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We have been scraping and saving to take a warm trip, and after this winter we all could use a break from the cold and the snow.  My wife and I and our good friends took a trip to Akumal, Mexico  last week.  Akumal is a sleepy town about two hours south of Cancun.  

Once again, there were travel restrictions due to some Americans being killed over in the Texas side of Mexico.  Without getting into the trip (which was 85 degrees every day and sunny),  the travel portion of the trip couldn’t have gone smoother or safer.   Cancun airport is notorious for being a zoo and one of the slowest airports in the world.  This visit, it was by far and away the fastest, easiest experience we have ever had.  So glad we had a chance to get away and I was disappointed to see that ugly white stuff still on the ground when we got back.

Sad news to learn of when I returned from my trip.  Sally Barott passed away after a long battle with illness.  I met Sally my second day on the job here at the Press.  She came across as a pushy know-it-all at first but as I grew to know her, I realized she was one of the sweetest, big hearted people I have ever met.  She absolutely loved our community and worked her tail off to promote it and the businesses in it.  She and her mother ran a super-successful bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Shafer.

They had an amazing connection with the Swedish community.  It had to be five times a summer that she would bring in a group of Swedish tourists to see the statues and the Vilhelm Moberg desk here at the Press offices.  

Sally was a great person and I will miss her dearly, as will many of you.  

Last week I also missed the funeral of one of my favorite teachers growing up, Ambrose Ramola.  Mr. Ramola was my math teacher multiple years (no, I didn’t flunk) in high school.  He was a diminutive man who dressed like a math teacher, pocket protector and all.  But the one thing that endeared me to Mr. Ramola was his unbelievable dry sense of humor.  And if you were not listening closely, you would miss some of the funniest one-liners a high school student could ever hear.  If you know me, you know I love sarcasm, especially directed at myself.  Mr. Ramola’s was top notch, but in a good way.  I knew his kids as they were close to my age and they all turned out great.  I will miss Mr. Ramola and that dry wit.

Remember—Easter egg hunt this Saturday at Paradise Park, Chisago City!  Bring the kids (dress appropriate for the weather) with their decorated bonnets or baseball caps and get ready for some fun!  Begins at 2pm sharp.

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