The 36th annual Hagstrom/Osberg Golf Open was held last Saturday. We have this family tradition every year at the Little Falls Country Club on the second Saturday of July.
My mother’s sister, Leone, Auntie to me, married Duane Hagstrom, owner of Hagstrom Chevrolet in Upsala, Minnesota. Between the two families there were 10 cousins. Auntie’s youngest, Kevin, is a very good golfer and for many years he and I won this best ball event every year. For that reason, we named our team ‘Ming’. After all, we were a dynasty. Ming is back. Photo attached.
Because of my recent back surgery, all I can do is putt. I was able to sink a birdie putt on hole number 1 and another on hole number 3 so we were 2 under par after three holes. The rest of the team included Cousin Kevin, my brother Brian and his wife Jean Marie, plus brother Craig and his son Grayson. Craig’s daughter McKenzie drove the cart. We finished 6 under, which means that the trophy is in my living room for the first time since 2009.
After golf we gather at brother Bill’s house near the golf course for a picnic and the award ceremony. We did our best to practice distancing. We are fortunate to have a number of traditions in our family. I trust that your Fourth of July Celebration was a safe one.
Live from Here this week is a rebroadcast. You can listen on your radio or smartphone and online at www.livefromhere.org
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate on the present moment.” Buddha
Tomorrow I plan on tilling my daughter’s garden in Upsala. After I finish working in the garden, I plan on visiting “Hippe Landing” west of Upsala near the American Legion Memorial Park on Cedar Lake. The park has one of the best swimming beaches in central Minnesota. There are camping spots also, but I understand there is a long waiting list. I hope it is open.
There used to be an old store without any signage located where the landing is now. At one time it was called Cedar Lake Pavilion. The store was owned and run by Emie Hippe. Emie was a real character and for many years she served ice cream, candy and pop to kids from the park and 3.2 beer to the adults. The PayDay candy bar was a favorite of mine.
Strangely, you could not buy a Coke there and I always wondered why. One day my brother Craig and I went in to have a drink and I finally had the nerve to ask her, “Emie, why don’t you serve Coca Cola?” She slammed her hand on the bar and said “The dirty rascals. My husband Ben used to travel quite a ways with the empty bottles and bring back the full ones. Then during the war, they asked us to simply hold on to the empties and they would pick them up later.” So what happened Emie? “The dirty rascals changed their mind and would not pick them up.” “What did you do with them Emie, they would be worth a lot of money?” “You will never find them!” she proclaimed, “We buried them under two ton of rock!”
For over 60 years no Coca Cola products were sold from this store, all because someone broke a promise. I am sure that the Coca Cola route driver tried a few times when he would see the Pepsi truck out front, but she never let Coke back on the shelf.
Live from Here is a rebroadcast of a show. You can listen on the radio or on your smartphone. Or anytime on www.livefromhere.org
”Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too.” “A nickel isn’t worth a dime anymore.” Yogi Berra
There are over 1,000 lakes in Otter Tail County. Holly’s Resort is on Otter Tail Lake and it is one of the larger lakes in the county. For four days the wind blew at 20mph or stronger, so I did not wet a line. My recent “spinal cord decompression surgery” would not allow me to tolerate the bumpy ride. This summer I will only fish on calm days.
We hired Randin Olson who is a full time fishing guide. He chose another smaller lake, “Secret Lake”, and so the other Osberg men were able to catch plenty of Walleye and many small mouth bass. Randin and my brother Geoff both claim that smallies taste just like Walleye. You can hook up with Randin at www.lockjawfishing.com
My family is very blessed with many traditions, the first of which is the “Osberg Fishing Trip”. I have attached a photo of my grandson Walleye Willie with a 20 inch smallie.
Live from Here this week is a rebroadcast. You can listen to old shows at www.livefromhere.org
“What we do on some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline.” H.P. Liddon
This weekend I am going fishing with my four brothers, my son Erik and my grandson “Walleye Willie” plus brother Craig’s son Grayson. A total of 8 Osberg men ages 11 to 76. My sister’s grandson Adam and Cousin John will also join us. Sometime in the nineties, my youngest brother Craig was invited by his father-in-law, Jim Keeler, to go along on a fly-in fishing trip to Trout Lake in Canada. Over time, my other brothers, who were into fishing, were invited to go along. In 2003 brother Bill offered to pay the way for my son Erik, so I decided to go along.
I am the oldest of five Osberg brothers and it was a wonderful bonding time. I told the camp host, Murdoch, that I would be back every year for the next 20 years. The next year we went to brother Brian’s cabin near Aitkin instead. The year after that went to Rainy Lake. Erik was working as a weekend sportscaster on Channel 10/13 in Duluth and he did a story on fishing with the guide and resort owner Woody for his TV show. He suggested that we try Woody’s instead of the fly-in in 2005. We had a great time and the greatest part was that Woody had a wonderful pub filled with memorabilia from his hockey days. For many years we went back to Woody’s. We never did do the fly-in again. You can check out Woody’s at www.fairlyreliable.com It is worth the drive just to meet Woody. In 2011 we switched to Brindley’s Resort on Leach Lake. A large home across the road from the marina worked well for the whole gang, but fishing was tough.
In 2017 we decided to try Holly’s Resort on Otter Tail Lake. Erik is an ambassador for Otter Tail County and we reasoned that we would have a better chance to find the elusive walleye. We had a great time. One of the cabins is right on the lake. Brother Bill is the chief cook and bottle washer, so we put him in that cabin along with brother Geoff from Chicago. Next Friday I will give you a complete report. There is a traveling trophy and guess who’s name has never appeared on it. Maybe this year.
Live from Here this week is a special Live from Home broadcast. Special guests include Rufus Wainwright and LuLu Miller. Enjoy the show..
“Dost thou love Life? Then do not squander Time; for that’s the stuff Life is made of.” Benjamin Franklin
This has been a very tough week. The best chance for change is with our young people. This video was taken at a rehearsal of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City performing “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”. The mission of the Young People’s Chorus is “to provide children of all ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds with a safe haven for personal and artistic growth.” www.ypc.org
The Classical MPR Choral Stream featured it this week. It is very inspirational. I believe that you don’t have to have a Facebook account to watch it.
The Upsala Area Veterans Memorial service on Monday was well done. It was very brief but moving. It is easy to get to Upsala, simply exit I94 at Albany and follow State Highway 238 north to Upsala. The Memorial is across from the school. If you know of a veteran from the Upsala area, you may purchase a brick with your loved ones name and dates of service for only $250. Contact Dave Brezinka at zink@upstel.net
I was confined to my cottage for seven weeks after surgery and had lots of time on my hands. I read a lot of books, but also signed up for a lot of streaming. On Memorial Day, I started watching the 10 episode HBO series Band of Brothers. The 2001 series is based on Stephen E. Ambrose’s book of the same name. It dramatizes the history of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, from jump training up until the end of the war. Each episode begins with a few short takes of actual survivors, as they were in 2001, sharing their experiences. At the end of the final episode, their names are revealed. Almost twenty years later, it is unlikely that many of them are still with us. It may be worth your while to share this experience. The total number of United States military personnel that died in World War II was 407,300 including 543 women.
Source: Wikipedia
Live from Here this week is a Live from Home performance. Enjoy the show.
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here.” Henry the 5th
Good morning from Millstream Village. A lot of you have been using Zoom to conduct business and to stay in touch with loved ones. Well, in Little Falls, Minnesota there is a Zoomski’s Midtown Café. No relation, but they are open for business and they do have drive thru service. It is possible that starting June 1st they will have outdoor seating as well. I hope that on the day that you choose to go there, Ron has made his famous mushroom soup with a slice of buttered rye bread on the side. Check out the menu at zoomskis.net
Monday is Memorial Day and it will be different in many ways. The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery Memorial Day service will be not happen this year. There will be a special program on TPT Monday evening at 7:30. Press release attached.
In Upsala, the American Legion Post 350 has created the “Upsala Area Veterans Memorial”. It is located on Highway 238 across from the Upsala school on Main Street. On Monday morning, at 10:30, there will be a short program. I have attached a picture of just a small portion of the memorial. If you choose to attend, please practice distancing and wear a mask.
Live from Here this week is either a rebroadcast or a Live from Home show. I thought that last week’s Live from Home was awesome. It is hard to beat Norah Jones. Other old shows and news can be found at www.livefromhere.org
“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Today will be a 10 on the scale of 1 to 10. No bugs yet and in the seventies. Working from home is getting better. I can eat my lunch on the front porch watching my bubbling boulder. Both Bello Cucina and The Local Blend offer take out. Once we are allowed to meet again, stop by and meditate. Just plug the cord in that is behind the chair and enjoy.
I have never gone on a fishing opener, but my grandson Walleye Willie, age 11 had a great opener. His dad had gone out at midnight and fished until 9 am when the snow chased him, and a lot of other folks, off the lake. He caught a number of nice Walleye. He went home and took a nap. About 7 in the evening, Willie said it was time to go out once again. Walleye Willie caught a 25 1/2 inch Walleye.
Live from Here this week is a special Live from Home show. Enjoy.
“Remember, it’s not about having time, it’s about making time” Erik Osberg
75 years ago today Nazi Germany surrendered its armed forces to the Allies of World War II. Today is a national holiday in the Czech Republic, France and Slovakia. The rest of Europe celebrates the day in a variety of ways as national observances. Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander incognito among the crowds and took part in the celebrations.
This year the celebrations will be different with the “physical distancing” that is required. The photo attached was taken in Times Square after VJ day, but it serves as an icon.
My heart goes out to the many millions that served in the military during the war and to the families of those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
Live from Here this week will be a rebroadcast of an old show.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred with dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with the cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt
Many times we end up taking a path quite by accident. My second career was drafting. I faked my way into that field, but it ended well. In 1969 I was involved in the very first computerized drafting service bureau in the world. My third career was office furniture.
Norwood Engineering, the computerized drafting company, was founded by a salesman with Twin Cities Blue Printing, Dick Engebretson. He hired my boss, Ron Crew, at Control Data who in turn hired me. Our plans included franchising service bureaus, so my title was Franchise Manager. We hired General Office Products to design and furnish our office in Roseville and our one and only franchise that we sold to Bob Johnson in Seattle.
To make a long story short, the business failed and I ended up as the last General Manager. I had to write a letter to about 14 companies explaining that Norwood Engineering had filed for bankruptcy and we could not pay the bill. I did add my home phone number at that bottom of the letter, in case they wanted to talk it over.
Jim Helstrom, sales manager for General Office Products, called me. Of course he wanted his furniture back. I had to explain that Ron Crew had taken a loan out at the bank and pledged the furniture as collateral. The bank took the furniture. GOP did not “have a position” on the goods sold. At the end of the conversation, Jim said, “Well if you ever need a job, let me know.” I spent 22 years in the office furniture industry and I loved every minute of it. I called Jim this week. He is 81 years old and lives alone in the woods near Hibbing, Minnesota. I thanked him for the awesome sales training that he had provided. “Distancing” does not mean you can’t call an old friend.
Live from Here this week is either a Live from Home or a rebroadcast of an old show. Enjoy and stay safe.
“Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” From The Summer Day by Mary Oliver
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