Learning to ski

A water story

Seven year old girl, loves her dad¸ will try anything he says. Flathead Lake in Montana waterskiing. “Just hold on. Whatever happens, hold onto the tow rope. Just hold on.”  So she did, all the way for about a mile and a half as the water overwhelmed her, in her eyes, mouth, nose, until the watcher had the driver cut the motor. “I held on, Daddy!” she choked out. “Yes, you did, Kitty Kat!” Years, years later the joy of waterskiing successfully bubbled. And this, Dad, I did for you because your crippled legs wouldn’t let you. Love you, Dad.

Maude and friends...a swimming prank

Maude and friends had decided to go skinny dipping one night at Long Lake. It had been a long day of partying and a swim sounded relaxing. Long Lake is shallow so after dropping all their clothes on the dock, the troop of friends walked out to where the water was deep enough to submerge themselves. They swam for a while watching the stars overhead and the lightening on the other end of the lake. When they tired of swimming, they made their way back to the dock, only to find that every last stitch of clothing except for a cap and a belly-pack, were gone. They hesitated not one second, marched up the beach, down the road, and across the field, wearing that one hat and one fanny pack, shared among them all.

Anniversary of draft date

September 8, 2016
I was drafted 50 years ago today. It was my 20th birthday. We went by bus from Primghar, Iowa to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where they counted us off by twos. The twos went to the Marines and the ones went to the Army. I was a one. It was my first close call. On our way to basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas we had a two hour layover in Denver. None of us draftees were old enough to buy a beer at the airport. We were pissed. That turned out to be the least of my worries for the next two years. Anyway, I'm happy to have made it home in one piece, that's for sure. And now I'm an old man. That's really good. Maybe I will have that beer today just to catch up.
Robert Idso
St. Peter, Minnesota

My Accident

My Accident

By Clara Harder

When I was in school, I got off the school bus in front of my parent’s house. A girl I knew hit me with her car. I flew six feet in the air and broke my pelvis. I spent a month in Lake’s Region Hospital. I had to have a tutor come to the house. Dr. Armstrong saw the accident happen. He is a veterinarian. He wanted to pick me up and take me to the hospital but they said not to move me. I lost weight when I was in the hospital. I was down to 90 pounds. I knit myself a red stocking cap. Today my right side is crushed. My books and purse went flying in the air. My teacher didn’t believe me. I had to call him and tell him it was true. I had over $2,000 in the cupboard that I got in cards. They got me out of bed to teach me how to walk again. I was lucky to be alive.

On Depression

On Depression

Lonely and sad at heart

I sought soul’s consolation

I wandered down the city streets

Down to the place where rivers meet,

But nothing could my soul entreat-

Weary was I.

Weary and tired of life

I had no strength within me,

A heaviness engulfed my soul

Obliterating every goal,

My thinking was without control-

Quiet my tongue.

Quiet and all alone

Despite the friends about me,

Their gaiety and tenderness

Could not dispel the loneliness,

Nor sleep erase the weariness-

Hopeless was I.

Helpless against a foe

Returning without notice,

No armor can its sword deflect

Nor can the mind its source detect,

But man can face his foe erect,

For God, in time, heals all.

Healing, in time, will come

I know not how or where,

The heaviness will disappear

Life’s purpose again be clear,

My heart shall rise above life’s fear-

And I shall sing!

Bella Creel

1958

Smile

Smile

A smile is quite a funny thing,

It wrinkles up your face;

And when it’s done we’ll never find

It’s secret hiding place.

But far more wonderful, I think,

To know what smiles can do.

          You smile at me.

          I smile at you.

One smile now makes two.

Smiles add the happy thought-

You’re not alone, you see.

From here to there, so light and quick,

All happens easily.

The smile that we remember

Oft’ cheers a troubled heart.

Problems fade and spirits lift,

We know it from the start:

Our smile becomes a picture

Like a famous work of art!

Myra Moir

Primrose, Mankato

02-29-2008

A Christmas Cookie Story

Thank you, Erica Lynn Idso-Weisz!

Grandma Idso's Cinnamon Thumbs aka “Norwegian Little Fingers”

We all have that one food that sends us sailing back in a vortex of nostalgia the moment that you see it, smell it and taste it. For me that beautiful moment is wrapped up my Grandmother’s delicate Cinnamon Thumbs that graced our warm Christmases growing up.

These are the kind of cookies worth sneaking out in the middle of the night, at risk of stubbing your toe on the way, just to open up the freezer to be met with the glow and the rush of frigid air and the hollowed Cool Whip containers ever so carefully layered with these delicate morsels of pure joy.

I love the simplicity of this recipe. In the wise words of Julia Child, “With enough butter, anything is good." This couldn’t be truer for these simple cookies. The sugar and butter complement one another beautifully, and provide a delightfully delicious dance of flavor, lusciously kissed by the cinnamon sugar.

My Grandpa Idso, a born and bred Norske, enjoyed good belly laughs and healthy amounts of teasing. My stoic grandmother was often the recipient of a gently ribbing and though she feigned that it was “too much” I know that she loved it and him, so very much. He referred to these cookies as “Norwegian Little Fingers” and to this day I can’t help but smile whilst nibbling on these treats, thinking of his kind and fun soul teasing my grandmother about her cookies. I can still her voice playfully chiding “Oh Pete” as he dunked these sweet treats in his coffee and gave her the sweetest of half-cocked smiles.

Grandma Idso’s Cinnamon Thumbs aka “Norwegian Little Fingers”
5 T. sugar
1 c. butter, softened
2 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix and roll into ladyfinger shapes. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. While hot, roll in a mixture of 1/2 c. sugar and 1 Tbsp. cinnamon.

I love these cookies served along with another family tradition, Peppermint Bon Bon ice cream. It has to be the pink kind with ribbons of minty goodness flowing throughout. Enjoy!