Many who have read this opinion piece in the last year have seen that more often than not I’ve tried to keep it light and sometimes attempt to provide something for people to smile about. Some might wonder why with the state of our world. All the things that are going on, the COVID-19 pandemic, riots, people facing unemployment, homelessness, whether they can afford meals or if their medical bills will be overwhelming. With all that in the world why am I still trying to do something positive?

For New Year’s Eve I spent part of the evening in a virtual get together where the focus was on stories. These could be stories from the last year or from past years. Some of the stories had to do with cooking, some were accomplishments, others were about a pie missing an ingredient or the unfortunate switching of salt for sugar. Other stories were about trips taken. The friend who was hosting the virtual party told about how she and a group of friends spent one year gathered in New York City at Times Square to welcome in the New Year.

This last weekend I was able to meet up with some family in St. Paul, it was a central location for the five of us, for at least a walk and a chance to catch up on what had been happening over the past few days and what everybody did for Christmas. We all hoped that in 2021 that we could do more. I provided what could sum up the feeling of many for 2020 “It is what it is.”

This last weekend I was able to meet up with some family in St. Paul, it was a central location for the five of us, for at least a walk and a chance to catch up on what had been happening over the past few days and what everybody did for Christmas. We all hoped that in 2021 that we could do more. I provided what could sum up the feeling of many for 2020 “It is what it is.”

Merry Christmas, or if you prefer to wrap up all the celebrations that happen at this time of year Happy Holidays. Either way I hope everyone finds something that they can enjoy or smile about no matter how they celebrate.
For me it will be a different season this year, but I will make the best of it. Whether I am with a small group of friends or not I hope to enjoy the holiday. One thing that will help will be memories.

The month of December is mainly known for Christmas, New Year’s and Hanukkah. There are a few other events that are happening in the month, while some are activities that have good intentions, others could fall under the title “people who have too much time on their hands.”

This past weekend I was at two events that featured Santa. There were many children who’s faces burst into wide grins when they saw him up on a fire engine from the New Prague Fire Department during the Santa Cruise Through New Prague or seated among trees and presents at Elko New Market’s Community Christmas Tree Lighting. Quite a few parents were also beaming as they saw their children so happy.

With about three weeks before Christmas this year is likely going to be a very different holiday season. It will fit in well with the rest of 2020. The majority of the year has been different mainly due to the world dealing with a pandemic.

This is has been a difficult year, there is no argument there. It has been a year that has tested people’s resolve, their good humor, and for some their faith. Even with everything that has happened this year there are still things to be thankful for.

Those who have been reading this column often over the years know that I sometimes dip into a mixture of humor and seriousness about what is being observed each month. On the whimsical side, November is Banana Pudding Lovers Month and National Fun with Fondue Month. More seriously it’s Diabetic Eye Disease Month, Epilepsy Awareness Month and National Diabetes Month.

Have you ever been hurt in such a way that it needs a long time to heal? I’m not talking about the type where, as a kid, you wiped out on your bike on the street and you ended up getting this big gash that eventually scabbed over and healed by itself until the scab came off. I’m talking about where something was broken deep inside or there was a sickness of the body, where both those injuries required help from others. There are also those injuries of the spirit or the soul, where a family member or a close friend dies and you just feel sad or numb afterwards.

I moved to New Prague in 1999, right before school started that year. There were many things I learned in that year and still continue to participate in. Among them are the Fall Section, the Fall New Prague Times Sports Section and the Dozinky Harvest Festival preview.

I imagine that headline already has a few people thinking, “How dare you!” or “Bite your tongue!” The fact still remains we received snow on Tuesday and the temperatures in the area have been in the 30s for the last few days. Which is in fahrenheit, if it was celsius it would be around -1 degree.

When October rolls around each year, most people’s thoughts go to Halloween, a time for costumes, jack o’lanterns, Trick or Treat, candy and for some adults decorations and their own parties. Of course there are a few thoughts about leaves falling to the ground. But the month is also one where several groups over the years have worked to make people aware of an assortment of causes.

The time has come again, another turn of the seasons as we see summer begin to fade away and fall arrive with a burst of colors. The leaves on trees are turning a bright red, yellow or orange. Some trees are just getting hints of those autumn colors with more green standing out, others give a hint of that change and then seem to don their fall wardrobe the next day. In the fields where there is still corn, the stalks are either a yellow or a gold. The grass that was a dark green a few weeks ago is now turning a lighter shade as it prepares for the slumber of winter.

While the United State general election, Tuesday. Nov. 3, is still more than one month away, people do have the option to do early voting, which opens this Friday, Sept. 18. The option for early voting in Minnesota runs until Monday, Nov. 2, although dates and hours may vary based on where you live in the state.