Tag: Memories

Unforgettable Moments

When I was growing up, my mother drove Chevrolet station wagons. They had wood paneling on the sides, vinyl seats that could burn your legs on hot summer days, and an 8-track player. We had a limited selection of 8-track tapes stored in a faux alligator skin box. One of my favorite tapes was “I Got Lucky” by Elvis Presley. I enjoyed listening to it while we drove around town or went on road trips. Truth be told, it was one of his worst albums, but I loved it.

On June 21, 1977, Elvis performed a concert in my hometown, marking the first event held at the brand-new civic center. This was my first concert (not counting elementary school Christmas concerts). Though it was a long time ago, my memories of that evening are still vivid. The excitement in the building before the concert was palpable. When the lights dimmed and “Also sprach Zarathustra” started playing, I knew we were in for an amazing show.

When Elvis walked onto the stage, the lightbulbs began popping, accompanied by the screams of excited women. I will never forget those screams. It was evident that Elvis was larger than life. He delivered a tremendous show before walking off the stage. Less than two months later, we were all shocked by his sudden death. In the fall of 1977, we gathered around our television to watch the Elvis In Concert CBS Special, which featured the same concert.

That night in June 1977 had a profound impact on me. I fell in love with the music of Elvis Presley. My first cassette tape purchase was “Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite.” I must have listened to that tape a thousand times, and I can still sing most of the songs from memory.

In the years since the concert, many people have commented that it wasn’t Elvis Presley’s best performance. In fact, it wasn’t. He was significantly heavier than in earlier parts of his career and forgot many lyrics, often slurring his words. When I compare the concert I attended to other performances I’ve seen, it’s clear that I didn’t witness his finest work. However, even at his worst, his performance was still remarkable.

I still have my ticket stub from that concert, tucked away. It’s a simple piece of paper, but each time I see it, I’m transported back to that night. I’m not entirely sure why I’ve held onto it all these years, but perhaps it’s because some moments in life are so impactful that we want to preserve them forever.

6/9/72

Some numbers stick with you. For me, they are 6/9/1972, a date, and 238, the number of deaths.

On June 9, 1972, in western South Dakota, it started to rain. My only memory of that evening is standing outside under our covered front entryway while my father smoked. As I watched him, I noticed that the raindrops were the biggest I had ever seen. When I mentioned this to my dad, he suggested we go back inside because it was bedtime.

On the evening of June 9, 1972, our family went to bed early. When we awoke the next morning, we were unaware of the tragic events that had occurred overnight. Persistent clouds over the Black Hills resulted in severe flash flooding that devastated the Rapid City area. By the morning of June 10, there were 238 fatalities, and more than 1,300 homes had been destroyed.

My father was a medical doctor in our community. That morning, my mother received a call from the hospital asking if my dad would be coming into work. She was surprised by the question because she was unaware of what had happened. The hospital explained that there had been a severe storm that caused significant damage, and his services were urgently needed.

In the days, weeks, months, and years following the flood, I began to hear more stories. I learned about a classmate and friend who lost his father and two brothers, one of whom was never found. I heard about a friend of my sister’s who survived in an air pocket inside a submerged vehicle while her brothers slowly succumbed. I listened to the accounts of the screams that echoed during the disaster. I witnessed the devastation firsthand.

Our house and family were on high ground, so we were safe from the flooding. However, some friends of ours lost everything and had to stay with us until they could find a new place to live. My preschool was destroyed. While I’m not sure, I believe my father’s office was flooded but did not sustain permanent damage.

It has been over 50 years, but I still vividly remember many events from the time of the flood. Growing up, I encountered haunting reminders of the devastation: driveways where homes once stood, streets that are now vacant and abandoned, and buildings bearing the names of those who perished. Many of these reminders are still visible today if you know where to look (see picture at top of steps from a house washed away in the flood still present). Ironically, much of this is located along a beautiful greenway and bike trail that were created in the aftermath of the destruction.

In recent years, on this anniversary, I have taken the time to read through a list of the names of those who lost their lives. I reflect on friends who were affected by the flood and how suddenly life can change. This reminds me of what Marcus Aurelius wrote over 2000 years ago: “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do, say, and think.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 2, Section 11.

This is dedicated to all who were affected by the 1972 flood but more specifically to Shirley, Steve, Sarah, Andy, Lisa, Mike, and JoAnn.

Day 19 Gratitude Challenge – The Picture

Four years ago, as I was completing the first gratitude challenge, I made two posts in Facebook.

One was about gratitude see below. I think these words are still applicable.

Today we are to consider the challenges we have faced in our lives. What can I find to be grateful for for in those challenges. While there are many examples, there is a present challenge that exists. How to survive during a pandemic. The present challenge requires me to view the world through a different lens and focus on what matters. I have intentionally tried to direct my energy toward things that matter. I am grateful that the pandemic has caused me to look at an approach life differently.

The other post from that day is at the top of this one. When I took that picture and made that post, I was not aware that my life was about to undergo a dramatic transformation.

I looked at that picture and immediately realized that something needed to change. My health and weight were out of control. That day, I started researching options and quietly began my transformation. Ultimately, I lost about 60 pounds but have since gained back around 15 of those. What’s interesting is that I find my current weight unacceptable, even though it is still lower than my original goal.

So, today’s challenge is to be grateful for your challenges and difficulties.

Day 4 – 2024 Gratitude Challenge

As I take a moment to write this, I’m gearing up to spend a few cherished hours in the here and now, watching my beloved Minnesota Vikings. I know how important it is to focus on the present, which means setting aside the distractions of past regrets and future uncertainties. It’s a gentle reminder that being fully present can bring joy and connection. This was the challenge for Day 3.

It is also important to spend time reflecting on the past. We often overlook the true value of a moment. Consider the memories that brighten your life—what are the ones that make you smile, laugh, or even bring a heartwarming tear to your eye? Take a journey down memory lane and share those beautiful moments with your family and friends. Remember to reach out to those who played a part in creating those memories with you. Celebrate the connections that make those memories so extraordinary!

At the top of this post is a picture that holds a special place in my heart. It is from the Black Hills, a region I haven’t called home for a while. Nevertheless, the memories I’ve created there are vivid and alive, each serving as a beautiful reminder of the adventures and moments that have shaped me.

Day 19 Beautiful Things

The purpose of this challenge is to take a moment to appreciate the beauty surrounding us. A few days ago, I shared a post about the beauty of a gift I received—a camera. I also included one of my favorite football pictures. Below is the story about one of the first pictures I took.

When I was young, my mother used to give each of her children a Christmas ornament every year. Some years, the ornaments had a similar theme. I remember a Wizard of Oz themed year and another year with a fairy tale theme, when I got a Puss-in-Boots ornament. My first ornament was a train, and I still have it.

When I was three or four, I received a football player ornament that became my favorite. Even now, it remains front and center on our tree, a reminder of Christmases past, present, and future. I took one of the first pictures with my new camera of this special ornament. Like me, it has aged. While some may not find it beautiful, it holds a special meaning for me. Sometimes, beauty is found in memories or photo albums.

Day 16 – Beautiful Things

Over the weekend, my youngest son paid us a visit. Amidst the excitement of a wedding and catching up with his buddies, he managed to squeeze in some quality time with us. We even hit the golf course for a few rounds. While he’s now a better golfer than I am, we always have a playing together. It’s great to see him thriving and it’s even better to share these moments with him.

Day 10 Beautiful Things

I was in downtown Minneapolis about a week ago for a meeting. While waiting, I looked out the window and saw Shindig. Although the name is still on the building, it has been closed for a couple of years, a victim of the pandemic and economic challenges. Most people only see it as an abandoned, closed event center.

It’s a charming venue with a small chapel-like room connected to a slightly larger event space with a bar. It would be perfect for a group of 50-100 people.

Even though most people pass by this place without giving it much attention, I always smile when I see it. It holds a special place in my heart because it’s where my oldest child got married just before the pandemic. It was a beautiful day with beautiful people, and I have so many wonderful memories from that day and that place.

As Many With as Without


“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

 

Time is an interesting concept. Today is a day that marks a significant moment in my life. Many years ago, on this day, I was born into this world. As I grow older, I am reminded that each birthday is a precious gift and should be celebrated.

This weekend, I’m just not feeling the birthday cheer. It’s the eighth time my birthday has landed on a Saturday, and it always sends me on a trip down memory lane.

On a beautifully sunny birthday, I was enjoying a morning round of golf with two new friends in a new town. As we strolled off the green of our 12th hole and headed towards the 13th tee, a young man in a golf cart handed me an urgent note from the pro shop. Written in striking red ink, the note read, “Paramedics called. Call your mom at home.”

This was before cell phones became prevalent. As I was at the furthest point on the course from the clubhouse, I rode back to the clubhouse with the young man. While I did not know exactly what had happened, I knew this ride would be a turning point in my life.

As I reached the clubhouse, I called my mother and received devastating news. She informed me that my father had passed away and asked me to return home immediately. It was difficult to comprehend – I had just hugged him less than 12 hours before. It felt like a surreal and heartbreaking moment. The next day was Father’s Day.

I continue to feel a deep sense of sadness about my father not being here. I often find myself wishing he could have met my wife and sons, and for them to have had the opportunity to meet him.

Today feels like a significant turning point. My father has been absent from my life for as long as he was present. In recent years, I’ve pondered how I would feel. I can confirm that little has changed as I write this.

So forgive me if I don’t want to celebrate or play golf this weekend. Maybe I will have a shot whisky or glass of wine in his honor, but there won’t be a party.

Reflections from the past

Although I usually don’t write about politics, this story is more about people and relationships than it is about politics.

It was a unique moment in the history of South Dakota. It was a time of great political turmoil, nine months after the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of the governor and seven others. With the Democratic party controlling the state senate and the Republican party controlling the state house, the stage was set for an intense election year. The Republican Governor, Walter Dale Miller, was about to face a primary challenge from the former governor Bill Janklow, who would later go on to win both the primary and the general election. As a rookie lobbyist and political enthusiast, I was fortunate enough to witness this historic event and learn about politics and the legislative process firsthand.

I learned about the importance of understanding the process and procedure of the legislature. I learned about strategy and advocacy. However, the most important lesson I learned was the importance of personal relationships.

To provide some context, South Dakota has a longstanding reputation as a conservative state, with a political landscape that has traditionally been dominated by Republicans both in the legislature and the governor’s office. As a lobbyist, I was faced with the challenge of garnering support for my proposed bills from lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum, even when their views were at odds with my own. This required a delicate balancing act and a nuanced approach to negotiation and persuasion.

One day early in my career, I was working a couple of bills. This involved discussion with several committee members about the merits of the bill. I thought I had done a good job. I spoke to most of the committee. All indicated support for the bill.

There was one committed member I didn’t lobby. Arrogantly, I thought I didn’t need to lobby him. I had enough votes. I didn’t need his vote. Plus, his nickname was “Grumpy” and I was intimidated. This was a big mistake.

During committee testimony, Grumpy began peppering me with questions about the bill. The inquiry was sharp and relevant. With each question, I could feel my chances slipping away. Soon, the testimony closed, and the committee began discussing the bill. After some back and forth, Grumpy motioned to kill my bill. The motion passed, and my bill was defeated.

After losing the vote, I left the committee room on the fourth floor of the capital and walked down to the second floor where the Governor’s office was located. As I walked along the hallways, I noticed paintings of former governors hanging on the walls. Feeling sorry for myself, I spoke to the portraits and asked for guidance. The former governors spoke to me clearly and advised me not to underestimate anyone, not to assume anything and to know how each committee member plans to vote before the meeting. They also suggested I talk to Grumpy first.

Later that day, I headed to the basement bar of the Kings Inn Hotel to meet up with some friends. The bar, affectionately called “The Pit”, was bustling with activity as usual. Upon my arrival before my friends, I began to look for an open seat to settle in. Luckily, I spotted a vacant spot at the bar and quickly claimed it. However, to my surprise, I realized that I was sitting right beside someone who appeared to be in a sour mood – Grumpy.

Grumpy was more formally known as Representative Al Waltman. He addressed me and expressed his concern by saying, “Hey, I hope you’re not upset with me for killing your bill today.” I fibbed and replied, “No, not at all. It’s part of the process. You made some valid points.” I anxiously searched for my friends. This incident took place before cell phones became prevalent, so I couldn’t use text messaging, Snapchat, WhatsApp, or any other messaging app to contact my friends and request their help.

What happen next was unexpected. We started conversing like two ordinary human beings. It turned out that Waltman hailed from my dad’s hometown. Despite being only a year apart, they moved in different social circles an didn’t know each other. Interestingly, Waltman had graduated from high school with my uncle but didn’t know him either. As we talked, we discussed various topics ranging from family, religion, politics, hobbies, and anything else that came to mind. When my friends finally appeared, I told them I would catch up with them later at a different location.

Waltman and I continued our conversation. We even talked about the bill. By the end of the conversation, he understood my position with the bill. “Why didn’t you just talk to me before committee?”, he asked. I didn’t have a good answer. But I did say, “I promise I won’t make that mistake again.” By the end of our conversation we became friends. I don’t remember if I met up with my friends.

From that night forward, whenever a bill was presented before Waltman’s committee, I would talk to him before the hearing. He would ask me tough questions and make an effort to understand my perspective. He would inform me about his stance on the bill and suggest what changes were necessary to gain his support. Sometimes, he would also offer to help the bill. Whatever his stance, he always kept his word.

We had differing political and religious views, as well as being from different generations. However, our shared love for South Dakota and respect for the process brought us together as colleagues and friends. Grumpy tried to stop some of my bills over the years. Sometimes I won and sometimes he did, but we always maintained mutual respect for each other.

I stopped lobbying around the same time Al Waltman left the legislature, and our paths never crossed again. Despite this, I still think of him often, particularly when the legislature is in session. It’s unfortunate to say that Grumpy passed away in August 2020 at the age of 89. His death was followed by the passing of my oldest brother by just a couple of weeks, which is another tie that binds us.

As I watch the current state of politics, particularly in Washington DC, I wonder what would happen if people were forced to sit next to each other at the bar for a couple of hours.

Photo courtesy of https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/pierre/arts-culture-history/historic-sites/south-dakota-state-capitol

Day 5 Gratitude Challenge

I today grateful for an extra hour of sleep. It is well documented the importance of good sleep. I am feel better and function better after a good sleep.

I must confess that I am disappointed I myself. I got a late start yesterday, got distracted with editing pictures, and never paid it forward. I will do so today. BUT it is important to give grace – to others and yourself. Sometimes things don’t go as planned.

For today, I want you to focus on a cherished memory. Make a list of your top five cherished memories. This take time to think about each memory and why you cherish it. Bonus points if you write all this down and share it. You can share it with family members or friends.

I won’t bore you with five of my most cherished memories. Truth is, I have probably bored you already with cherished memories in previous posts. However, I will share two cherished memories here.

The first happened many years ago in 1991. As many know, I am a long time Minnesota Twins fan. Through a stroke of luck, my best friend and I were able to get tickets to Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. If you have a spare three hours today, you can watch the game here. Attending that game, in that stadium, at that stage of my life, with my best friend and fellow Twins fan was an amazing moment. For those that don’t know, the Twins won the game 1-0 in 10 innings. I still get chills, thinking about the game and celebration after the Twins victory.

A second cherished memory involve a spontaneous trip to Minneapolis with my wife and youngest child. My beloved Vikings were scheduled to play his beloved Lions. The Vikings were having a great season. The Lions were awful that year ending the season with a 2-14 record (though that was an improvement over 0-16 the previous season). We stayed at a hotel that was relatively new at the time. Side note: We continue to stay at that hotel when we can. Imagine our surprise when we discovered the Detroit Lions were also staying at the hotel.

As the Lions team meetings wrapped up, players headed back to the rooms for good sleep before the big game. There was only one way to get to the room, and that way it was blocked by my son with a sharpie, notebook, and a smile. He even tracked a couple of players into the bathroom. By the end of the evening, he had obtained the autograph of most of the players. His prized autograph was of the quarterback Matthew Stafford, who not only signed his notebook, but also signed the Matthew Stafford jersey that he was wearing. The next morning the team left a hat for him. While at the game one of the Lions players remembered him from the hotel and handed him a football.

As I write this, I am smiling because it was such a wonderful experience for all of us. It almost turned me into a Lions fan! The pictures attached to this post show my son getting the autograph of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.

Long story short, we all have cherished memories that bring back good feelings. While it is unhealthy to dwell on the past, it’s OK every once in a while to think about those special moments.