In late March, as “The Great Hunkering” began, my mom (aka. Gracie) began sitting down to her piano each weekend to play hymns. Since I had moved to her place so she wouldn’t be isolated, I was on hand to record her playing. Then I decided to start posting them, first on Facebook, and later […]
A Recluse Hero
In honor of Memorial Day, I am re-publishing this post I wrote about my mom’s cousin, who ferried soldiers to the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. I always knew him simply as Cousin Del, even though he was actually my mom’s cousin, not mine. He never married and took care of his mother until her death. […]
A Birthday Parade
Yesterday, April 22, was my mom’s (Aka Gracie) 93rd birthday. As readers of this blog know, we have a history of trying to pull off wild events to help her celebrate. For her 70th birthday, we arranged for her to drive a tractor. For her 80th, a friend got her in to a hockey arena […]
A Tribute to My Father, 2020
Nineteen years ago, I was at a small beachside resort in southern Thailand when I got word that my father had died. Within 24 hours I was on a plane bound for Minnesota. Below are the words that I spoke in farewell and tribute to my dad at his memorial service on January 25, 2001 […]
A Tribute to My Father, 2019
Eighteen years ago, I was at a small beachside resort in southern Thailand when I got word that my father had died. Within 24 hours I was on a plane bound for Minnesota. Below are the words that I spoke in farewell and tribute to my dad at his memorial service on January 25, 2001 […]
Gracie on the Air
Last week, my mom (aka Gracie) was invited by Bill Arnold to be on his afternoon radio program on Faith Radio (KTIS) in the Twin Cities. He does a regular spot he calls “Words of the Wise,” where he features conversations with people who are over 80. She qualifies! You can listen to the interview here. […]
