They say the best way to make God laugh is to announce your plans.Yes, our best-made plans often go awry and send us in a different direction than we had intended when we made them. So it is with me.This is my last week in Rock County, as I’m moving closer to some more famous rocks named George, Thomas, Abe and Teddy — Mount Rushmore.About a week and a half ago I was asked to join Sen.-elect John Thune’s staff in Rapid City, S.D. You’re probably wondering what a U.S. Senator would want with some poor sportswriter shlub like me? And I’ll ask him that question myself next time I see him.The thing is, on this side of the state line I’m just a skinny sports dude and that’s pretty much all you know about me. On the other side of the border, though, I’m better known for the political writing I’ve done and activities of that sort. There I run in a small circle of friends, but with the exception of myself it is a rather "connected" crowd. I’m pretty much just their comic relief – the Prince-loving, Libertarian-leaning smart aleck in the high-top Cons.But somewhere along the line, actually starting about 10 years ago, I met John Thune. We’ve never been best buds or hung out or anything, but we’ve met for breakfast, done several interviews over the years and we’ve gotten to be friends – good enough that he knows my daughters by name and sent flowers to my dad’s funeral, but our families don’t go vacationing together or anything like that.When he defeated Sen. Tom Daschle on Nov. 2, dragging into Nov. 3, I think I was on about 72 hours of sleeplessness because of various election-oriented stuff I was doing. It was worth every second.That victorious event in itself would’ve made me happy as a clam for the next decade. But then to be asked to join his staff, in a region my family has always loved, it just made my century.Unfortunately, it came just as I was starting to really enjoy this place. It was the shortest commute I’ve ever had, working with great coaches and athletes and was just what I was looking for in a job at this time in my life.But, when a friend asks a favor, you usually do what he asks. When that guy is a U.S. Senator whom you admire and respect immensely, you don’t even think twice. If nothing else, I’m good at not thinking too much. So I’m history, a little blip on the Luverne historical radar. I don’t even know if it’s a blip, but whatever it was, thank you for making me feel at home. I’d appreciate you treating the next guy/gal the same.
