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Helping angels unaware

Local Columns

My mother was the queen of hospitality and regularly had guests for a meal or a cup of coffee. Of course, she always had homemade baked goods ready to share, too. Mom often quoted an adage about helping angels unaware. She was referring to Hebrews 13:2 in the Bible: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (NIV) I don’t know if Mom ever showed hospitality to an angel, but I sometimes wonder if I did. It was a cold November day in the mid-1990s. A stranger walked into my office one ...

More than 'a little off the top'

Local Columns

I needed a haircut. Badly. It’s one of “those things” that I keep putting off; honestly, I have no idea why. Suffice it to say that I finally asked some of the guys at a veteran’s coffee morning and every one sitting at the table said, “Go see Russ.” I did and had a memorable ...

Wrestling with an internet diagnosis

Local Columns

Most doctors advise against looking to the internet for medical advice, particularly to diagnose a health problem. A bit of a rebel, I did so anyway and as far as I can tell I suffer from akathisia. Google tells me this is a “a neuropsychiatric syndrome and movement disorder that makes it difficult to sit or remain still due to an inner restlessness.” Or, I’m guessing, it could be a symptom of a loquacious old geezer with juvenile impatience. One of the old Greek philosophers said, “Know thyself.” Ironically, we don’t know who actually said it, but Socrates, Plato and ...

That wonderful memory, the movie theater

Local Columns

It’s the middle of July — hot days, warm evenings and, hopefully, a thunderstorm or two to help relieve the heat and make the corn grow. This time of year brings back great memories for me. Growing up in Minnesota, summer meant going to the cabin every weekend, with a couple of breaks for ...

Goodbye hugs are becoming more precious

Local Columns

Over a span of four Sundays this summer, Julie and I participated in three family reunions. That’s a lot of kinfolks and a lot of good eating. My siblings and I and our offspring gathered on June 9. Julie’s siblings and their offspring gathered on June 16. And my cousins and our offspring gathered on July 7. When I was younger I was the second or third generation represented at family reunions. Nowadays, I’m the first or second generation represented. Such was the case at the Huisman Reunion where I was the oldest. We gathered in the Blairsburg Town Park, which features an ...

Let's get back to work — together

Local Columns

It’s good to be back. The flags are flying proudly, snapping in a wonderful Iowa breeze. I’m enjoying that first cup of early morning coffee, waiting for the sun to slowly light up Our Neighborhood with long shadows, turning the acres of grass to brilliant green. The birds are just waking, letting others know that they’re up. It was a great vacation, so rewarding and rejuvenating: a month-long drive through the wonders of western U.S. national parks, sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean and the still-snow capped peaks of those incomparable Rocky Mountains. Now we’re back and ...