ruminations
- By Mavis Fodness, reporterAugust 10, 2021Perched atop the old hog house roof on our farm east of Hardwick, I called my husband, Bryan, on my cell phone. As the phone rang through, I pondered my predicament — I had climbed on the roof to fetch the dog’s frisbee and now I was stuck. My errant throw landed Lucy’s favorite toy out of reach, and her eyes darted eagerly between me and the direction the toy was thrown. I knew she’d pester me…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJuly 13, 2021For decades this weekly space has featured personal reflections from our editorial staff. The authors have shared various topics and experiences, and some have talked about cancer — either their own personal battles or those of family members. I’ve read their words, sometimes through tears of joy for the author’s triumph, and sometimes with deepest empathy at the loss of life. My logical self…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJune 15, 2021Monday night, a dedicated group of 4-H horse project leaders assembled new portable bleachers for the horse arena at the Rock County Fairgrounds. It’s no small undertaking. The bleachers arrived last week in a tidy box filled with hundreds of bolts, rivets and aluminum pieces. When assembled, they become a safe and secure public seating area. The old wood and steel bleachers can hopefully benefit…
By Mavis FodnessMay 11, 2021In the past year I’ve struggled with feelings of uncertainty, unanswered questions and an overwhelming cascade of local, state and federal happenings that have left my brain — well — foggy. Last week, Minnesota Public Radio aired a segment about exactly what I’ve been feeling. Apparently, mental health professionals have a name for this unsettling feeling that isn’t quite burnout or hopelessness…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterApril 27, 2021A forgotten influence recently came to mind with the news of Walter Mondale’s death. The memory took me back to Augustana College as an 18-year-old freshman. The 1984 presidential campaign featured Democratic presidential candidate Mondale, and I was one of a small group of Young Democrats on campus. Like me, he was a Minnesota native, and my political leanings were beginning to take root in his…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterApril 06, 2021The weekend provided a wonderful time for renewal, and the warm weather gives a glimpse into a bright and wonderful summer — so much different from last year. At this time 365 days ago, the coronavirus pandemic made me stop and evaluate how to safely interact with my grandchildren. It often meant I didn’t make car trips to Iowa and opted instead for FaceTime, packages in the mail and promises to…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 09, 2021Author Theodor Seuss Geisel has taken readers on whimsical journeys through Whoville, Kaverns of Krock and the Jungle of Nool, and many other fictional places since the publishing of his first book in 1937. We know Mr. Geisel better by his pen name Dr. Seuss. March 2 is “I Love to Read Day” and is celebrated locally as well as nationally with Dr. Seuss books taking center stage during the day. Dr…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterFebruary 09, 2021How well do you remember those U.S. history lessons? If you’re like me, I don’t remember those intricate details necessary to receive my U.S. citizenship. Luckily I don’t have to pass the test now in effect for those who are seeking citizenship. Out of curiosity I tried to answer the questions the New York Times used in its recent story about the new citizenry test questions. Below are 10…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterDecember 21, 2020Instead of making a New Year’s resolution for 2020, I assembled a “vision” board instead. It proved to be a much better way to affect positive change than resolutions, which never lasted a month, much less an entire year. Ideally, pictures from magazines are used to “visually” represent an activity or feeling one wants to focus on, but I made a list. Among the items I wrote on my board was to…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterNovember 23, 2020This summer I celebrated my 55th birthday. That’s right the 5-5 —the posted speed limit on most county highways. It is also the minimum age for participating in the eight-hour defensive driving class through the Minnesota Safety Council and Luverne Community Education. Any driver 55 and older can take the initial class that allows certificate holders to receive an auto insurance discount. I…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterNovember 03, 2020Circumstances are murky as to how Orville Iveland’s military dog tag ended up in the farm grove of Russell and Doris Wenzel in Springwater Township. What’s clear is that the dog tag is now safely in the Iveland family’s procession. An Oct. 22 Star Herald story with the Wenzels about an unusual rock unearthed during a farm tile project led Russell to showing me a dull-colored metal dog tag he…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterOctober 06, 2020This week is National 4-H Week. In the early weeks of the new 4-H year, my social media feed was sprinkled with memories of my kids’ 4-H state livestock shows. 4-H is where we learned about sheep, hogs, rabbits, leadership, horses and cattle. It’s a program where I still participate as an adult adviser and have developed lifelong friendships as a result. For the past six years, as part of my job…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterSeptember 01, 2020As reporters, we routinely convey stories on a wide variety of topics. This week I’ve chosen to tell a high school classmate’s story. However, this one doesn’t have a happy ending, but maybe you can help write a positive chapter in the story. Doctors told Curt Thorson on Aug. 10 that the sharp abdominal pain he has suddenly begun to experience was the Stage IV pancreatic cancer spreading through…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterAugust 11, 2020While removing the leaf from the kitchen table one day, my thoughts landed on how a simple piece of furniture reflects the changes in our empty nest household. In our 30-plus years of marriage, Bryan and I always had a kitchen table and a dining table in each of the half dozen or so homes we’ve lived in during our time together. The duo tables are the result of an auctioneer husband who couldn’t…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJune 16, 2020Since the first cases of the coronavirus hit Minnesota in March, one of my colleagues went missing. Gone. Poof. Vanished. In the past three months only a handful of sightings of former sports editor John Rittenhouse have been passed on to the newsroom, but none of these by me, this former colleague. Three months ago, as the newspaper was scrambling to understand the new health rules, John quietly…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 19, 2020My last in-person visit with my granddaughter, Jayden, was March 6. Almost 60 days later, on the bright, sunny Sunday morning of May 3, the grandmother in me knew it was time to see Jayden face to face. Unbeknownst to me, when my daughter Courtney told Jayden that MeeMaw Mavis was coming to Iowa for a visit, her response was “MeeMaw Mavis is not dead?” It’s been a long two months for my 2-year-…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.
Columnists
