Things are getting back to where we were prior to the house fire. (It is now confusion instead of mass confusion.) All of our smoke damaged items arrived back to our house in Albert Lea on Monday, May 23rd. The clothes are on hangers with everything else in boxes — we just have to find the right box for what we are looking for! There are a few things left to do in the house, and then the Albert Lea City Inspector has to give the okay for occupancy before we can move in.

We moved out of the sunshine yellow motel (Knights Inn) of Albert Lea on Thursday, May 26th. (We’re back to the old cabin of 36 years on Beaver Lake.) Many thanks to the Knights Inn Motel for treating us like VIPs, (which we are!)

This is prime time at Beaver Lake. It is warm in the day and cool for sleeping at night. The DNR fishing dock is in. There are two new warning signs on the dock with warnings of what you shouldn’t do. (The maker of the signs never heard of i before e as the spelling is “peir.”) The Ellendale-Geneva Sportsmen’s Club has put in their dock at the Beaver Lake landing. (This is a most appreciated act of human kindness every year since 1993.) The fish are biting. Now is the time for all you fisher people to wet a line at Beaver Lake. Remember Beaver Lake can be on your way to or from Home Depot in either Ellendale or Hope.

Tuesday, June 14th is a very important day. Veterans, shine those black shoes, click your heels and give a snappy salute to “Old Glory” on Flag Day. As you do so, with a tear in your eye and the hair on your neck at attention, give thanks to God. Amen.

What do Pastor Todd Walsh of Grace Lutheran Church and Pastor Jeff Laeger-Hagemeister of St. John’s Lutheran Home (both in Albert Lea) have in common? They both have 25 years in ordained ministry as of this June. Thanks guys!

A typical summer day in Minnesota is when the Twins lose. A great summer day in Minnesota is when the Twins win.

Thanks Harmon Killebrew for proudly wearing a Twins uniform, and also for your conduct both on and off the field.

Thanks Oprah for all the memories. You are an example to follow for all of your viewers. You are what an American is all about.

Thanks to the Jacobsons of St. Olaf Lake, faithful readers of this column, for introducing yourselves at the Willows Sunday brunch. As Clint Eastwood said, “You made my day.”

How would you like to be the Grand Marshall of a parade? You could even lead the parade. This will be the tenth annual parade in honor of July 4th. Contact Jeanne at Cabin 79 on Beaver Lake for further info. The qualifications are easy to meet. Put your best volunteer foot forward and you might be a “Grand Marshall.” By the way, you don’t have to know how to swim. Be prepared to say, “I will,” when you call (507) 838-6063. 

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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. This is the Hanson’s 36th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of Wisdom: There is always room for God.