According to Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything. This is the time for another “running of the words” column.

Saga of a first-and-only-time lady attendee of an aerobics class: She went to the class. She bent, twisted, gyrated and jumped up and down for an hour. By the time she got her leotard on, the class was over.

Do you know what an exercise block is? You place a block on the floor, you walk around it twice, you sit down and relax—you have just walked around the block twice.

Now, hear this, all you veterans: Hy-Vee in Albert Lea has installed two parking stalls at the front part of their parking lot. The stalls are red, white and blue marked. All veterans are eligible to use them (if available).

Most Perkins will reduce the bill by 10% when presented for payment; the veteran might be asked for proof of military service. The 10% includes the entire bill.

The front-page article of the Star Eagle on May 18 by Melanie Piltingsrud was excellent. In talking to Al Batt, the subject of the article, Al said, “An article of a certain subject is only as good as the subject.”

I concur with Al as he politely said they’re both good.

Looking ahead on my June calendar, a lot of things are happening:

• Flag Day is Wednesday, June 14. Please honor our flag when you see it flying. As a veteran, I’ll click my heels along with a snappy salute.

• Saturday, June 17 is Daughter Deb’s birthday. From dad in Minnesota to daughter in North Carolina, “Catch that hug on the northwesterly incoming wind.”

• Father’s Day is Sunday, June 18. Living or deceased, a “thanks, Dad,” is the order of the day.

• Wednesday, June 21 is the first day of summer.

• Friday, June 23 is the full moon in June. Are you going to howl?

Is fishing in Minnesota very important? I’ll let you be the judge:

• There are about 1.4 million licensed anglers in Minnesota

• About 500,000 people fished Minnesota’s opening day of walleye and northern pike season Saturday, May 13

• The average expenditure per angler in Minnesota is about $1,500

• Fishing contributes $2.4 billion to the state’s economy in direct retail sales

• The governor and lieutenant governor went fishing on opening of the walleye and northern pike season. The lieutenant governor didn’t need a license—she fished free

Other interesting statistics on Minnesota fishing:

• Minnesota is third in the nation for angler expenditures

• Minnesota ranks second in resident fishing participation at 32%, second only to Alaska

• Most resident anglers are from urban areas. However, a higher percentage of people living in rural Minnesota fish compared to the percentage of people living in urban areas who fish

• Males are 65% of the fishing license holders; females are 35%

• Moms have a day of free, no-license-needed fishing, while dads don’t. 

———

Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. 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. Bob says if you enjoy his column, 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.