Bombings have made us numb; set your DVR's we have a celebrity

Yesterday, I spent a good chunk of the day watching video footage of the bombings in Boston. As I write this there are three people dead and many people with serious injuries. When I first heard of the bombings, my immediate thoughts went back to September 11. That day I was working as an electrician in South Minneapolis. I could not think about anything but getting home to my family. It consumed my thoughts, I found myself speeding home that afternoon. I embraced my children for a few minutes (probably felt like forever to them), and counted my blessings. Yesterday, it was my daughter who called me and asked if I had seen footage of the bombings. She wondered if I was alright. What a complete and utter turn of reaction. I am supposed to be the one worrying about the welfare of my family, and here is this sixth grader looking out for her father. Wow.

I also got to thinking, what kind of life do our children have where they now are accustomed to bombings, murders, terrorists, and other hideous acts? I know terror has been around forever and always will be, but the level we have reached in the last 15 years or so is a jump of epic proportion. I don't want to sound like I’m giving up on the world, I am not. In fact, the number of people attending churches in our country is growing exponentially. This is not meant to be a church based comment, rather I am trying to show the people of our country seem to be getting stronger in community and faith. Some day it would be nice to have a grandchild ask me why did people USED to bomb other people?

Next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Zion Lutheran Church will be holding their annual Garage/Bake Sale. There will be tons of great items for sale as well as many baked goodies for purchase. These good folks put on this sale for one reason, to help fight Cancer. All and I mean 100 percent of proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. What an amazing gesture. I hope you can come out and support this great cause and get some tasty goodies while you are there.

As I began to finally crawl out of the darkness that is the indoors, I slowly have been manuevering around Lindstrom (It takes time to build up your walking muscles you know). As I ventured out and looked down the beautifully renovated downtown (I am being serious - I like it), I have noticed something fairly alarming. No the Paladium has not re-opened (used to be an old arcade in Lindstrom), our new road needs to be re-named. We need to change it from Highway 8 to the Indy 500. Maybe it is just me getting old, but traffic in downtown Lindstrom seems to fly. Every day at the Post Office I see cars barreling around other cars to jockey for position for the long stretch of two lane highway. If the police want to make some money, they will start patrolling the strip. Otherwise if the city would like to generate some added income, they could charge for radar runs through town.

Mark you calendars, set your VCR’s..sorry DVR’s, our area is about to get some statewide attention. On May 5, KARE will broadcast their very popular Minnesota Bound with Ron Schara. Ron is well known among outdoor enthusiasts and has become a Minnesota icon along with his black labs. Last year, the film crew from Minnesota Bound came to Lindstrom to film the Chisago Lakes Lions Club Carp Festival. They took hours of footage detailing the festival and the people involved. I know it has been a year since the last Carp contest, but it took the film crew that long to either edit founder Steve Levey out of the scenes, or at least touch him up enough for television. Of course I am kidding, but the reason for this piece showing now is the Carp contest is happening very soon. You can still register by stopping in Frankie’s Live Bait in Chisago City. I hope you have a chance to watch the show and I really hope you take part in the contest.

If you have already mailed your subscription renewal in and still get a blue card in the mail, just discard the blue card. There is always a small overlap in the mailing. Thank you.