Category Archives: Journal

Sharing more about me, less about (almost) everything else

A Stained Glass Window, a Baron, Initiative and Rules

It’s been about a half-century since I worked for the Red River Valley Historical Society. Articles I wrote for their Red River Valley Heritage Press are in the MSMM Archives, and that’s another topic.1 Something I liked about that historical … Continue reading

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Stearns County Fair 2025: Lightning, Hail, and Then Blue Skies

I took that picture of the Stearns County Fair while coming back from an errand last Saturday. It’s about as close to being there as I’ve gotten in the last several years. But since this household isn’t much more than … Continue reading

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If She Wants a Door, She Gets a Door

My oldest daughter suggested that I start telling ‘family stories’ about eight months back: which struck me as a good idea. This week’s, involving a door and — I think — showing where I get some of my attitudes and … Continue reading

Posted in Discursive Detours, Family Stories, Journal, Series | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Four Generations in America

I wrote this paper in 1972 for Dr. K. Smemo’s History 349, The Scandinavians in America. I’m planning to share a ‘family story’ or two about this side of the family in Saturday’s post: which will be both shorter, and … Continue reading

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Dr. Hong, Ancient History, and the Bible

I’ve had memorable instructors. Most of them were memorable in good ways. Like Dr. Hong,1 who taught Moorhead State’s ancient history classes in the early 1970s. By the time I graduated, I think I’d taken every ‘ancient history’ class the … Continue reading

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