Ole and Lena Olson live in Finland – Finland, Minnesota that is. Finland, Minnesota is a small town in Northern Minnesota, close to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness.
Finland has a mayor-council type of city government. Ole Olson is the current mayor. Many of the area residents claim that Ole is the mayor in name only with Lena being the real mayor in getting things done. For example:
During the last real cold stretch of a number of below 25-degree days and 45 below wind-chill days, the water in the town’s water tower started to freeze. Ole and the council were at a loss as to how to handle the problem. The only solution they could figure out was to keep water flowing in and out of the water tower at the same time.
Lena is told of the problem. Lena to the rescue. She informs all the ladies in the town to bring all the long johns they could find along with needles and heavy thread to the Lutheran church in town next Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. and to plan on staying until the job is done. She will furnish Norwegian Goulash, lime jello, homemade bread with butter and regular high test coffee.
The ladies arrived confused and asked Lena, “What are we making?”
Lena explains, “We’re making a big bottom for the water tower with solar heat batteries sewn in to solve the water tower freezing problem.
They got the job done, attached it to cover the entire bottom of the water tower – and it worked. Lena applies for and is granted a patent for the bottom with the name, “Lena’s water tower bloomers.”
She wonders if the bottoms idea will sell, so she has Ole check with some of the neighboring towns. Yes, many towns are interested. Lena draws up a contract stating she would get the water tower bottom covering made for an interested town. The town would cover their water tower bottom and if it worked they would pay 150 to 200 thousand dollars to Finland.
Lena and her crew are very busy making water tower bottoms. She is using the net proceeds to cover all the residents’ property taxes plus some of the city of Finland expenses.
The residents of Finland are so proud of their sharp mayor to marry Lena. How proud? The town council has announced that Ole will be the only name on the ballot running for mayor this November.
Short shorts:
Robin and Rochelle filled in at the DQ in Albert Lea for four days. They found out and within a half hour they left the DQ in Worthington headed for the DQ in Albert Lea. Wow. A classic example of good neighbors to the west.
It used to be x’s and o’s for Valentines. Now it’s LOL.
Genie and I played scrabble on a blizzard day. First time ever, we ended up a tie score game.
What is a blizzard? It’s lots of calories causing an additional amount of weight one carries around.
Sign of old age: Genie and I went to the Blue Earth River Conference for Central Freeborn Lutheran Church in Fairmont Minnesota only to get lost in Fairmont as we used the Blue Earth town directions while in Fairmont. Uffda!
Please note the title of this column, “Fact or Fiction – you decide.” Hint, only one of the afore is fiction – you decide which one.
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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.