Reflections on New Year's Eve

This New Year's Eve I am spending it alone in Colfax WI with my dog, Maxine and my grand puppy, Juno. Who would have thought a year ago that I would be living in Wisconsin and that my daughter, Lacey, would be a dog owner? I naturally assumed that I would be born and die in Minnesota, but life can change very quickly. Lacey has never really liked dogs, but now she has a cocker spaniel puppy named Juno. One thing I have learned in this life is never say never.

I can remember very few New Year's Eves. They all seem to melt into the next; probably because most of the time I am in bed before midnight. However, there are three that I do remember. The first is Y2K (2000) because the world feared that everything would fall to pieces. I also remember it because we had a fire at my dad's farm and drank Cold Duck (for my husband's sake), and my dad actually stood out by the fire with us at midnight. I will never forget that night (I hope). We all waited for the countryside to go dark at midnight, and it didn't happen. My dad would have been 86 at the time. The next one I remember was spent at our friend's house in Osakis, MN. We spent the evening at Mikko and Tudy's house with a fire in their wood burning fireplace, and our daughter Olivia was there. She slept on the floor in front of the fire with their cat, Clawdy (who is no longer with us). At midnight there was music, and we sang Auld Lang Syne. The last one I remember was two years ago when my daughter, Tahnee, and I were in Guatemala. This one is hard to beat, and I can't imagine what could surpass it. We were in Antigua, and we met my former Spanish teacher, Blanca, and her two daughters. We took them out to eat and then walked around the central park for awhile. After they left, Tahnee and I walked through the streets amazed by all the people. The streets were packed, and we watched some dancers. There were whole families out enjoying the evening. At midnight, the lights on the arch changed from 2009 to 2010, and there were fireworks. Also, we listened to the crowd countdown from ten to one in Spanish.

We then quickly went back to our room to try to get a little sleep before heading back to Minnesota early the next morning.

Thought for the day: Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors and let every new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

A Weekend With Melody

Due to her parents having Christmas parties to attend, Melody was able to spend last weekend with us in our new home in Wisconsin. The last time she was here, there was no furniture. This time it seemed a bit more like Grandma's house.

Our first item of business was stopping at the Menomonie library to get books and movies. We found both, the movies being both Barbie themed. Those movies were watched several times over the course of two days. She is in that stage when Barbie is all it. I do wish for the sake of the adults that have to watch them along with the children that the plot could be mixed up a bit. It is always the sweet sugar coated Barbie characters and some type of evil witch figure. The witch always has a bumbling inept assistant. Of course, in the end, Barbie always reigns. She was especially fond of the Diamond Castle movie because one of the characters was named Melody.

Since is was close to Christmas, we did a few rounds of Jingle Bells on the banjo, piano and bell. Brian, myself and Melody took turns on the different instruments.

We also took a walk downtown to the train museum which always fascinates her. She especially is amazed by being able to walk across the actual tracks before we reach the old trains. When we told her one of the cars was 100 years old, she was shocked! It was built before her great Grandpa Peterson was born, and it was nice to see her equate time with Grandpa Peterson.

We walked to the restaurant for dinner Friday evening and downtown on Saturday evening for ice cream. There were Christmas decorations along the way, and she recognized our house when she saw the star hanging from the streetlight in front. So we gave her a little taste of small town living. She also found the drawer where we keep our change which prompted a couple walks to the dollar store.

Melody always tells me that she will wear me out and does a good job at fulfilling that.

Thought for the day: A Garden of Love grows in a Grandmother's heart.

snapshots of Colfax

Colfax WI is a village with a population of about 1200 and is located about 20 miles from Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls or Menomonie. I have learned that Wisconsin residents love football (or shall I say the Packers), hunting and drinking. You can buy alcohol here in all the grocery stores and even on Sundays. Of course, people everywhere enjoy drinking; they just don't seem to be ashamed of it. Every day the noon whistle blows in Colfax which I find charming. There is a local grocery store, two banks, two bars, post office and a public library. The people are very friendly and welcoming.

Today I walked our dog to the end of Main Street and back. While doing so, I snapped a few photos of the village. The library is located in an old building that reminds me so much of the elementary school I attended. Their claim to fame is that they are at the halfway point between the North Pole and the Equator.

I do feel at home here in Colfax; perhaps it is because I grew up on a farm and attended school and church in a small MN town. I guess when it gets right down to it, people and places really aren't that much different.

Thought for the day: The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you're doing, someone else does.

The Beverly Hillbillies??

We officially closed on our home in Colfax WI on October 28th; however, the actual moving process has been done in steps. Since Brian was working here and moved in before I did, some items were sent with him. Each time I came out here, my little VW Beetle would be loaded to the max. Once I got a job in the area and officially moved to Colfax, I had a professional mover bring all the large items as well as some tubs and boxes.

This past weekend we returned to Alexandria together so Brian could get his wonderful 1978 Ford truck that was given to him by his good friend, Bill Ellenberger. We loaded up the back of the truck with bikes, chairs, skis, etc and hoped he would actually make it through the Twin Cities and back to Colfax.

Before he pulled out, I snapped a couple photos because it reminded me of either the Beverly Hillbillies or perhaps the Depression era where families piled into their vehicles along with every thing they owned and headed out West in hope of a better life.

Those who know us would not be surprised that we would have to at least have one part of our moving experience be crazy and unique.

Thought for the day: He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away. Raymond Hull

My friend, Lois

When I was in high school, somehow I met this girl named Lois Lee. She is what some might call "special" in that she can function in the world but not at the capacity that most of us can. She did graduate from high school and has always worked in her adult life as a dishwasher. I would occasionally see her at The Brass Lantern restaurant over the years. I accompanied her to our 25th class reunion, and she knew how to work the room.

In 2004 we moved to a different home on the same street in Alexandria, and much to my surprise Lois lived right next door with her mother. Her mother lived on the main floor while Lois had an apartment upstairs and ate meals downstairs. She now was working at Perkins where she still is employed. She was so excited that I was going to be her neighbor! She got to know my daughters and eventually my granddaughters. About two years ago due to her mother's age and condition, it was decided that Lois should move to a group home setting so she was no longer officially my neighbor, but we still visited and kept in touch.

Now her mother lives in assisted living, and Lois has moved to an apartment. For the first time in her adult life, she is living totally on her own with help from a few people. Now we have moved, but I did stop and visit Lois at her new place when in Alexandria last weekend. She is quite proud of her place and is learning to cook. Before heading back to Wisconsin, I dropped off a few kitchen items that I didn't need any longer. It makes me feel good to know that some of my stuff is now being used by a good friend who is embarking on a new adventure.

Thought for the day: If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the aching or Cool one pain, or Help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. Emily Dickinson