me into the finish line Sunday Morning… the two of us slept a total of six hours in 60 hours! </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a class="" href="https://www.facebook.com/elmer.pagel?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARAqUzBYpQQlibJNy1J-AmZjvh6ruLSxHsSwGBqm4dWZGkNbfldBTaTfPR5OBcSJJ9OqYlk1e7kMTBT2&fref=mentions"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: #094fd1;"><b>Elmer Pagel</b></span></a>... Ryan had paced Elmer on his own 100 mile race through a blizzard in April 2018. This gave Ryan the inspiration he needed to pursue this race. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="color: blue;"><b><a class="" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=13949455&__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARD_7DmsMovrVxtHO7fP0GYo8mFf_2yJBzZTHftz56HaWVdm7k48q759VCmqb18DjRy2c3R7uAvMf87-&fref=mentions"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Leah Addington</span></a><u>n</u></b>,</span> for prayers and strength to finish. “God's timing was seen through out my journey to complete the 100 mile status… even though I had so many setbacks, I now see that this was all in God's plan.”</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ryan concluded: “Without this support I would not have been able to stay as positive as I did and would have given up on myself. Finishing any length of a race is 70% mind and 30% physical.”</span></span><br />
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(And we say: “Thank you Ryan for sharing!)"</span></b></span></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-53912617381052893832019-11-14T16:44:00.003-06:002019-11-14T16:45:41.249-06:00<div class="" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class="">In City or Country… </b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class="">ERT is Prepared to Protect</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrB-I3DMnGcDAXG1hkuq2DKbZbjOfOLw1_OH_3x8M-K6wTUe3_kfx58DKKjc9cCrC5W7Z12oXEkB57ccHoVd2d90h8VzNSZxOxTpikqXPvoVEmSFrEeDHkgpNX-L__ihQefMhMqnueMCB/s1600/++Group+-+DSCN0045+copy+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrB-I3DMnGcDAXG1hkuq2DKbZbjOfOLw1_OH_3x8M-K6wTUe3_kfx58DKKjc9cCrC5W7Z12oXEkB57ccHoVd2d90h8VzNSZxOxTpikqXPvoVEmSFrEeDHkgpNX-L__ihQefMhMqnueMCB/s400/++Group+-+DSCN0045+copy+2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Because they may need to respond in urban and woodland-agricultural terrain, the Goodhue County Multi-Jurisdiction Emergency Response Team (ERT) held their annual training and validation of the team’s tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP’s) ultimately to support its life-saving mission objectives one day last week at the Todd Prink farm east of Cannon Falls. The exercises included day and night scenarios.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Team members are full time licensed officers who volunteer for the team assignment. They are chosen based on law enforcement experience, physical fitness, and firearms testing at higher standards than regular officers. Team members receive extensive training in tactical maneuvers and techniques, weapons, and special equipment.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Those involved…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Information from Patrol Sergeant </span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Joshua Hanson, Emergency Response Team (ERT) Commander/Field Training Supervisor explained the depth of resource personnel involved. </span></span></div>
<ul class="">
<li class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Two deputies from the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) Recreational Enforcement Division supporting the team with various assets.</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Two members of the GCSO Investigative Division supporting with the Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) or Drone</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Two members of the GCSO Patrol Division supporting and training with the team </span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Captain Chad Steffen of the GCSO Communications Unit (COMU) supporting efforts as the Communications Unit Leader (COML) and several members of the GCSO Administration including Sheriff Marty Kelly, Chief Deputy Jeremy Lerfald and Captain Collins Voxland were also present supporting the team’s efforts.</span></span></li>
<li class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Also, the “bad guys” were two members of the GCSO Adult Detention Center (ADC) supporting as role-players to support the team’s scenario based training objectives, </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The latest technology</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b class=""> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b>A large emphasis was placed on movement and tracking utilizing night vision and coordinated FLIR technology to traverse the terrain and maneuver against potentially armed and dangerous suspects at night. The team learned that the technology, utilizing Infrared (IR) spectrum as well as Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), offers a significant advantage to the team in accomplishing its life-saving mission objectives, however does create some challenges that need to be continuously trained to overcome.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnScLyCCN4MGZsJBsr-3U657vdAO9ZhNdoW7X0cyQ9GMzoOClsCS9gexxNL8nRCV_BaYnexbKMXO6gYU1ett_mxZmxqP4-x_tGMRD6YxfjuCLp7EdfxVPGag_YMlRDZMCkdPSw4nkj1ZWe/s1600/alert+DSCN0048.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnScLyCCN4MGZsJBsr-3U657vdAO9ZhNdoW7X0cyQ9GMzoOClsCS9gexxNL8nRCV_BaYnexbKMXO6gYU1ett_mxZmxqP4-x_tGMRD6YxfjuCLp7EdfxVPGag_YMlRDZMCkdPSw4nkj1ZWe/s400/alert+DSCN0048.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Who do they protect?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">The objectives are to protect innocents, first responders and when possible the suspects themselves from harm, explained Hanson. “This is forefront on the minds of all of my team members and those supporting us.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“We take this extremely serious and it can be seen through the efforts of my guys at trainings like this. I’m very proud of them all.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b class="">Above their own safety</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hanson continued: “They volunteer for this assignment knowing this however each of them places the mission of ‘saving lives’ and ‘protecting innocents’ above their own personal safety. For us it’s not just a mission but is also seen as protecting our own neighbors, family, friends and our community as a whole. “</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Furthermore, we make decisions and take action based on a formulated decision making process which ultimately leads to only calculated risks for the team. Reckless and careless decisions and actions are not tolerated or acceptable.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is the third year that the training maneuvers have been held at the Prink farm.</span></span></div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-50494277233506307232019-11-14T16:19:00.002-06:002019-11-14T16:23:56.261-06:00<div class="" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="" style="font-size: medium;"><b class=""><span class="">Turning right is the trick...</span></b></span></div>
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<b class=""><span class="">(Helpful suggestions! Or not!)</span></b><br />
<b class=""><i class=""><br /></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UZSv55p-zDyFHoKKWV9xpLjvXRf-gdle2scwuoiC3_G4JlDHXqc2XMBIdmF5bg3KDZNhHgdb6a56diajsCfpOwa6DvcOA-zEGGoxPi0cmZ4tVd9ht4qxWw4SHRR06SG-Aax0mBNUrmic/s1600/DSCN0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UZSv55p-zDyFHoKKWV9xpLjvXRf-gdle2scwuoiC3_G4JlDHXqc2XMBIdmF5bg3KDZNhHgdb6a56diajsCfpOwa6DvcOA-zEGGoxPi0cmZ4tVd9ht4qxWw4SHRR06SG-Aax0mBNUrmic/s400/DSCN0059.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Local folks may fuss at this intersection and out-of-towners may not have a clue as to what they are doing wrong.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It’s the only intersection where we have a stop light.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That’s not the problem.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It’s where you turn that is the problem. And resulting in some fender benders.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class="">We are here….</b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It’s Fourth Street and Main Street (which also happens to be Highway 19). And the highway designation appears to be the reason for the problem. </span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Those making right turns off Highway 19 appear to have problems because the width of the highway is so much larger compared to the cross street of Fourth Street.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And we have become accustomed to being able to turn from the right lane if no traffic is coming. </span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class="">Here’s the trick…</b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But the tricky part is that what looks like the space for a right turn lane really isn’t.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The highway is a designated width. </span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It looks like a turn lane is available.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But it’s not.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Note the solid white line? (When it’s not covered by snow!)</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not supposed to cross it.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The correct lane to turn from…</b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So when someone is in what looks like a center lane… they really have the right to turn right.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But this is also tricky because when someone sees a line of traffic… and they pull over in the extra space to turn right… and the driver in the “center lane” is correctly turning right…. OUCH!</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b class="">Uncomfortable scenarios.</b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b> The Cannon Falls Police Department asked the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDot) a while back to add a white line to help identify the lanes. MnDot explained that they know about the safety concerns and “put an edge line… to mark the driving lane and improve the safety for pedestrians.”</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>MnDot further explained, “It’s not an ideal situation and we have a project scheduled for 2022 on Highway 19 for paving that will include some possible solutions to this intersection to improve safety for all and maintain mobility for vehicles through it.” </span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class="">So what do we do now?</b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But for the next couple of years I’ve been told that folks just have to figure it out.</span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I don’t think that’s fair and I don’t want visitors to get bad feelings about driving here… because those of us living here are just as confused. </span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class="">My solution!</b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Anyway… I have some solutions! They would have to be done in tape or chalk drawings or something removable because no one would want to deface state property, right? </span><br />
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So I would add bright red arrows pointing to the white line - no crossing it. </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0C2FkTBJ3SOnna7quV9xFiIBhnizGe2_tA1dxfjKxvSpyRh17JnKbC4Q2PfWBGOM3tzEEngM8mPql3keGozWsNi2F90-RuoMpNV4FyLgbgG_aUCczjngGwXeO_OLBVK3wHHOV0gCcvxo/s1600/Red+Arrows+DSCN0061+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0C2FkTBJ3SOnna7quV9xFiIBhnizGe2_tA1dxfjKxvSpyRh17JnKbC4Q2PfWBGOM3tzEEngM8mPql3keGozWsNi2F90-RuoMpNV4FyLgbgG_aUCczjngGwXeO_OLBVK3wHHOV0gCcvxo/s320/Red+Arrows+DSCN0061+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b> Or paint in pot holes - we all avoid them. </b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><b>Or paint a warning about “Wet Paint!” </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANT4I8USTS49RLQyEgVIXzAebJpgitcsDWCJW2qQTwKj3g1gAlxKBJf9RdUXDcXpsXpd_1sDYojE8Pj0S-Kd4qbwz6wfe4-IS-Roi5GOJOW4hEqrgGHtbhufnVeNfRk4f0NCcWPvP4XJF/s1600/Wet+Paint%2521+DSCN0061+copy+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANT4I8USTS49RLQyEgVIXzAebJpgitcsDWCJW2qQTwKj3g1gAlxKBJf9RdUXDcXpsXpd_1sDYojE8Pj0S-Kd4qbwz6wfe4-IS-Roi5GOJOW4hEqrgGHtbhufnVeNfRk4f0NCcWPvP4XJF/s320/Wet+Paint%2521+DSCN0061+copy+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Or add a sign stating: <b>NO RIGHT TURN FROM THIS LANE BECAUSE IT’S NOT A LANE! </b>(By the time you get done reading it you may have figured it out!)</i></span></div>
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<i><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span>Or place some inflatable “dummies” in the lane - the ones that you can hit and they bounce back up again?</span></i></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or like Cannon Falls Police Lieutenant Joseph Berg suggests: <span class="">“As long as you don’t pass anyone on the right to make a right then you’re right!”</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre;"><i>Ya right!</i></span><br />
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-9438451197009153242019-10-25T20:53:00.002-05:002019-10-25T20:56:30.807-05:00<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tracking the “bad guys”!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><b></b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXQlMgvK5S4HLS_gPG5uonNG3kjQSwyJu5p0_Y2NRav_xELtGwNqujw05_kl_Y6rl8Qt5U_e7f-KfnBZ_objg6MqhITntMRWPMt1NqAQjnP1qLGMCZpKfBTcuMzFpG7gq997MVGjxxaM4/s1600/better+DSCN0030+copy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXQlMgvK5S4HLS_gPG5uonNG3kjQSwyJu5p0_Y2NRav_xELtGwNqujw05_kl_Y6rl8Qt5U_e7f-KfnBZ_objg6MqhITntMRWPMt1NqAQjnP1qLGMCZpKfBTcuMzFpG7gq997MVGjxxaM4/s400/better+DSCN0030+copy+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b> <b>Attention:</b> Goodhue County Multi-Jurisdiction Emergency Response Team (ERT) will be conducting a training exercise near Cannon Falls on 10/16/19 the announcement said on Facebook. The exercise will occur throughout the day and into the evening and night-time hours. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That sounded interesting to me. Years ago I had gone on maneuvers up north with the local Army Reserve.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So I sent an email to the Goodhue County Sheriff asking to go along. But I didn’t hear anything back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And I had other plans scheduled.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But, the day of the training exercise at the Todd Prink farm I got an email that I was accepted! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Brrrrrrrr!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was a cold day… in the 40’s… so I put on a winter jacket, cap, gloves and laced up my hiking boots. That wasn’t enough. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I was standing outside with the guys for over an hour listening to the training session… and my fingers shaking so badly from the cold that I couldn’t read my notes… and I watched the guys bouncing their legs to keep circulation going as they concentrated on their instructions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was later in the day - after I had stopped by my home and put on a light weight snowmobile suit under my jacket - that I felt I could survive.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;">I also warmed up when riding with the guys on tactical mission training.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Back to the training meeting. </b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Emergency Response Team (ERT) Commander/Field Training Supervisor, Joshua Hanson, introduced me to the team. l explained that I had previously flown with the Army as a reporter and I would stay out of their way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But, I added, I know you will run me through a “hazing” and then we’ll be OK. They laughed politely. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I was standing next to Rodney Roberts who quietly commented, “Your shoelace is untied.” I quickly looked down at my boots and he grinned, “Gotcha!” And I think we were off to a good start!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As they were organizing to go out in the fields, I explained I had another commitment. So we figured out a good time for me to return.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep in mind that I’m shivering so much that all I’m thinking about is the hot cup of coffee at my next meeting. Actually, it was a group of friends I had promised to join for a book discussion… and wine and dessert!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I got to that group I didn’t even take off my jacket… I just sat down at the table and gasped… “Coffee!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It wasn’t ready yet… so I was told to have the wine. Later, fortified with coffee, I headed back to the training session!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Practicing to protect…</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span><span style="color: #191919; font-kerning: none;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In real action, their lives and the ones they would be protecting would be in danger and depended on their expertise.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Some of the scenarios were: 1) Shooter in the woods and 2)</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> a pursuit with two armed male suspects and a female suspect inside of a pickup truck which was stuck in a field as they were trying to escape.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Decisions were: containing a crowd, saving a hostage, dealing with your men if they get hurt, booby traps, noise of your equipment - some of which may be dependent on battery life and weather conditions, etc.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> It was a serious situation. And a good reminder… the “bad guys” may not choose warm weather either.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> One of the “bad guys” being told to put your hands on your head and walk backward to their position. </span></div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-34316514242638665362019-10-12T20:37:00.000-05:002019-10-12T20:37:00.581-05:00<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">What do you do in</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> a “Code Red Alert”?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">When a “Code Red Alert" comes on your phone and tells you to get to a place of safety immediately… have you thought of what you should bring with you?<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And how much time you should take to find your “stuff”?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I didn’t think of this during last year’s tornadoes here in the Cannon Falls area. When that alert came over my phone I had just finished popping a bowl of popcorn.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So I grabbed it… my cellphone… and a flashlight and headed down the stairs into the cellar. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Checking on your neighbors…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was some time later when neighbors started driving by to see if I was OK. Trees were partially blocking the road but they got around them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When they heard I was in the cellar I think they decided that since we probably kept some wine down there… I would be OK! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Another Code Red…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Recently we got another Code Red tornado alert warning and since I had just written a recap in my column of all the things that happened in last year’s event I knew more about what could go wrong,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I headed for the cellar and when I got there I realized that if a tornado tore off the first floor of my house, I really should have my billfold with my driver’s license with me so I wouldn’t have to file for a new one. So I ran up the stairs to get it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I got back down in the cellar I thought I really should have my laptop too, I didn’t want to lose the data in it. So I ran back upstairs again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Then I realized I didn’t have anything to sit on so I ran to get a folding stool.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I think I remembered other things I wanted but I kept wondering if a tornado might hit just as I was running up and down the stairs!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Settling in for the duration…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I finally settled down in the cellar - I got on Facebook and saw the Cannon Falls police had posted about the storm and I told them where I was…. so somebody would know!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But what if I didn’t have any “Wi Fi” working? I’d want a book. And a flashlight. ( Like when I was a kid and was supposed to be sleeping under the blankets!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And now I realized that although I had some canned vegetables on the shelves down there… they weren’t home canned… and I would need a can opener. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And if you couldn’t get to the “plumbing"… you’d need a container of some kind, right? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And remind yourself to sweep for cobwebs more often too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is getting way too detailed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>I’m curious as to what </b></span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">you would take </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">into your “safe” room? </span></b></div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-35560233345761732882019-09-19T08:53:00.003-05:002019-09-19T08:55:37.890-05:00Tornadoes-Cannon Falls-2018 <div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where were you during </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">the “tornado event” - 2018?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keeping sewage and water systems working plus chain sawing their way to disaster areas was just part of the effort put forth by Cannon Falls city workers and volunteers last September 20, a Thursday, and during the following days in the tornado event that hit the area.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was reviewed by city officials and residents at a meeting of the Cannon Falls Area TRIAD and recently put on Youtube... "Responding to the Cannon Falls Tornado".</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Previous Public Works Director and present Fire Chief Mike Althoff explained the role he and his staff played.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Althoff went the first 48 hours with only 2 hours sleep and only a couple of phone calls to his wife and 5 month old son to see if they were OK at home. (Yes, they had gone down to their basement and were secure though scared.) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #11473f; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Althoff recalled seeing: The sky turning green… it looked like a wall cloud… the sound was like a freight train going through… at the fire station we took people in off the street for protection… they saw trees flying by…. branches… </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Then it stopped and the sun came out. “ </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>B<b>iggest problem…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The biggest problem was that the ground was already saturated from rainfall the week before. So some trees on the boulevards pulled up the gas lines as they fell.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They got the gas leaks taken care of in a few hours.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There was one power line down and one person trapped in a trailer house and a person cut by glass but there were no serious injuries. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Follow up…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cannon Falls Police Chief Jeff McCormick added: “Power was returned to the community fully by Saturday evening. A few locations still had to replace their pole to meter lines before they could be connected. Once the power lines were off the streets then most of the streets were opened by Monday. A few were still closed because of low hanging phone or cable lines for a few more days.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Also noted by Althoff was that in the next couple of days the nursing home had to be evacuated because of a mechanical problem and later on Twin Rivers had a voluntary evacuation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Folks offered food and washing facilities to neighbors who didn’t have them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the following days, “sight-seeing tourists” became a distraction as folks wanted to see what had happened. Later on a volunteer work crew from a larger area gathered to help.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was dealing carefully and promply with these experiences that kept Cannon Falls and vicinity from even more extreme difficulties. .</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">St. Ansgar’s pioneer cemetery</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The devastation of the St. Ansgar’s Pioneer Cemetery on the south end of Cannon Falls haunted many residents. Charles Sabrowsky is Chair of the Cemetery Committee and information from Loren Evenrude showed the progress they have made in removing and restoring the area. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Part of the project included making a “ground penetrating radar search to mark all known burial sites."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Other insights…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #101c45; font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Randy Nicolai from Frontier Ag & Turf recalled: ”It destroyed our building for equipment storage and a new one was put back up within a few months.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Our repair shop had about 30’ of the roof torn off and the overhead door destroyed, the roof repaired in a week and the door replaced in a month or so. Other inside building repairs were done before it got cold outside. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We still see some of the insulation stuck to a few things around our lot area.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hobert’s lost huge trees…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ten 40 foot trees were lost according to John Hobert living outside Cannon Falls. John recalled that it was the coming garage sale weekend. His wife and daughter had been setting up for their sale. They moved things quickly so they could get their car in the garage.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>John added, we were huddled in our small bathroom downstairs and had no house damage. But we weren’t prepared - had no lights, etc. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ray Kimmes - west of town </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">in direct line of the tornadoes</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ray Kimmes was in line with the storm on the west side of the county near Stanton. He explained at the meeting that he was at home having a cup of coffee when he got a call from his grandson. It was 6:54 p.m. His grandson told him to get downstairs fast. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ray went down into a concrete room and at 7:03 p.m. he came back upstairs and it was all over. But water was coming through his roof and down through the different levels of his house into the basement. Plus he also lost many trees.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Any longterm effects?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">Chief McCormick concluded that the look of the parks and cemeteries is the most obvious. When the leaves fall again you will be able to see the large number of trees down in the wooded areas around town. Most of the damage to buildings has been repaired.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion…<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">There are many more stories to tell. They’re good to remember.</span></b></span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-88374409531353523222019-08-18T11:10:00.002-05:002019-08-18T11:41:22.706-05:00Could "Down" be better than "Up"?<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> the “ladder to success”?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">Do we have it all wrong?</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">On a ladder the steps go “up” and “down”. </span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">But is the “ladder to success” really one where the best steps might go down instead of up?</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;"> <b> Thoughts for discussion… </b></span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">This was the discussion of some folks considering the effect of thoughts on the human body. They meet every week at the Cannon Falls library. Anyone is invited.</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">And a couple of them had shared their conclusions about when they had been searching for a job. </span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">Judy Schlekewy thoughtfully commented, "Sometimes it's not so important to climb the ladder."</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">And Kari Moline eloquently stated: “I successfully worked my way down the ladder!”</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">You see, the important aspect was the effect on their lives.</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;"> <b>What do you really want? </b> </span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">Over the years their priorities had changed.</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">They were looking into what really fit into the lifestyle they wanted at that point in time.</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">They had to decide what was “success” for them? The hours they worked… their co-workers and employers… interest in the job… the pay they received… etc. </span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">I noticed that the pay and position was not insignificant but was not the deciding factor.</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;"> <b>Checking with my “Mentor”…</b></span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">With this concept in mind I went to my “online mentor” - “Google” - for information on “What is success”?</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">The first thing that popped up was a reference to the classic story of Alice in Wonderland… where she goes down the rabbit hole and finds everything in life is now backwards. </span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">(Keep in mind that I have never been comfortable with this story, but it’s a good analogy.)</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">The point being that in this blog’s point of view, everything in the world suggests you do the opposite of what their religious principles say to do.</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">For example: if you want to be blessed, be a blessing to others. To be honored, first be humble. To receive, first give. To be a leader, first be a servant… etc. </span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">And their leader exemplified this… even to the point of dying for others.</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">I googled other religious views and found some similar principles.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;"><b style="text-align: center;"> What is the job description?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">How could you describe your job? What is its purpose? Why is it right for you at this point in time? </span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">I have heard how public officials are supposed to be public servants. By contacts with many of them over the years I have seen their concern. But also I keep in mind the ones that make the headlines who seem to express a more negative side to the equation.</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">It’s taken me over 50 years to realize that the people I have written about may not be the “rock stars” that get all the attention…. but they are honorable and talented heart-warming folks. Their stories still touch my heart.</span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;"> <b>So now......</b></span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">I’m interested in how you have found this to work in your life. </span><br style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;" /><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">Pease contact me at the Beacon or my email: </span><a href="mailto:mailrosie@me.com" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">mailrosie@me.com</a><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic;">.</span></span></div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-74647807131589544082019-07-18T07:53:00.004-05:002019-07-18T08:02:17.063-05:00<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dating online… what do you think?</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu17OiJyXRfWWUxjnmoFcPYhWg-K52O2cRfuvh7ChIm4_4n_4GUKv3qFWB7wUCfygEZ0vNZ0DJmiyiDxoeygsn8Bp0ns_UrKwjMdSoytNlEz3gu_CWDkRTWEoOZmxpRGV-2W3JDA2TTLzl/s1600/IMG_4467.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu17OiJyXRfWWUxjnmoFcPYhWg-K52O2cRfuvh7ChIm4_4n_4GUKv3qFWB7wUCfygEZ0vNZ0DJmiyiDxoeygsn8Bp0ns_UrKwjMdSoytNlEz3gu_CWDkRTWEoOZmxpRGV-2W3JDA2TTLzl/s320/IMG_4467.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; text-align: start;">“Role Playing”…</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; text-align: start;"> Goodhue County Deputy Tom Wolner and Stanton Township resident Joyce Sheets practice recognizing warning signs of scammers online at a recent Cannon F</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; text-align: start;">alls Area TRIAD meeting at the Cannon Valley Senior Center.</span></b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Believe it or not… your friends and family are dating online.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And why not you ask?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Isn’t that the modern way?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Aren’t you wary enough to avoid problems?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Or… like one man… he said he just enjoyed helping out these women he was in contact with… he didn’t plan to meet up with them… just send a little cash once in a while. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(Anyone know how to meet up with someone like this? Just kidding!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jay Haapala, Associate State Director </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFBWSgLBLLNZVJpEJAOfubC6eIoEcHBs9ybi9ZNZsm5vf8H1QIpH_qVAcQwjTTXGauJmj2lyhMGZ8nBlRulfhQvuBIRsQYt332IV5Qx_kwSaSF2tnvWOS1MzQLN9-GlrT1W_cXDh8MXX0/s1600/Jay+Haapala+headshot+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="764" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFBWSgLBLLNZVJpEJAOfubC6eIoEcHBs9ybi9ZNZsm5vf8H1QIpH_qVAcQwjTTXGauJmj2lyhMGZ8nBlRulfhQvuBIRsQYt332IV5Qx_kwSaSF2tnvWOS1MzQLN9-GlrT1W_cXDh8MXX0/s200/Jay+Haapala+headshot+pic.jpg" width="171" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">– Community Engagement for AARP Minnesota tried to explain to him that he probably wasn’t talking to girls on the internet. Instead they were men who were showing him pictures of pretty girls…and typing into the computer things he would like to hear.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The problem is increasing…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jay explained that there has been nearly a 250% increase in reports and an over 400% increase in reported losses since 2015. Mainly because more people are willing to share their information.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFBWSgLBLLNZVJpEJAOfubC6eIoEcHBs9ybi9ZNZsm5vf8H1QIpH_qVAcQwjTTXGauJmj2lyhMGZ8nBlRulfhQvuBIRsQYt332IV5Qx_kwSaSF2tnvWOS1MzQLN9-GlrT1W_cXDh8MXX0/s1600/Jay+Haapala+headshot+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The median loss was $2600. And for people 70 years and older their loss was $10,000.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Like the lady living in Edina. She was an 80 year old widow. A man online said he was a doctor for the United Nations. They talked daily on the internet for eight months. They decided they would get married. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He was coming for a visit so she went to the airport to pick him up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> But he didn’t show. In further correspondence he explained he needed more money because financially, his was tied up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She sent him $38,000… then $12,000.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She got suspicious and got help and retrieved the $12,000. But not the larger sum.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Warnings: </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #132857; font-family: times;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-kerning: none;">1)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The scammers want you to get in contact with them outside of the dating websites because that website may have rules they don’t want to work with.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don’t send the money.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Talk to family and friends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In checking on a contact you’ve made online: start asking them questions and look for inconsistencies in their responses.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For example: Scammers don’t try just one person, they try as many as they can. And so you ask a question you know couldn’t be true like: if they have never mentioned a certain relative, you can ask: “So tell me again, where does you sister Sheila live?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Since the scammer is telling many lies, to many people, they may have a hard time keeping their story straight. And they might say they don’t know where their sister is right now, etc.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And you will know what you’re dealing with.</span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>Another discovery… Facial recognition online</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You have access to facial recognition technology on the internet, called Google Images. You copy a digital picture from someone’s Facebook profile, then scan it onto the internet to look for other pictures like that. (I tried this with my picture and it brought up a dozen or so pictures of men and women but no one identical to me.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It’s important to report the imposters… to the dating site, Facebook, your local police department or the FBI - Internet Crime Complaint Center <a href="http://ic3.gov/"><span style="color: #094fd1; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">IC3.gov</span></a>, </span></span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-58819801752020580722019-06-26T21:37:00.000-05:002019-06-26T21:37:46.124-05:00<div class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: x-large;"> The “Final Reunion”!</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre;"> </span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The “Final Reunion” was the title on the invitation.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sounds rather deadly.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was an invitation to my class reunion… but the committee apparently decided we were getting too old for such shenanigans and this would be the last one.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now keep in mind that I hadn’t been attending most of these get-to-gethers. But it was kind of creepy to think that this would be the “last” one.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b class="">The class president explained... </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </b></span>The reason for having a “Final” reunion was: <span class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">“Turning 80 comes with new limitations and losses - mobility, vision, hearing, dexterity, driving, dietary, memory, financial, loss of spouse, loss of energy, - some experiencing these more than others.” </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“The committee, mindful of these changes, has selected a site and menu that best addresses these needs.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Where would you have a </span><span class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“</span><span class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">final" reunion?</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I could only guess their choice would be the closest nursing home. </span><span class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Actually, a mortuary would be a good site…</span><span class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">it sounded like we were almost there anyway.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b class="">On consideration…</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b>The committee is made up of good kind folks who are just being considerate.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And I’m just being me… like I usually am. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But there are so many things I’ve learned in all these years. I haven’t gone to many reunions because I have not been comfortable in such situations. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But I’m getting better at it - and even enjoying it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hmmmm…. The Final Reunion!</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Maybe I should go…. I just opened my old yearbook. I liked the kids back then. I’d like to know what they have learned over the years.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And I was touched by reading what my old journalism teacher had written so long ago in my year book. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We had a weekly newspaper at the school and I was involved in it fanatically… mostly writing after midnight following my regular homework, etc. We even went to the printers with our layouts and when we needed more “fill” for a page I would whip something together.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You can see how my teacher might have been concerned about my writing and had even taken some home to read to his wife to see if they were printable!</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But he went to bat for me.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And my journalism teacher wrote:</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And he wrote in my yearbook: “Farewell to my poet, philosopher and friend. Don’t be gone forever.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now I can understand how a teenager could write poems and be a friend. But it amazes me that he could call me a “philosopher”! </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I googled the word.<span class=""> The noun philosophy means</span><b class="">… </b><span class="">the search for wisdom… to understand how and why people do certain things…how to live a good life… to know the meaning of life.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Well… all these years later and I’m still doing that!</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But maybe he “saw” something in me that I didn’t know about.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That’s what teachers do, you know!</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(Thank you Mr. Nielson.)</i></span></span></span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-7388183996086863832019-06-23T07:21:00.002-05:002019-06-23T07:21:35.732-05:00<div class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b class=""><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Groping”… Naaaaah!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b class=""></b></span><br class="" /></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Test driving a new vehicle - one you aren’t familiar with - which has all the new “bells and whistles” - can be stressful.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But you can end up smiling!</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here we go!</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’ve tested out a couple of new cars recently.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You’re probably already feeling sympathy for the salesman who had to ride along with me!</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Safety devices or just confusing?</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep in mind that nowadays you can be overwhelmed by all the gadgets that are supposed to help you drive safer. There are lights flashing and warning beeps and just general chaos as you drive along. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In my confusion I realized this was not starting well. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Actually, all I wanted was an empty parking lot where I could figure out what every thing meant. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b class="">Trying again!</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It took a couple of weeks before I was ready to try driving another car.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My son instructed me to tell the salesman to just let me sit in the car for ten minutes while I got used to everything in its place.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This one did. And I love the car… and I didn’t have to have all the beeping on to bother me.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After awhile we headed onto the freeway and we were good.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here it is folks!</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We came off the freeway and maneuvered through the crowded big city streets. Four lanes of traffic were converging on the upcoming intersection.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I was in traveling in the right lane.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All of a sudden, a vehicle came from the opposite side of the intersection and cut in front of the car next to me and swooped in front of me before sweeping into a business driveway.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I never saw the car… until it was slashing through my lane!</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I found that my reflexes were great as I slammed on the brakes and avoided a collision.</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b class="">The funny part is coming.</b> </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now some of you might remember that a few years ago we didn’t have seat belts in cars. I was a mother of small children. So I had trained myself to swing my right arm over to the passenger seat and protect a young one from falling forward. </span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And so I automatically did the same thing to protect the salesman riding along with me!</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Except there was a problem! He was a big fellow. While I had jammed on the brakes and held onto the steering wheel with my left hand - I took my right hand and grabbed him.</span></span></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Except I didn’t grab his chest. I grabbed his leg! Well… actually his upper thigh… kind of closer to his crotch. (Also known as the groin or the lower ventral area to some of my more shy readers.)</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The conclusion?</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When the excitement was over I told him that today he could go home and tell his wife that an 80 year old grandmother saved him from a collision while she almost grabbed his crotch!</span></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But more important…</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But I also realized that there are times when avoiding an accident needs your personal quick response… which you get by paying attention to your driving. Because you may need to make a decision before these new safety features can respond. </span></span></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Italic; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Just a thought.</span></span></div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-680938088935465525.post-28221981569592560022019-05-09T19:23:00.001-05:002019-05-09T19:23:30.013-05:00<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> When you try to do your best…</span></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and mess up… </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">but we’re all laughing!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">I don’t know if I should believe them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I was there… but I don’t remember it the way they tell about it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But it gives a person something to think about. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note to caregivers!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The story begins… a couple of months ago my daughter, who is living out of state, was having major surgery. Her husband would be with her day and night during the four days she would be in the hospital. Then I was flying in to give back-up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I arrived at their home and saw the set-up. She had to sleep and recuperate in a recliner in their living room. Every few hours she needed care with meds, etc. I would sleep on the couch next to her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I took one look at my exhausted son-in-law and said, “Go to bed!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He slept for 12 hours straight.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I’m in control… ya right!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I took over for the next four days. Or so I thought!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was on the fourth night that they say I messed up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I don’t remember that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I do remember that during the night I got up from the couch and checked my “patient”. She must not have needed me at the earlier time I concluded because I didn’t wake up. And therefore I repeated my care around 3 a.m. and again around 7 a.m. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was later that morning that they told me what had happened!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Had I died?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Apparently I had become so tired that I never woke up for the first checkup. My daughter was awake but couldn’t move out of the recliner. Her hand brushed my hair but I still didn’t wake up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She used her cell phone to call her husband sleeping upstairs to come check. He bounded down the stairs and after checking things out he explained to her that I was barely breathing… but I was breathing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In fact, when he accidentally pinched his hand in her recliner and yelled out in pain… I didn’t even wake up for a second!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He took care of her meds that time and went back to bed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Just doing the usual…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Like I said before, I got up at 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. and thought everything had been moving along just fine!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But I was later informed that I would sleep in a bed upstairs that night!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We switched our routine more regularly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> The point is…</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My point being… that as a caregiver you may not know when you are going beyond your breaking point. Please listen to those you know are concerned about you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On the other hand, I can’t verify that this really happened. But when the airline cancelled my return flight home due to snow in Minnesota and I got to stay a couple more days… we were better organized!</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And when you take care of yourself… you are actually taking care of your loved one too.</span></span></div>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14185521720572902792noreply@blogger.com