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Pet scanned

I celebrated the first full day of my retirement with a PET scan in the morning and a tonsillectomy in the afternoon. People have asked me over the past several months what my plans were for retirement. I had a few ideas, but none included dealing with tonsil cancer. A week prior to these procedures, I met Dr. Jameson, my otolaryngologist (today’s challenge is to say “otolaryngologist” three times as fast as you can) and his physician’s assistant, Leslie Smith. I tried to tease Leslie about being the baddie Dr. Smith in the TV series “Lost In Space,” but she was ...

A bumpy road ahead

It all began with a cat scratch. Some months ago, I was playing with our cat, Sparkles. It turned out that my cat-like reflexes were no match for an actual cat, and I was issued some minor scratches. No big deal. I’ve been scratched by cats many times. Then one morning I awoke with a stiff neck. That sort of thing happens. No big deal. Rubbing my jaw, I noticed a lump which I was able to identify as an enlarged lymph node. Google informed me that it could be cat scratch fever. This is an actual malady and not just a song by Ted Nugent. I went to my primary care physician and ...

When you never have to say ‘sorry’

The best jobs in Washington are the ones in which you never have to admit error and apologize. These jobs are mostly in government and the major media. While “Love means never having to say you’re sorry” (as a married man I know that’s not true), messing up in government means one can blame others, or feign ignorance. Most recently we saw that reflected in Dr. Anthony Fauci’s testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. Similarly, misreporting or censoring stories by news organizations never seem to get corrected. Now comes the Hunter Biden ...

Old Timers Day memories

I have a soft spot for Volga’s Old Timers Day celebration and not just because I’m an old timer. My wife and I had skipped this event for several years due to overscheduling. This was nothing less than a severe lack of proper priorities. So, we decided to take in Old Timers Day this year. We parked our car by the house of our friends Tim and Sharon, who happen to live only half a block away from the parade staging area. A short stroll with lawn chairs in hand brought us to a prime parade viewing area, a grassy lawn in the shade of tall trees. The weather was balmy with a ...

Anti-police sentiment has got to end

The second clause of The American Legion preamble to its constitution reads; “To maintain Law and Order,” a clause that is recited before all official meetings. Minnesota cannot expect to conduct a civil society, build an economy and practice a vibrant democracy amid crime and indifference to crime. The anti-police sentiment flourishing through some parts of Minnesota has to stop. We are not a lawless society, and we need to have respect for all Minnesotans and obey the law. It was a disgrace to see Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty use a State Patrol traffic stop for her ...

Mr. Gorbachev: Why Minnesota?

On June 3rd, 1990, Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev came to Minnesota. At the time, he had begun to reform the failing Communist system. He was one of the most significant figures of the Twentieth Century. His visit to Minnesota received international attention. It was an unseasonably cold, blustery day. I wrote this then. Earl Kruger has since passed away. Earl was a real person. The Kretschmers occasionally show up in my column. They are real to me. Paul and Julia have since grown. Bart quit farrowing and put up a finishing barn for Schwartz Farms. Katherine battled with her novel ...