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It is finally here -- the annual Celebration of the Lakes is set to begin tomorrow. All indications are that Mother Nature will cooperate and give us ballooning weather. I hope you had a chance to read the Celebration of the Lakes circular that was in your last week's Search Shopper. If you missed it, you can pick one up at the Chamber in Lindstrom, or at a lot of businesses in the area. The circular contains a schedule of events, a story about last year's ambassador, and some ballooning tidbits from resident ballon aficionado John Schmidt.

Along with some really great photos by Carlton Erickson and Tom Almond, you will find a group of local businesses that are proud sponsors of either the circular, the celebration or both. I hope you get a chance to check it out, it really turned out great this year.

I have been writing about the celebration for weeks now, not because it is something we print. The real reason I write so much about the celebration is because it is easily my favorite celebration of the year. We have some really great celebrations throughout the year, but there is just something about being out on the ice and watching those balloons float over town. Seriously, if you have never attended the Celebration of the Lakes, you are doing yourself a great disservice. Please come out and have some fun. It is a very casual, very relaxed and very fun atmosphere.

I almost forgot, please remember to bring your camera with when attending the celebration. Every year the Chisago County Press has a photo contest for the Celebration of the Lakes and we will again this year. Please submit your photos to: Chisago County Press, P.O. Box 748, Lindstrom, MN 55045 or e-mail your photos to [email protected].

I would like to use this spot to wish someone very important in my life a happy birthday. Linda Marsden, my mother-in-law, grew another year older this week. She is one of the very special people in my life, and she deserves a wonderful birthday. Happy Birthday Mom.

Speaking of moms, here is an e-mail I received the other day that I would like to share with you.

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question. Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?" 

I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young. I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.  

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flowerbeds and cockleburs out of dad's fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed. 

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place. 

 God bless the parents who drugged us.

Denise Weitz

Pretty good stuff huh?

 

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