Life as an alcoholic... homeless... suicidal...

But he found hope... and wants you to have it too.

He had climbed over the railing of the overpass crossing State Highway 52 and was balancing on the narrow ledge, ready to drop in front of any oncoming semi and finally end it all.
The police had arrived on the scene and ordered northbound traffic stopped at the intersection about a mile before the bridge. But one semi had been early and unknowingly headed toward the danger zone.
Officers stayed a short distance away from the distraught man - not wanting to precipitate his jumping - while they talked to him.

Thomas McConnell did not die that day of July 30, 1992. But it would be over a decade longer before he would find the hope and ability to change his life.
This wasn't the first time he had considered suicide. And most people today probably think he had drunk himself to death, he explained. Even when recovering in a Crisis Unit he tried to hang himself.

"I wrecked my wife's life, my sons lives... " McConnell's voice struggled with emotion as he recalled 30 years of addiction, 20 years of it in Cannon Falls.
"People knew me as the town drunk." McConnell could consume a lot of alcohol. He might have a .3 alcohol level and look perfectly normal. Consider that this is usually accompanied by unconsciousness and possible death.

He remembered the time he broke into Brewster's Bar. It was recorded on camera. He didn't take any money. He just stole a bottle of whiskey.

"Most people," McConnell revealed, "have never met the real me."

But in 2005 he found a reason and the help to survive. The reason was Jesus Christ and the help came from people.

Some of them were committed by their own belief's, like the pastor of First Baptist Church, Brad Berglund, and his congregation. Also, some were professionals like the police and those working in detox programs.

McConnell's history tells of his alcohol-addicted life beginning when he was 15 years old in 1976. When he was 16 he watched his mother dying. At only 41 years she had become an emaciated 95 pounds. He would carry her from room to room to ease her discomfort.
After she died his father told him to get out.

A stint in the military is where he met his wife. In 1985 they came to Cannon Falls. They were married 18 years. They have two boys.

His addiction led to stays of homelessness here and in the twin cities. For a few months he slept behind a fence in the alley behind the Cannon Falls public library. Because of the bushes he was not seen. The cardboard is still there. He would hear people put their trash in a barrel just a few feet away.
Also a few feet away was his stash of alcohol hidden in the bushes along the alleyway.

McConnell has been picked up by the police many times. In three different counties: Goodhue, Dakota and Hennepin. He has been through 11 treatment programs, various jail stays, and two suicide attempts.
He would sleep off the alcohol by laying down next to the river in the park or even on the steps at the police station.

The last time he was dropped off at a detox center he was so out of it that he couldn't fill out the application they gave him. They told him he could do it later and he was accepted.
That was Teen Challenge in Minneapolis in 2005.

McConnell completed their program in 2007. At his graduation ceremony, Cannon Falls Interim Police Chief, Rich Wisniewski spoke on his behalf.
The first time Wisniewski recalled seeing McConnell was the day he had been holding onto the bridge with one hand, planning to jump. And he had seen him through the years as he struggled with his alcohol problem.

Today McConnell is in the Assemblies of God ministry program. He just received a promotion to being Men's Resident Advisor at TCMI (Teen Challenge Ministry Institute) in Minneapolis. He explained, "I don't dwell on the past, but I don't forget it either."

His advice to others in a similar situation? "There's hope."

"If you are alive and above ground, there is peace for you and a new life and freedom for you... You don't have to die or lose everything. There's so many people in your life that want to help you."
McConnell is one of them.

Just leave a message for him when you call: 1-612-Freedom.


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Time for a party?

From my column, Along the way... in the Cannon Falls, MN Beacon


I think I'm going to have to give a party!

I have been spoiled by folks around here. They give nice parties. I get to see my friends there and I don't have to do all the work!

Sometimes, if I don't know most of the people attending, I can just sit back and enjoy watching all the goings on.
Although at one party, the hostess was intent on having everyone interact with each other. While I was munching on some snacks I noticed her heading my way. I told the quiet man sitting next to me to please pretend to be talking to me so the hostess would leave me alone. He agreed and after she buzzed off to take care of some other guests he went back to his original silence and we were fine.

Now the benefit of attending these parties is that I don't have to do the planning and fixing up the food and then wondering if anyone will come!

Another plus nowadays is that people keep insisting you don't even have to bring a present. They probably still want one, but if they do they shouldn't put that on the invitation they send to me!

I used to bring a present anyway – but now I find myself in a rush and have probably forgotten to pick out something for them. But I like making a special card with ribbons and things while I think of how nice they are.
(But then it seems that my computer/printer malfunctions and I have to make several copies just to get one that can be used. And I've had all sorts of other thoughts that can't be printed.)

Anyway... maybe I should think about giving a party. (Guilt, I suppose.)

Since I'm the self-appointed chair of a Minnesota Vikings Fan Club for Brian Robison, Defensive End #96, (an upcoming interview is planned), I could have a “game day party”.

Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

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But which game? Some of them haven't been that much fun to watch!

Well, maybe I'll plan a party for when the Vikings are in the Super Bowl!
(This sounds like I'm really not serious about giving a party, right?)

But we're Vikings fans. We'll make it fun.

And all my closest friends...(you all) ... are invited!

Time and date to be announced ... of course!

The eye of a stallion...

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The beauty and power emanating

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from the soulful look of a stallion...

The chiseled beauty of his countenance...

created not in marble or stone...

but as a living creature.

Perhaps for mankind

to ponder...

and learn...

and appreciate

such an awesome creation.

The feel of independence...

What if you suddenly went blind? The world, as you knew it, disappeared. And, you recall that you had just been driving your car a few minutes before it happened.

Marlys Stevens, long time resident of the Cannon Falls area, recalled this episode in her life as she was showing how she trains a new guide dog to help her have some semblance of the independence she was used to when she was able to see.
Marlys has Type I Diabetes and was a college student almost ready to graduate when she lost her sight. Now she just wants to be able to get the exercise Diabetics need by walking around her neighborhood.

So she relies on her companion, a Seeing Eye Guide Dog. Her latest dog is a three year old German Shepherd-Golden Retriever mixed breed.
We can't print his name because only his owner needs to know it. You see, if he hears his real name from someone else he might be distracted.
And that might mean the difference between life and death. For him or his owner.

So we'll call him “Buddy”. (I didn't know when I chose this name that it actually was the name of the very first dog trained to be a Seeing Eye Guide Dog.)

Marlys and her husband, Roger, recently moved into a house on the west side of Cannon Falls.
A trainer from Virginia had been here for three days getting Buddy ready to guide Marlys through the local streets. Now it was Marlys' turn to help her guide dog get the directions correct by patterning the new route.
I was to follow at a distance to get pictures as they went along. Although this could be distracting to the dog, he seemed to adapt and off we went.

Because these are working dogs, they have to pay extreme attention to their owner. So when they are in harness, no petting is allowed.

"Buddy" meets the neighbors.

Buddy has to know how to differentiate between “country” streets – those with no curbs – and city sidewalks. I watched as he even avoided a muddy spot.
He is trained to walk against the traffic. Marlys also listens to the traffic and has memorized her route. She positions her shoulders to point in the direction she wants Buddy to go. Or she waves an arm in that direction.
Marlys explained that once Buddy gets used to the route she will not have to speak the directions.

But there are limits as to what Buddy can warn Marlys about. Probably because of his height, or lack of it, he couldn't warn Marlys about the low hanging branches hovering over the sidewalk. I yelled a warning but was a little late. Sorry! (She's going to get me for that!)

Another moment I jumped in to help was when Buddy and Marlys were crossing the intersection at Main and Fourth Streets. They were half way across when I noticed a bus turning into their lane. I had aimed my camera at them when I realized that neither the dog nor Marlys nor the bus driver might be seeing each other!
My lightning swift mind was already seeing the fantastic picture I would have of the crash until the next thought zapped me with “Oh 'crap'! Save your friend!”
So I yelled at Marlys to stop and waved my hands to attract the attention of the bus driver as I ran up to them. Everyone stopped and we proceeded across the intersection. Marlys informed me later that the dog is trained to stop and back up quickly if he perceives danger.

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Walking around downtown "Buddy" meets new situations... and even "Mary Poppins"!

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"Buddy's" favorite part of the grocery store was the dog food aisle. Earlier, when passing by the winery he had gotten distracted by the fragrant aroma coming out of their open door!

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As Marlys was relaxing back at home, Buddy was laying just a couple of feet from her. She explained, he is always near her.
Whether she's headed to the bedroom or the bathroom, Buddy is there. What Marlys can't figure out is how he knows to go into the computer room before she gets there!

The loyalty of a guide dog is awesome, Marlys explained. “He's always there, ready to go, no matter how he might feel. They don't whine about their job.”

When she recalls the several guide dogs she has had over the years,

Marlys said with misty eyes,

“They mean so much to me.”

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At the end of the rain shower...

The promise of good things coming again.

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(And our computer is "up and running" again, too!)

China – Always a surprise!

“The Chinese love to make goofy gestures when they pose for pictures.” Wyatt Olson (back row) explained. He taught this university class for two years.


With two cats and a girlfriend...

Wyatt Olson, headed for a new experience teaching English in China. Wyatt grew up on the family farm southwest of Cannon Falls. He had been a journalist doing features and investigative articles at a Fort Lauderdale, Florida newspaper when he saw a notice about a teaching job in China.
So for the past two years, he has been teaching English language and journalism skills to university students in China. They were from 17-21 years of age.

Recently Wyatt came back to visit friends and family in the Cannon Falls area.
He explained that he enjoyed teaching in China. At 6’3”, Wyatt is about a foot and a half taller than most Chinese!

He found one main difference in the styles of teaching in the U.S. and China - “The Chinese memorize stuff and regurgitate it on a test.” Wyatt was trying to teach his students that learning should be fun – but this was a foreign concept to them.

Although Wyatt was home during the Olympics hosted by China, he recalled the effort China made to put it on. The government designed a zone from the airport to the Games site which was created for the world to see.
Wyatt felt “The Olympic Games presentation was to show a more positive collaboration between the government and the people.” And “The Olympics was a show for the Chinese people.” Due to the closely controlled newspapers, TV and internet, Wyatt explained that basically “China is a self-absorbed, closed society.”
The promotional build-up for the Olympic Games, he believed, “took on an almost religious fervor even describing the Olympic flame as “sacred”.

Wyatt personally has never felt anti-American sentiment but during the preparation for the Olympic Games this summer he felt more scrutiny – possibly from their concern for terrorists.
The Chinese are a pretty reserved people, he has found. So he found it strange to see the girls competing in the gymnastic competitions hugging each other when they finished their competition. Hugging is not usually done in the Chinese culture.

Wyatt continued, “Culturally the Chinese are not a demonstrative people. Even their language is indirect.”
When asking a question that just requires a simple Yes or No, you find you won’t get such a simple answer. For example if you asked, “Does this bus go to Hong Kong?” the answer would be a repeat of the verb, either "Goes" or "Not goes".

Also, in many cases a yes or no question is too forward. In the case of asking to interview someone, you might make the statement: “It would be interesting to interview you.”
Wyatt explained, “Now, an American probably wouldn't view that as a request, but in China that could be interpreted as asking for an interview. If the person being asked doesn't want to, he/she would simply ignore it. This way, neither party is put on the spot or embarrassed.”
“If, however, you came out and directly asked someone for an interview in a yes/no question, rarely would someone directly say ‘no’.

“One of the all-purpose phrases in Chinese translates to: ‘That would be inconvenient.’ This can be used to mean ‘no,’ ‘ask me again some other time’ or ‘it's an inconvenient time.’ (Yes, it's enough to pull your hair out over!)”

Wyatt explained this cultural aspect with an experience that happened to him in China. “I was with a student's father once. He was driving me around the city showing me some sights. He spoke no English, so I was using my limited Chinese.
“We passed a Starbucks, and to make conversation, I told him that I liked coffee very much. From that moment on he was hellbent on taking me to a coffee shop, figuring, quite naturally in China, that I had just asked him to take me to a coffee shop.”

Wyatt loves China. “It’s challenging,” he enthused. “Everything is new to me. You’re always surprised!”

And although Wyatt’s girlfriend decided to go back to the U.S. with her cat, Wyatt and his cat, Carl, will be making the move to Shenzhen, China later this month. He will start a new job as an editor at a government controlled (“They all are.”) English newspaper. The newspaper’s website is: http://paper.sznews.com/szdaily/.

The sports writing class Wyatt taught.

"We went to a bowling alley for the final class. Most of them had never bowled before."

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"Blitz Krieg" Brian Fan Club!

Photo permission Minnesota Vikings

Although Vikings Defensive End, Brian Robison #96 ended up last year as a starter, this year the Vikings hired Jared Allen in his position and Robison hasn't had much chance to play.

This reminded me of "Benchwarmer Bob" Lurtsema. He was a good athlete but he became even more popular with his good natured kidding of his sitting on the bench during a game.

But I decided that Brian Robison, should leave the benchwarming to the fans in the stands and we can call him, "Blitz Krieg Brian"!

Go Blitz Krieg! The rest of us Benchwarmers are rooting for you!

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Minnesota Vikings Country - Brian Robison Fan Club

is strictly just for fun!
There are no dues and no rules.
For information about any parties or game plans -
contact unofficial coordinator, Rosie via e-mail: Minnesotavikingsfans@yahoo.com