My folks had a 1957 Pontiac Chieftain four-door sedan, not unlike this one.
Many towns here in central Minnesota host fireworks displays on Independence Day, but not Sauk Centre.
Fireworks and Family
Sauk Centre’s Sinclair Lewis Days parade. (July 2013)
It’s not that the town disapproves of the Fourth of July, or fireworks, or loud noises: our big-deal midsummer celebration is Sinclair Lewis Days, later this month. And that’s another topic.
Going to fireworks displays wasn’t part of this household’s way of life, back when our kids were growing up.
Again: it’s not that we disapprove of fireworks. In this case, it just didn’t happen. More accurately, as our oldest daughter reminded me, my wife “had a rather strict bedtime for us even in the summer. And actually going would cost money”.
On the other hand, back in the day, my folks took me to July Fourth celebrations. We lived in Moorhead, Minnesota: Independence Day fireworks displays weren’t more than a few blocks from where we lived.
The times I remember in any detail, we walked: either to Concordia Field — this was before they put a football stadium, classroom buildings, residence halls, an organic garden, a baseball field — basically, while it was still one big open space.
Right. For a while, Moorhead’s Independence Day fireworks were on Concordia Field. Later, the displays were on Moorhead State’s — it’s MSUM now — football field.
I’ve got a few maybe-worth-retelling memories of those outings, including the time Moorhead’s Fourth of July fireworks should have been rained out.
Tucked Under the Rear Window
Patriotic pop can. (2008)
Anyway, today I’ll focus, briefly — very briefly — on one of the earliest times my folks took me to see fireworks.
I’m pretty sure it was while our 1957 Pontiac Chieftain was new.
I remember almost nothing of that night’s fireworks. But I do remember how my folks took me to see them.
We went around the time I would have been going to bed.
The evening must have been cool, since they wrapped me up and packed me onto the shelf under the rear window of the family car. My oldest daughter, reading this, said “I hope it was parked”.
I don’t remember, one way or the other. This was the mid-1950s. Most Americans weren’t nearly as hypercautious as we are now, and risk perceptions were — different.
I remember watching flashes in the sky, noticing how warm the air around my nose was whenever I breathed out, and how little room I had to move.
And I remember how much I enjoyed the experience.
I’d probably grown to big to fit there by next year’s Independence Day, since that’s the only time I remember being under the rear window.
I probably enjoyed watching fireworks more on those later Fourth of July celebrations: but that one, when I was tucked under the rear window, is still among my favorites.
“The End of Civilization as We Know It”: As Usual
“It may be the end of civilization as we know it.” 😉 Wisdom in the comics.
This is where I could either ramble on about what a great country America is: or how it’s doomed, DOOMED, because we’ve got problems. I could, but I won’t.
Yes, we have problems. That’s nothing new.
One reason I think America is a great country is not that we’re practically perfect in every way, but that we’ve got a track record of acknowledging problems and dealing with them. It’s often — very often — been grudging acknowledgement, and that’s yet another topic.
Love of Country, Human Nature, and Working for Tomorrow’s Good
“A False Alarm on the Fourth” Udo Keppler, Puck. (1902) “Uncle Sam — It’s all right! There’s no fighting! The noise you hear is just my family celebrating!”
As for how I feel about my country: I like being an American.
It’s a personal preference: not particularly connected to something we’re getting right at the moment, or whatever mess we’re in.
I also love my country: within reason. It’s an obligation that comes with being a Catholic. But it’s not my top priority. Letting love of country slop over into worship of country is a bad idea. A very bad idea. (Catechism, 2112-2114, 2199, 2239)
“… ‘Our true native land is heaven, where the kingdom of God is in full bloom,’ the supreme chaplain (Archbishop Lori) affirmed. Nonetheless, he added, ‘We must love our country as it is, not as we may wish it to be … This doesn’t mean we should be complacent or settle for the status quo. It only means we can’t defer love of country until everything is shipshape’….” (“125 Years of Patriotic Service” , Columbia staff, Columbia Magazine (April 2025) [emphasis mine])
Let’s see. What else? Ah. Right: something a former president said about human nature, and what strikes me as a good idea. I’ve shared this quote before:
“…Human nature will not change. In any future great national trial, compared with the men of this, we will have as weak and as strong, as silly and as wise, as bad and as good. Let us, therefore, study the incidents of this as philosophy to learn wisdom from, and none of them as wrongs to be revenged….” (“On Democratic Government” ; Response to a Serenade, November 10, 1864; Abraham Lincoln (November 10, 1864) via Project Gutenberg) [emphasis mine]
I think there’s wisdom in remembering that the mix of enthusiasts, crackpots, just plain folks, and the occasional person with a good idea — is pretty much what we’ve had from day one.
And that change happens. It’s always “the end of civilization as we know it”. I see that as a good thing, since it means we can work toward correcting today’s problems: and help build a better world for coming generations.
I’ll have my oldest daughter tell most of this ‘family story’. That’s partly because this is shaping up to be a distracted week.
The family was on one of our rare vacations. Our third-oldest daughter was old enough to remember the trip, and our son hadn’t been born yet. That puts it some time back. Decades.
We’d planned the vacation pretty well, so we had a place to stay for each night. But we ran into one of those stock comedy situations: a big-deal family vacation where it rains. A lot.
I’ll have our oldest daughter pick up the narrative at this point.
[oldest daughter] “…We went to Itasca, I think, once when I was little. I remember some things, mostly that it rained a lot.
“I just remember lots of pine trees, a cabin with a bathroom that didn’t have a light switch (the light turned on if the door was closed), and sitting at a picnic table under a glass dome in the rain. … [oldest daughter] “And you coming into the dome, hunched over, looking less-than-pleased at the weather, and carefully pulling out three copies of the same comic book. One for each of us.
“And then being very annoyed at yourself when you took a closer look and realized it was a part 1.
“I was just happy to have a comic book.
“I wasn’t expecting to get any of the other parts, especially with the noises Mom was making. Then several months later, you came home with the other parts.” (Discord chat (June 23, 2025))
Memories and Filling in Gaps
It’s funny, how memory works.
My wife tells me we were coming back from Duluth, stopped off for the night somewhere around Itasca. She doesn’t remember how I found the place.
I remember that bathroom with the trick lighting: probably energy-efficient, but took getting used to. The picnic table under a glass dome — that, I don’t remember at all. Which is odd, since it’s the sort of architectural/design detail I’d expect to get etched into my memory.
Going out in the rain: that, I do remember. My goal hadn’t been getting comics. I don’t remember what the reason was. I think it might have been getting some routine toiletry that we’d forgotten: and a wind-up alarm clock. We’d planned ahead, but not perfectly.
I hadn’t found what we needed at the first place I checked, and maybe not the second. It’s been a long time, and how many places I tried is one of many details I don’t remember.
From my viewpoint, finding those comics was a bonus. Getting them wasn’t entirely altruistic, since I figured they’d help lift the mood. And besides, these were Darkwing Duck comics: so I’d be enjoying the story, too. The Darkwing Duck series started in 1991, and I’m drifting off-topic.
Not a Collector: Just a Guy Looking For Those Comics
Getting three copies was, I grant, a bit much. But the expense was well within budget. Finding the rest of that series became something of a quest.
Comics like that weren’t on the shelf in Sauk Centre. I ended up having a conversation with either a distributor or the publisher.
A remarkable fraction of our talk involved me convincing the man at the other end that I really didn’t care about whether the copies were printed for mailing or retail, or whatever. That’s when I realized he probably assumed I was a collector. And that’s another topic.
I’ll have my oldest daughter pick up the narrative at this point.
“The Coolest Dad Ever”
[oldest daughter] “Have I ever mentioned that you’re the coolest dad ever?”
[me] “You may have –
“Funny, I don’t remember trying to be a ‘cool dad’ ”
[oldest daughter] “Don’t know about [second oldest daughter] and [third oldest daughter], but I definitely would’ve liked to see the comics. I didn’t expect to, but seeing them was awesome.”
[me] “I wasn’t so sure I could do it, myself – – but worth a try ”
[oldest daughter] “That makes you cool.
“And talking to me like a person.”
[me] “Well, of Course – – – you ARE a person!!! – but I know what you mean ” (Discord chat (June 23, 2025))
A couple things going on here worth mentioning:
“Cool dad”
Being a person
I did a very quick check this week, and found ‘cool parent’ used fairly often.
Usually, whoever was writing defined ‘cool parent’ as someone who treats the kids with respect and listens to what they say.
A very few wrote about ‘cool parents’ who let the kids run wild, gave them whatever they asked for, and acted surprised when something went horribly wrong.
That surprised me, since I’d expected the ratio to go the other way.
As for talking to our oldest daughter as if she’s a person: that’s no great virtue on my part.
For one thing, I remember being young.
I realized some adults talking down to kids probably meant well, and thought — if they thought about it at all — that it was either necessary, or ‘what one does’ when speaking to youngsters. But I didn’t enjoy the experience. At all. So, as an adult, I avoided that behavior.
For another, I think human beings are people. All human beings. And I think giving people a measure of respect makes sense.
That’s just my experience and opinion.
Showing Respect, Being a Parent
More to the point, I’m a Catholic: so respecting humanity’s transcendent dignity and acting as if people matter — well, it matters. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1928-1942)
It’s like I said last week: human beings are people. Individual details, including age, health, or social status, don’t matter. Each of us is a person, made “in the image of God”. And, being a gift from God, human life is precious, sacred. (Genesis 1:26–27, 2:7; Catechism, 355-357, 361, 369-370, 1700, 1730, 1929, 2258-2317)
Wrapping this thing up:
Being told I was “the coolest dad ever” — in the ‘cool parents show respect’ sense — felt good, very good indeed. It’s nice, decades later, getting feedback like that.
I’ve talked about being part of a family, acting as if people matter, and vaguely-related topics, before. If I’ve got time and focus before Saturday, I’ll add the usual links.
I hope you enjoyed parts of this account of a waterlogged dad and comic books: and may God bless.
I had time, so here are those ‘family and acting as if people matter’ links:
And I see there’s a tornado watch on, northwest of us.
Something I learned from that KSTP article — the “Eagle’s Healing Nest” is a metaphoric name, it’s a facility for veterans, service members, and their families on the north side, no actual eagles involved — folks at that north side facility — nobody hurt, happily — asked neighbors for help, and volunteers showed up.
It sounds like a mess. A few broken windows, hail damage, and 25 trees down.
Here on the south side, where I live, no damage that we’ve noticed: and I’ve been sincerely glad the power came back on. Air conditioning is nice to have in weather like this.
Our number-two daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, and number-one daughter live on a homestead up in the Red River Valley. They’re all okay. Son-in-law noticed weather happening and got everyone into the basement. Their house is okay, too. Some cottonwood trees and the old ash tree are down, along with assorted branches.
They operate a wood mill, west of the house. I gather that it’s mostly okay, but winds peeled off a substantial part of the roof. Still, it could have been worse. This could have happened as winter was setting in.
I really hope they don’t get more ‘interesting’ weather this evening.
I’m not sure how much I’ll get done this week. Effects from Friday night’s disrupted sleep — number-one daughter suggested that having an inactive CPAP might be a factor — are mostly gone, but there’s some medical stuff coming up.
‘Nothing serious’, I trust. But last Thursday I experienced my first biopsy. Fascinating process. Maybe I’ll talk about that. Then again, maybe not.
Meanwhile — I do pay attention to my news feed, and am aware of what’s been going on. That’s not something I plan on writing about right now. Partly because I talked about that sort of thing about a year ago.
Now, since I want to get this wrapped up and start relaxing, the usual links:
That said, attacks on politicians in Minnesota — bad as they were — could have ended with many more dead bodies and hurting families. Even so, there’s precious little to celebrate.
This week I’ll be looking at what happened, what’s being said about it, and both how I feel and what I think of the situation.
Shelter in place warning, downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 14, 2025) Elliot F’s photo via Wikipedia
The words “assassin” and “assassination” started popping up in headlines about the two killings and multiple attacks over the weekend, down in the Twin Cities. Given what we’re learning about the incidents, that makes sense.
So does the early focus on the person who apparently killed those folks:
“…In social media posts and websites, Boelter said he had extensive experience as a security professional with ‘training by both private security firms and by people in the U.S. Military.’
“NPR found little evidence to support Boelter’s account. He appears to have worked most of his career in the food service industry and one long-time friend described parts of Boelter’s narrative about his life as ‘fantasy.’…” [details given later in article)
“…Evans said investigators aren’t yet certain Boelter acted alone. ‘We still don’t know if other people may be involved,’ Evans said. ‘This individual is the person of interest right now, but there may be other people with him.’…”
There’s still a great deal we don’t know about the killer: or that I haven’t seen in the news, at any rate. What is certain is that he was found, alive; was arrested; and is looking at serious legal trouble.
Local and regional news started focusing on the deceased’s children, and those of the couple who survived. I see this as a good thing, since it’s a reminder that politicos are people, too.
Bad as it was, what happened over the weekend could have been a lot worse if a police sergeant hadn’t thought a welfare check was a good idea:
“…Brooklyn Park Police officials confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday that the sergeant’s name is Rielly Nordan….
“…Sgt. Nordan had just finished his shift and was walking out of the police station when he heard of the shooting at Hoffman’s house.
“‘Being alert, seeing two officers in the police department, he [Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Burley] said, “Hey, drive by Melissa Hortman’s house and just check on the house, would you?”’….” (“Catching Minnesota assassination suspect: How a hunch and a mistake led to his arrest” , Bill Hutchinson, ABC News (June 17, 2025)) [emphasis mine]
That decision almost certainly saved lives: which I see as very good news.
A “Deeply Religious” Assassin
National news, when it mentions the weekend killings, has been focusing more on the political and public safety angles.
That makes sense, but I’m not happy about what may be an emerging theme:
“The man accused of assassinating the top Democrat in the Minnesota House held deeply religious and politically conservative views, telling a congregation in Africa two years ago that the U.S. was in a ‘bad place’ where most churches didn’t oppose abortion….”
“…The church Boelter attended outside Minneapolis issued a statement Sunday condemning the shootings as ‘the opposite of what Jesus taught his followers to do.’
“‘This incident has devastated our church family and does not reflect our values or beliefs,’ the Jordan Family Church said on its website, adding it was cooperating with law enforcement….” [emphasis mine]
Between frothing radio preachers of my youth denouncing ‘un-American’ ideas like peace, love, and brotherhood, and a lifetime spent in a culture recovering from that lunacy — I’m just glad that AP article quoted the killer’s church leaders, and that they seem to have read the Bible.
So far, I haven’t seen headlines suggesting that ‘beware the religious assassins’ is getting traction in op-eds.
That, for me, is also very good news.
What Two Bishops and an Executive Director Said
Billy Sunday, preaching up a storm, as shown in Metropolitan Magazine. (1915)
I had to dig a little to find a ‘Catholic’ response to the weekend’s killings. Possibly because priests and bishops aren’t, for the most part, nearly as colorful as some of my country’s old-school preachers.
“…Jason Adkins, executive director and general counsel of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, said in a June 14 statement that he was ‘deeply saddened and angered by the cold-blooded assassination’ of Hortman and her husband and the attempted murder of Hoffman and his wife.
“‘Serving in a position of leadership requires making difficult choices and sticking to one’s word, while not abandoning one’s principles. I can personally attest from working with Representative Hortman that she was such a leader,’ he said. ‘We disagreed on key issues but still found opportunities to collaborate and solve difficult problems that mattered to Minnesotans generally and Catholics, specifically. We will be praying for the repose of her soul.’
“‘Senator Hoffman is a champion of vulnerable people in our communities and is a person of deep conviction. He is also a friend. Minnesota cannot afford to lose his presence in state government and our staff is praying fervently for him and for his family,’ Adkins continued….” [emphasis mine]
“It is with a heavy heart that I address you following the tragic shootings in our state. We mourn the loss of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and pray for the recovery of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.
“I had the opportunity to meet with Speaker Emerita Hortman in March during our annual advocacy day. I recall her dedication, compassion and goodwill for the people of Minnesota.
“In these difficult times, l ask everyone to join me in prayer for the victims and their families and for an end to violence in our society.
“May we all do our part to promote peace, understanding and respect for all life.” [emphasis mine]
“A terrible tragedy occurred in my home state of Minnesota early this morning. A gunman, disguised as a police officer, shot and wounded State Senator John Hoffman and his wife and subsequently shot and killed State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband.
“A few months ago, the bishops of Minnesota visited the State Capitol in order to speak to some of the political leadership of our state. Both Sen. Hoffman and Rep. Hortman were among those we visited with. I was deeply impressed by both. Rep. Hortman listened to us with sharp intelligence and acute attention. And I had a wonderful conversation with Sen. Hoffman, who was a graduate of St. Mary’s University in my diocese. He shared his passion for Catholic Social Teaching.
“God knows we are divided society, but our political differences must never, ever give rise to violence. Please pray for the swift recovery of Sen. Hoffman and his wife and for the repose of the souls of Rep. Hortman and her husband.” [emphasis mine]
Saying something nice about recently-deceased public figures is quite conventional and, in my opinion, a good idea. Praying for the victims and their families is certainly a good idea.
I think looking at why these folks were targeted is also a good idea.
“…Sources said there was an extensive list of possible targets among writings found in the vehicle — more than 50 individuals, some of them officials beyond Minnesota, including abortion rights advocates and abortion facilities….”
Granted, it’s speculation: but the existence of that list, and its contents, very strongly suggests a particular sort of motive.
Gladness, Regret, Life, and Beliefs
Hortman home, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. (June 15, 2025)
How I feel about that nipped-in-the-bud killing spree is, so far, mostly ‘numb’. Anger and disgust is in the mix, too.
The Hortman family dog, Gilbert, was injured during the attack and is now dead. Then someone broke into the Hortman home. That family is not having a good time.
Injuries leading to the dog’s death are by far not the most serious charges that “deeply religious” Minnesotan will be facing.
As it is, I’m glad he was found, was arrested, and will very likely be tried on several very serious charges.
I’m also, oddly enough, glad that he’s alive. I’d better say why: and why I regret that Melissa and Mark Hortman are dead.
Taking My Faith Seriously
That’s me: Brian H. Gill. (2021)
Basically, it’s because I’m arguably a “deeply religious” person: but not in what I suspect is my culture’s conventional way.
I’ve followed Jesus ever since I can remember, and became a Catholic when I finally realized who currently holds the authority our Lord gave Peter. I take my faith very seriously. “Seriously but not grimly”, as this blog’s tagline says.
That’s why I get to Mass every Sunday, health permitting, have part of each day blocked out for prayer, and have other routines that aren’t typically “American”.
It’s also why I try to act as if what I believe matters.
Among other things, that means I can’t go off on a rant, expressing hopes that the murderer be tortured or at least killed. Praising him as a patriotic Christian American who waged righteous war on those who didn’t agree with him — that’s not an option, either.
Well, I could do either. I have free will. But I won’t.
Each Human Life Matters
Corey Comperatore, who was killed while protecting his family.
I’m glad that the person who apparently committed murders is still alive — and regret that his victims are dead — because I think they’re all human beings.
Since I’m a Catholic, I think that human life is sacred, a gift from God. I think every human life matters: each human life. It doesn’t matter who someone is. A corollary is that suicide is a really bad idea. (Catechism, 2258-2317)
That’s why I am sorry that the Hortmans are dead: and am glad the accused didn’t kill himself, or commit ‘suicide by cop’.
Although I think attacking those folks was wrong, I don’t I think every policy pushed by the victims’ political party is right. Again, it involves how I see human life.
I think human beings are people. ALL human beings. Who we are, what we’ve done, or who our ancestors are, doesn’t matter. Every human being is a person, made “in the image of God”: no matter how young or old, healthy or sick, that person is. Again, since human life is a gift from God, it’s precious, sacred. (Genesis 1:26–27, 2:7; Catechism, 355-357, 361, 369-370, 1700, 1730, 1929, 2258-2317)
Taking what the Church says seriously means I can’t support capital punishment: because a person who commits what a law code says is a capital crime is still a person. And I can’t support abortion rights because human beings are people, even if we haven’t learn to walk and talk yet.
Euthanasia is another non-starter. I’ve talked about this sort of thing before, and will close with the usual links:
Something new each Saturday.
Life, the universe and my circumstances permitting. I'm focusing on 'family stories' at the moment. ("A Change of Pace: Family Stories" (11/23/2024))
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Blog - David Torkington
Spiritual theologian, author and speaker, specializing in prayer, Christian spirituality and mystical theology [the kind that makes sense-BHG]
I was born in 1951. I'm a husband, father and grandfather. One of the kids graduated from college in December, 2008, and is helping her husband run businesses and raise my granddaughter; another is a cartoonist and artist; #3 daughter is a writer; my son is developing a digital game with #3 and #1 daughters. I'm also a writer and artist.
Let’s see. What else? Ah. Right: something a former president said about human nature, and what strikes me as a good idea. I’ve shared this quote before:
National news, when it mentions the weekend killings, has been focusing more on the political and public safety angles.
