Balancing in quicksand

As a writer, I hope for my work to be meaningful. There are not a lot of Pulitzer Prizes given away to journalists of community newspapers. (Although I would be extremely honored.) So sometimes, I feel like I am treading water in a sea of quicksand. No matter what I do, I just get sucked into a vortex moving from one story to another.

I honestly try to give every story 100% of my attention and sometimes, it seems to my editor, they get more. When I am truly inspired, I dive right in to the story and begin to feel what my subject may be feeling. Because to me, that is how I try to make you, the reader, feel something, too. I take something away from every interview and every story. I learn something new all the time. I try to put in parts of the story or certain insights that other people would skip. And if what I write ends up meaning something to someone, or someone learns something or is inspired, I feel I have done a good job for the day.

I have felt a sort of quiet honor a couple of times when I have walked into a business or an establishment and saw something I had written framed and hanging on the wall.

I have felt a stronger, yet still quiet honor when I have gone to some one's house and they have saved an article I previously wrote, or a photo I had taken, and hung it on the wall in the garage or stuck it to their refrigerator.

I am always humbled when someone thanks me by a note, or card or personally, for something I have written when it is accompanied by heartfelt words of "Thank you." Hugs are even better.

Those things make me feel like something I did actually meant something, to at least one person.

I wrote a profile article about Denny Johnson, a local Garrison man, a few months ago. During the interview, he told me his life's story, like only Denny could. While his voice spoke of interesting tales, his face and his eyes held his emotion, escaping for brief moments scattered throughout our interview.

Denny passed a way a couple of weeks ago. His funeral was last Monday. Denny was a presence in Garrison that will be greatly missed. I was surprised to tears, honored and humbled when during the service Pastor Chris said, "The family asked me to read this. . . ." and he began reading from the article I had written, several months prior.

My words sounded different when read allowed from the pulpit of a church. I wiped away tears that I tried hard to keep inside. Some tears were for Denny. Admittedly, some tears were for me. I was proud that what I had written meant something to one man and his family.

I don't want to sound like I feel like everything I write is worthy of such honor. I know that to not be true. But every once in a while, something comes along to remind me of why I chose to write.

"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say." ~Anaïs Nin

My friend Mark, called me a day or two after the funeral, just to remind me of that very thought. He made me cry again. But this time, I had found some sort of equilibrium.

And I haven't worked out all of the bugs yet but I am learning to balance in the quicksand.

Rest in peace, Denny Johnson. And thank you.

Peace.

Presumption of innocence. Something to ponder?

There are many issues historical and current in American government with which I simply do not agree. On the other hand, there are many that I do believe are fundamental to our survival. Our law makers turn issues into laws, which are made a part of our statutes. These laws are created, and then often times amended, bended, molded, modified, interpreted, reconstructed and often times distorted to no resemblance of the the original. It is all part of the system.

There are "good laws" and there are "stupid" laws — laws that make sense to the average person and laws that do not seem to make any sense to anyone and the principals of the judicial system are even more confusing.

But there is one issue that makes sense to me. One that is fundamental to all human rights. That is the presumption of innocence.

According to our United States legal system, those who are accused of a crime are innocent until proven guilty. The burden of proof lies on the prosecution, which must collect and present enough evidence to convince a judge and jury (who are ordered by law to consider only the facts, testimony and evidence) that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If there is any doubt, the accused must be acquitted.

The presumption of innocence has been quite popular in the 20th century. The United Nations incorporated the principal in 1948 into the Declaration of Human Rights. In 1953 the principal was added to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

On April 3, 2009 the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Band Assembly group consisting of chief executive Marge Anderson, secretary treasurer Herb Weyaus, district 1 rep. Sandra Blake, district 2 rep. Marvin Bruneau and district 3 rep., Harry Davis each signed their names to a letter to all Band members stating the complete opposite of this very basic fundamental human right.

The letter states: "The former Chief Executive has still not proven her innocence in tribal court..."

In other words, the government of the Mille Lacs Band believes that people are guilty until they prove they are innocent.

When I asked the solicitor general Rjay Brunkow about that, I said it sounded backwards to me. He did not agree with the word backwards. So I changed it to opposite. The result was the same. He told me in no uncertain terms, he believed that is the law. That when the Band created their statutes, it was originally innocent until proven guilty. But that changed sometime in the 80s or 90s he said, to be more in lines with tradition.

His explanation sounded more backwards to me than the original thought, so I did some research.

My sources tell me that at one point it was tradition for the accused to be guilty until they proved they were innocent. The accused had to basically run a gauntlet and if they survived, they were found innocent.

That tradition was changed and deleted completely in the 90s because it was such an extraordinary violation of the Indian Civil Rights Act.

Current Mille Lacs Band Statutes annotated Title I, Civil Rights Code, Section 12, states in no uncertain terms:

"In any criminal legal proceeding each person shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty."

Read it for yourself at: http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/statutes.asp

So, here it is in everyday language: everyone should be considered innocent until it can be proved that you are guilty. If you are accused of a crime, you should always have the right to defend yourself. Nobody has the right to condemn you and punish you for something you have not done.

I just wonder which interpretation is opposite? The April 3 letter to the Band, or the Mille Lacs Band statutes?

Now that is something to ponder.

Peace.

Thank you for letters

Last week I wrote an editorial in the Messenger that mentioned conspiracy theories in government. I mentioned that they do and have existed for as long as time.

Probably the most well known turned out to be the believe it or not true story behind the Watergate Scandal in the '70s. What started out as a theory resulted in the resignation of President Nixon in 1974 and the arrest of several people in government.

Tips and inside information were given to several reporters. Media coverage in the New York Times, Time magazine and the Washington Post was extensive. Two reporters from the Washington Post relied heavily on anonymous sources during their investigative reporting. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein found information suggesting knowledge of the misdeeds by the Nixon administration to the American public led deep into the Justice Department, the FBI, the CIA and the White House. The most famous anonymous source was named Deep Throat.

The identity of Deep Throat was one of the biggest mysteries of American politics and journalism for over 30 years. Woodward and Bernstein gave their word they would not reveal his identity until he died or consented to going public.

In 2005 the truth was known. FBI Deputy Director William Mark Felt, Sr., was Deep Throat. He died in 2008 at the age of 95. In his book, A G-Man's Life written before he died (obviously) he wrote: "The bottom line is, we did get the whole truth out. Isn't that what the FBI is suppose to do?"

I do not deal with the FBI on a regular basis even though I do have a few FBI numbers in my Roll-a-dex. I am not asking people to become the Deep Throat of Mille Lacs County. But the bottom line here is also, we want to get the whole truth out.

There were several theories as to the identity of Deep Throat prior to Felt's confession. Some people considered Deep Throat was a compilation of several sources with individual threads of information woven together to become the mastermind of Deep Throat. But Woodward put that theory to rest when he confirmed Felt's identity.

I have received quite a few emails and letters from people writing of various issues they believe to be conspiracy theories. I thank you all for the tips. It may take a while to get to all of them. Several of the "ideas" are better letters written to your Congressmen or Senate or State Representatives. I thank you for your vote of confidence, but I don't think I can do anything about changing the name of the Rum River, or change history books about who should be called Native Americans, or get income taxes abolished. I tried to get Mother's Day and Father's Day switched around once. (Father's Day should be on fishing opener in May and Mother's Day should be in June when school is out. That just makes sense.) But the Governor didn't have much time for that idea.

My point is, thank you for the letters and ideas and theories. Keep them coming. Even if they are only threads of information. I thank you for trusting me. Trust is a two-way street. Confidential sources are confidential sources. Period. In Washington D.C. and in Mille Lacs County. Especially with me.

We want to get the whole truth out.

Peace.

Viv is in the House

So, I am sitting in the "House Gallery" right now as I write. I am shadowing Rep. Gail Kulick Jackson for the day. And it has been a busy day.

Right now she is on the floor busy listening to others discuss their points of view while trying to get their amendments passed.

It is difficult to follow along, actually. I don't have a program. But there is a screen in the corner that says we are on Amendment HDS-015. Whatever that is.

I have to let you know, I have been asked, four times now, to not lean on the ledge to take pictures of the floor. So, here's the deal — besides them calling me "ma'am" which upsets me a bit — they think I might jump or something. There is no humanly possible way for a person to fall over this ledge where I am sitting. I suppose, that might be a stretch, which is exactly what I would have to do to fall over. The ledge is like 2-feet wide with a golden railing on this side. Of course, it is only less than waist high and I suppose that some super uncoordinated person could potentially fall over, but come on.... I am a professional. ;-)

A really nice gal sitting behind me said that they (security?) will come and yell at you if you even touch the gold railing. The only sign in here just says, do not put anything on the ledge. It doesn't say anything about leaning or touching.


So anyway, there are roll calls, advice, rulings, matters of parliament inquiries, and a lot more going on.

They are discussing mandates right now. One rep. said he trusts his county board, another said it's not about trusting anybody simply to amend the rule. I wish I knew what they were talking about. There is a vote right now and Gail pushed a button. Every vote she makes is counted and a matter of record. Everyone can see exactly how she votes on every issue.

I guess I missed the actual number of the house file on that last one. But it took a matter of 15 minutes for the discussion and the vote and now on to H.F. 392. Amendment something that I can't read.

Oh, oh. Here comes that guy with the badge again. I think I leaned too far over.
I am going to have to go for now and sign in later.

BTW, Diane Gibas is shadowing Sen. Lisa Fobbe. She is doing something else right now and Diane came in here to check this excitement out, too. We will break for lunch soon and then on to some other items.

Oh, here he comes... the dude with the little gold badge... the railing officer..

Gotta go.

Peace.

New series on the web at www.millelacsmessenger.com

Okay, so I had this great idea. Admittedly, I am not the first one in the world to come up with this idea. But if it works, it will be a first for the Messenger.

I am thinking about an ongoing series on the website of just "Man on the Street" (or woman, or kid, or whoever) interviews. You never know what the interviews will be about. It could be a live "Mess Asks" or just, "hey you ... what are you doing today."

So watch this video and let me know what you think. Do you think I should do more? Or quite while I am ahead?

The first in the series is "Liberty Man."

So, you see these people all the time. The men or women holding signs on the side of the road. I am not talking about "will work for food" signs. I am talking walking billboards — advertising signs. Like places going out of business, or car wash today, or big sale, or whatever.

So, I have always wondered, who does that kind of job?

I found Aaron. I am guessing at the spelling of his name, because I couldn't understand him. But Aaron likes being a sign dude. He takes his job very seriously. I talked to him for a good 6 minutes and he didn't stop waving his arms for much more than a second.

Watch the video. You will see. Then let me know.

Peace.

When thank you is not enough

Not what we give, But what we share, For the gift without the giver Is bare.
~James Russell Lowell


I am truly amazed at the kindness and generosity of people. Words cannot express what is in my heart about how I feel after the Benefit for Michael Wachsmuth on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Where do I start to thank everyone? And how do you say thank you to people for changing the world through their expressions of kindness?

The benefit was a huge success and thanks need to go out to everyone for making it happen. Every dollar and every cent donated either by items for the auction, raffle tickets, poker tournament, pig roast, time and talents, mailed in checks or the donation jar added up to quite a lot.

How much? I am pleased to inform you that we exceeded our goal. I don't have the exact dollar amount (because I forgot to write it down) but through all combined efforts the total came to over $11,000.

Thank you all.

I need to thank all of the volunteers who put in many hours of planning before hand and worked their butts off on Saturday. Thank you.

A giant thank you to Tim and all of the dealers from the Mille Lacs Grand Casino who volunteered their time, some taking the day off from work, or sleep, to work the benefit and some giving up a good day's wages so that they could be there for the benefit. I was amazed and grateful. Thank you.

Thank you to Bugs Haskin, Mary Simon, Donna Benson, student Kayla Cash of Nay Ah Shing schools and all of the students of Nay Ah Shing schools who worked very hard to raise over $1,100 to donate and to those who donated. Thanks for all of the items you put together for the silent auction. That still just blows me away and the amount of quality items you brought in and the money each one generated. Bugs, Mary, Donna and Kayla also donated their time on Saturday to help and collected more donations by offering pictures with Santa from Pow Wow pics with the proceeds going to the benefit. Thank you.

Thank you to Mark Tadych and his staff at the Blue Goose. Thank you all for all of the cooking and serving you did and for just being there. Mostly for putting up with some of our demands (requests?) but you were all fabulous to work with. Thank you.

Thanks to everyone who worked hard to collect donations and to those who donated items for the silent auction and raffles. Thank you.

Another giant thank you to Carl Larson and Ron Lingwall who cooked two full pigs in below zero windchill temperatures. The pig was fabulous! And you guys are the greatest for volunteering your time and talents. Thank you.

Thanks to every poker player and to every person who enjoyed the pig roast. And to everyone who came in to participate in the benefit in anyway. If you were unable to donate dollar amounts, your presence at the event was gift enough. Showing support to Michael, his family and a community event such as this was huge. Thank you.

Thanks to all Garrison civic organizations who donated. When we asked you, you didn't hesitate. You just got out your checkbooks and helped to make it happen. That is so huge. Thank you.

If for any reason I left anyone out, I can assure you it was not intentional and I deeply apologize.
Thank you everyone.

I think that Michael would have been proud to see his community come together they way they did. It was Michael's nature to be happy, and make sure that everyone around him was as happy as they could be.

Saturday was a good day. There were many stories about Michael and yes, there were a few gallons of tears. But mostly, the day was good. There were laughs overriding the tears. And people felt good.

There is nothing that can compare to the experience and deep feelings when one loses a loved one. The experience can test one's faith, not only in God, but in human nature. My hope is that those who feel tested will approach their feelings honestly and work through the pain.

Sometime through tragedy comes good. I have talked to a couple of people (names withheld for privacy) who said that through this entire tragedy came good. It brought people together, strengthened relationships, helped some people better understand themselves and new friendships were forged.

I spoke with one who was frustrated that so much attention and emphasis was placed on Michael when others also need help. True. And when someone asked me to sum up in a few sentences why a person should donate to this particular cause when there are so many other causes and deserving people to help, I simply said, I have no reason for you to give to this or any other cause. You simply need to follow your heart. When you feel strongly enough about something, when you are passionate, you don't necessarily need an explanation in words. Hopefully your actions will speak for you. Follow your heart. Give where you can. Do what you can. But do so with your heart.

I will be forever thankful for the new friends I have made and what I have learned about myself and the people in this community. I know that my journey is not complete. I have much to learn. I am just so glad that I met such wonderful people through this. We shared a lot of tears and a lot of laughs.

And that is what Michael would have wanted.

Thank you all.

Peace.

Everyday heroes

he⋅ro

1. a man [or woman] of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his [or her] brave deeds and noble qualities. 2. A person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal. Dictionary.com

The Mille Lacs area is full of every day heroes. They are mostly a silent humble bunch who go about their day just doing their job — whatever that may be.

And suddenly, they get the call that somewhere, someone needs help for whatever reason.

These unsung everyday heroes respond. Mostly volunteer. They do their thing, touching someone's life. Perhaps they save a life. Perhaps not. Perhaps save a house or a building. Perhaps not. Perhaps find a missing person. Perhaps not.

But the men and women who volunteer for our local fire departments and search and rescue are everyday heroes. Without much recognition.

The fire that destroyed Merit Enterprises last Friday turned out firefighters from several area fire departments. The men and women battled that blaze for over 9 hours, one of the firefighters wives told me.

What did he get paid for his efforts? One dollar an hour is what it ended up to be. And he lost a day's wages at his regular job.

The building is a total loss. People's lives are on hold having lost their total business for the owners and the employees are wondering what they are going to do now as well. Nearly 30 people were employeed at that factory. It is truly a heartbreaking story. You can read it in entirety on our web page and view some photos. Go to www.millelacsmessenger.com

Although the building could not be saved the firefighters worked for hours tyring to do so. A wise old fire chief once told me that sometimes, all they can save from a burning building is a photo or two. Those photos can become the most precious thing in a person's life from that day forward.

To all of the men and women who gave their time and effort to fight that fire, I salute you. To the members of the medical field, the ambulance crews ready to help, I salute you. You are all everyday heroes.

The Mille Lacs County Search and Rescue team is also volunteer. That crew dedicated several hours (every daylight hour) every day for about 25 days in an effort to find Michael Hedin of Maple Grove who went missing from his fishing boat on Oct. 29.

Search and rescue teams from several neighboring counties assisted in the efforts as well as the National Guard.

Weather conditions throughout most of the search were not pleasant to be diving in the lake, or on a boat on the water or flying above the water. But I don't know of anyone of those men and women who complained. They were dedicated to their mission with compassion.

They were all volunteer. They were all mostly local.

My hat is off to you all and I salute you.

I was talking with CW5 Curtis Skoog the OIC from the National Guard mission crew one night after a day of searching. He lives in the Cities but he told me that if he ever considered moving out of the Cities, he would definitely consider moving to this area. Not because of the fishing or hunting, but becase of the people. The first thing he would do if he moved here would be to join the Search and Rescue team. Because of the people. He told me the search and rescue crew he worked with on the Mille Lacs Lake missing angler mission were some of the best folks he has ever met.

I think that says a lot for all of you everyday unsung heroes.

The firefighters, medical crews and search and rescue teams have all very recently shown remarkable distinguished courage and abilities and should be admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities. According to Dictionary.com that makes you all heroes.

Thank you.

Peace.

"Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look." — Ronald Reagan

Michael Wachsmuth's benefit still on

"Firemen never die, they just burn forever in the hearts of the people whose lives they saved." ~Susan Diane Murphree

Although Michael Wachsmuth, a Garrison Firefighter, lost is battle with brain cancer, the benefit that was scheduled prior to his passing is still going forward as a memorial benefit. The Garrison Fire Auxiliary Association and the Garrison Fire Relief Association are working together to raise nearly $10,000 to cover the funeral expenses for the family.

DATE: December 6, 2008
WHERE: Blue Goose Inn, Garrison. Hwy. 169
WHAT AND WHEN: There will be a couple of things going on. Come for all of it, or part of it. You decide what works best for you.

Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament from 1 pm - 5 pm (Pre-registration is suggested as space is limited.) A suggested donation of $25 will be accepted for a buy-in to the tournament.
PIG ROAST with tons of trimmings: from 3 pm - 5 pm. Suggested donation of $10 per plate ages 12 and older. $5 per plate for children 11 years old and younger.
SILENT AUCTION and prize drawings will be held throughout the day.

If you have any items you would like to donate to the silent auction please contact either me or Renee Breun.

Thank you for your support.

Peace.


Any monetary donations are being accepted by making checks payable to:

The Garrison Fire Relief Association (Put Michael's name in memo line)

Mail checks to:
Garrison Fire Auxiliary Association
Attn: M. Wachsmuth
P.O. Box 254
Garrison, MN 56450

The entire community of Garrison has been involved with the benefit and is contributing in so many ways. Individuals and organizations have stepped up to offer support and help for one who so unselfishly served his community as a firefighter. I can't tell you how touching it is to witness such an outpouring of support.

Thank you all. I hope to see you Saturday, Dec. 6.

Peace.

Yes, wedding bells

I am so sorry to have forgotten to mention some of the happiest news about Michael. Yesterday, Sunday, Nov. 9. Michael was married to his long-time sweet-heart Kayla. It was a very special ceremony complete with a pastor. (Technically, there is some confusion about a certified marriage license, but it doesn't really matter. Knowing Michael, he was most looking forward to the wedding night!) What matters most is the smiles the event brought to Michael's face. He smiles so much as it is, but apparently his wedding day meant the world to him.

As for his parents comments, I need to ask Laura, (so Laura if you call me that would be great,) but I have talked to Mike Sr. He said it was a great day. It was so much fun to see Michael laughing and smiling so much. Kayla is such a sweet-heart and they have known each other for, "like forever."

I will get more info on the wedding I am sure. Apparently, the whole room was full of happy people. At the center of it was Michael.

Thanks to Michelle for the note about the wedding.

Peace.

A miracle for Michael

“Impossible situations can become possible miracles.” — Robert H. Schuller


Not all things can be explained. Some of life's questions are easy and there is a definitive answer with reasoning behind it. Like 2 plus 2 equals 4.

It is the big questions that are hardest to understand. Those questions that simply ask, "Why?"

There are sometimes no answers to that question.

Garrison firefighter Michael Wachsmuth has been diagnosed with fibrillary astrocytoma. A malignant brain tumor.

I will not attempt to explain what it is. Rather I pulled a quote from the Mayo Clinic website and put it here. Just Google it if you want more information.

Astrocytomas originate from cells called astrocytes and are most commonly found in the main part of the brain, the cerebrum. People can develop astrocytomas at any age, though they are more common in adults. Astrocytomas in the base of the brain are more common in young people.

Mayo Clinic is highly experienced in treating astrocytomas. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is ranked No. 1 in Neurology and Neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/glioma/astrocytomas.html?wt.srch=1&wt.mc_id=Yahoo&keyword=minnesota_brain_tumor_astrocytoma&campaign=mcr_neurosurgery&state=minnesota&OVRAW=astrocytoma&OVKEY=astrocytoma&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=3274130013&OVKWID=32084089013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrocytoma

I rode along with Bruce Breun, Mike Schneider and Jason Stiernagle, some of the Garrison firefighters, yesterday as they went to visit their firefighting brother. When we arrived, Laura, Michael mother gave us the news. The diagnosis was malignant brain tumor and the prognosis is grim. She asked us to be positive when we talked with her son. A request that was easy to understand.

She said Michael is unable to move from the neck down and still had a breathing tube in his throat. He can move his head slightly to say yes or no. He can blink his eyes and he can smile. He is anxious to get the tube out of his mouth so he can at least mouth words. Right now, since he cannot move his arms, he cannot use sign language. Communication is difficult for him at this point.

But when those firefighters walked into his room in the ICU unit on Mary Brigh at the Mayo Clinic, I could have sworn Michael's face was glowing. Seeing him talk with his brothers was a wonderful thing.

He smiled a lot yesterday morning. He complained only a little. He was hungry and wanted to eat real food. And he wanted that tube out of his mouth more than anything.

He gets along quite well with his nurse, Erin. I think he has a crush on her. I think it will be much easier for him to flirt with her when he does get that tube out. For to see him smile can turn any body's heart upside down.

Erin said she enjoys working with Michael. That he is a sweetheart and a fighter.

And that he is. He is a fighter.

He needs to keep on fighting. He needs to regain his strength. He needs to be able to breath on his own.

Michael's astrocytoma is a grade 4 and is inoperable. His hope for survival clings to a thread of a chance for radiation to shrink the tumors and stop the spreading. To begin any treatment, he needs to get off the ventilator and breath on his own.

Please pray for Michael to fight. Please pray for Michael to be able to breath on his own so that he can begin treatment.

What is needed now is a miracle for Michael.

Peace.

“Miracles happen to those who believe in them.” — Bernard Berenson

Michael Wachsmuth condition worsens

The family of Michael Wachsmuth wish to thank everyone for your continued support and prayers. If you read the comments posted on the last blog entry, you know Mike is not doing well at this time.

Michael had surgery on Friday. The doctors performed a biopsy and confirmed the spots are tumors. They do not know what kind at this time. One doctor told Mike Sr. they are "rapidly growing" tumors. The pathology report is estimated to be done at the earliest Monday late, and most likely Tuesday or Wednesday.

On Saturday, Michael was able to move his fingers and toes, however, by Sunday, he had little movement from the neck down. He can blink his eyes and Mike Sr. believes Micheal knows what is going on around him.

Michael is unable to breath on his own. He was placed on a ventilator yet he still tries to move his mouth and lips. The doctors will replace the endotracheal tube (that is inserted through the mouth) with a trach tube. (A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure on the neck to open a direct airway through an incision in the trachea (the windpipe).

Mike Sr. said the doctors have told him Michael's condition is grave.

In an email to me this morning, Jeremy, Michael's cousin wrote: "Please every one pray for Michael, pass this on to family and friends the more people that pray for him the better. thank you for all your support. I will do what I can to update you."

That pretty much sums it up.

Prayers are needed.

Peace.

Update on Mike, prayers needed

I spoke with Mike Sr. and Jeremy late last night and today. Here is what I know:

Mike was going in for another MRI around noon today. Jeremy had just gotten down to the Mayo and would wait until he got out.

There is another spot on his spine - apparently in his lumbar region. Mike is scheduled for surgery tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 31. The doctors are going to do the biopsy.

Mike said they will start in the lumbar region. If they do not get a satisfactory result - meaning some clue as to what is going on -- they will start to biopsy the other areas starting with spots (lesions) in his neck (cervical).

The surgery is risky and partial or full paralysis is a possibility.

Mike told Jeremy that he is tired of being sick. He just want to find out what is wrong so he can get better.

Please pray for Mike and his family.

Peace.

Firefighter fighting for his life

Mike Wachsmuth is a Garrison firefighter fighting for his life right now. He is currently in the ICU at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

I first heard of Mike Wachsmuth's condition from his dad, Mike Wachsmuth. Now I am not entirely sure if one is a Jr. and the other Sr., but for simplicity sake, they will be here.

Mike Sr. told me of the medical mystery surrounding his 23-year-old son, Mike. My heart just about broke in pieces listening to him speak of his son.

Covering the news about the fire department and on the scene at fires of course, is how I first met Mike Jr. He is a favorite launch captain of many folks in Garrison as well having worked at Garrison Sports piloting both some Garrison Sports launches and at the Blue Goose.

Please go to the Messenger website and read the story on Mike. Here is the link. If it doesn't work, copy and paste it to your browser. You know the drill.

http://www.millelacsmessenger.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=19287


I know Mike, Jr. He is a very nice young man who has been on the Garrison Fire department for 5 years. He signed up on his 18th birthday, so I am told. This picture was taken at an early morning fire this summer. There were actually two house fires that morning. The first call came in somewhere round 3 a.m. Mike responded with the rest of his crew. The second call came in around 5 a.m. I think, if I remember correctly, they were on their way back to the barn (fire hall) when that call came in. They turned around and went back. The second call was only a couple blocks from the first. (Arson is suspected in both houses.)



But the crew put both fires out. The first house was totally engulfed when they arrived and unfortunately, it burned to the ground. They were able to save a couple of walls on the second house. That's when I got there. It was still dark, but getting brighter. The boys were tired. Very tired and very hot. Mike was there and giving it his all.


I found out last night that Mike did not have the biopsy. The doctors warned him of the risk of permanent paralysis if anything went wrong. They are holding off on the biopsy. Mike Sr. told me the docs did some more tests yesterday. They took fluid from his eye for one test. Sounds painful. They need to wait for results. Mike Jr. is also scheduled to be seen by an ear, nose and throat specialist. He can't swallow anymore at all, apparently. After the ENT's take a look they are possibly going to insert a feeding tube, either parctial or full. And he mentioned something about a lung test, too, but I don't know what that is.

I have mainly been talking with Mike Sr. and his nephew, Mike's cousin, Jeremy Wachsnuth. Jeremy and Mike Jr. are close. Coming from a small town (Garrison has a population of 213 for those who don't know) most people know each other. I know both Jeremy and Mike Sr. pretty well. Mike Sr. has been my boat driver on several occasions when I have needed to get out on the water for a story, or for fun. Mike Sr. would do just about anything to help someone. Anyone. Even though he likes to pretend he is crabby sometimes, you just have to look into those blue eyes to see the truth.

I met Jeremy through Mike Sr. and have had many occasions to talk with him and hang out for a bit. Jeremy is a stubborn young guy — it may run in the family. What also appears to run in the family is the urge to help people. I know that if I ever needed anything, Jeremy would be there.

That appears to be the same with Mike Jr. Why else would he be so involved with the fire department?


The picture with the girls is Jeremy and Mike at the eelpout festival in Walker. Leave it to those boys to find girls in bikinis while ice fishing!

Here is what Jeremy wrote in an email to me this morning after his visit with Mike Jr. yesterday: "It was really a hard day to be with him today. I think the hardest yet. He is so tired of being sick he asked the doctor for the biopsy knowing that he may not ever walk again after that."

Jeremy took this picture of Mike in the hospital while he was a Mercy before he moved to Mayo. He know has IV's running in his arms so they can feed him and deliver medication.




Mike's illness is still a mystery. Quite frankly, it sounds like an episode of the FOX series "House." I wish it was because on that show, almost always, House comes in at the end and figures out the whole mystery and saves the patient's life.

Right now I am asking for your prayers, for Mike, for his family.
I will post updates when I hear more. Both on my blog and on twitter.

Peace.

I want to run for Vice President

I have never really had any political aspirations before. But with Sara Palin running, she may have just given me the inspiration I need.

I mean every girl just wants to have fun, right? That is what Cyndi Lauper says.

(Watch this video!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqf9PuKi63E
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. Classic happy song.

So, Ms. Palin decides to run for VP, or is asked by McCain, whatever. The woman has it all.

She can fly an airplane and give birth. She can field dress a moose in 15 minutes. She has a world champion snowmobile racing (not to mention pretty cute!) husband and rumor has it she can play the flute.

Well, I jump out of airplanes, I have no intention of every shooting a moose other than with my camera and I don't even like to fillet a fish (although I have, I just choose not to), I ride my own snowmobile and shoot snowmobile racers (with my camera) and I play the trumpet and guitar.

I might be qualified.

Qualifications aside, what intrigues me most is her new wardrobe budget.

The republican party has paid -- so far -- $150,000 for new clothes and $13,000 on makeup for Sara since she accepted the nomination.

OK, that was just a couple of months ago, right?

If she gets that much money on clothes and make up, I want a run at it.

Apparently, the republican party claims they will donate the clothes to charity after the election. Well, sign me up for that charity! I would take her hand-me-down clothes, but used makeup is a little unsanitary. Just maybe.

What if they win? Does she get to keep the clothes if she wins? And if she spent that much in a couple of months, how much will she spend when she is in the second office at the White House?

I just have to wonder.


Peace.


p.s., I found this video on YouTube, too. Something to watch in your spare time.

Here comes the sun and the SPF45

I just found out I have an appointment to see the dermatologist tomorrow morning. I had completely forgotten about it. The appointment I mean. Not the skin cancer. The last time I was in the derm clinic, I had made a bunch of appointments for the next three years, so forgetting the dates is really not unforgivable. They told me they would call me to remind me and I told them that is a good thing. Turned out I was right. Good thing they called. I almost did a radio spot for that same time.

So, just in case you have no idea what I am talking about, I posted here in my blog a copy of my recent column that appeared in the July 16 edition of the Mille Lacs Messenger.
And for a really old column on the subject, copy and paste this address into your browser.

http://www.millelacsmessenger.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=17926&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=&S=1

So anyway, here is the column from last week's paper. Wish me luck tomorrow!!!

Here comes the sun and the SPF45

A couple of weeks ago I introduced the Messenger readers to a new found comrade — a fellow cancer survivor, Tim Joy (a/k/a/ Captain Hook).

He was diagnosed with malignant melanoma about the same time I was. It was February. It was cold then and clothing wasn’t optional. In fact layers of clothing was the norm and accepted attire this past winter. Lots of layers.

When my dermatologist told me I would need to make changes in my life I nodded and said I would. He told me the first year after being diagnosed would be the hardest.

I had no idea.

I have always been a sun worshiper. To me, there are not a lot of things that can compare to the pure pleasure of lying on the dock or on my pontoon soaking in the sun. The heat radiates to my bones, warms my soul and I just let my mind drift away to anywhere.

I don’t take a lot of time to do nothing. Most of the time I am running in a million directions at once. Raising my son and running a household while working fulltime and trying to save the world one house at a time on my days off doesn’t leave a lot of time to do nothing.

My son is growing up now and requires less constant attention and entertainment so the last couple of years have given me more freedom to sometimes do nothing. During the three months of summer, just about any weekend (when not on an assignment) for a few hours during the peak rays of sun (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) you could find me on my dock soaking in the sun.

In reality, sunbathing isn’t doing nothing. I am using solar energy to recharge my batteries. It works for my garden lights, so it should work for me. That and the fact that even cellulite looks better when it is a nice shade of golden brown.

So there I was last February learning that my vanity-driven-sunbathing-battery-charging days were going to have to be over. No longer will I be able to take a 20-minute vacation at the tanning salon, or spend time on the dock — or even outside — without totally covering up my skin with clothing and a big floppy hat.

The reality of that didn’t hit me until summer came. And I am not certain it has really kicked in completely. Finding sunscreen with an SPF45 or greater isn’t all that hard. It is remembering to put it on every day and keep reapplying throughout the day when I am in the sun.

I forget to cover up. When it’s hot, the last thing I want to do is wear a long-sleeved shirt. As for the hat thing — I agree with Tim Joy, I hate that hat. It messes with my hair style and I can’t take photographs with the brim of a hat getting inside my view finder. Since I physically feel fine and always did, I sometimes tend to forget I even went through the ordeal. Until I see the ugly scar on my arm. Which happens several times a day.

I agree with Tim, that hearing those three words, “You have cancer” was life-changing. Although I am working on changing my habits on the outside, it is what changed on the inside that matters most to me now. The scar is a constant reminder to not take myself so seriously, or the rest of the world for that matter. Little moments are the best and sometimes one smile means more than all the flowers in my garden.

I don’t want to hide from the sun. But I will use the SPF45.

“Just living is not enough... One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”
- Hans Christian Andersen

Vivian Clark is a Messenger staff writer. vclark@millelacsmessenger.com

The fine art of fireworks

“You are born an artist or you are not. And you stay an artist, dear, even if your voice is less of a fireworks. The artist is always there.” - Maria Callas


Next to Christmas and my birthday, I think the 4th of July is my favorite holiday. It is just so much fun.

I have always loved fireworks. Growing up in Bloomington, my parents brought us kids to see the 4th of July fireworks every year. Whether we were at our cabin on Round Lake (near Park Rapids), or went on a picnic somewhere in the cities , or had a backyard BBQ with friends, no matter where we were, we always went to see the fireworks.

I remember one year we went to the old Met stadium in Bloomington. My dad parked the gold Ford Galaxy 500 and he pulled an old green and weathered Army blanket out of the trunk and spread it on the hood of the car and let us sit there eating popcorn brought from home. We were dressed in our jammies in case we fell asleep on the way home. I never did. I was just too excited.

I sat there on the edge of the hood with my neck cranked all the way back and my eyes on the sky waiting for 20 minutes before it was even dark. "You are going to get a sore neck" my mom said to me. I didn't care. I just didn't want to miss a thing. And I never ever did.

Fireworks have always been a wonderment for me. So when I got the idea to go behind the scenes to find out how the shows are put together, I didn't know what I would find. Exactly. Did I want to know the secrets? or keep the mystery in the fire?

Knowing the secrets and finding the truth behind the scenes is in my blood. I had to know.

It was an amazing experience for me. Being that close to the process of setting them up and then shooting them off was one to add to my “coolest experiences ever” list.

Lon Schmidt, the go-to PIC (person in charge) was very tolerant of my never ending questions. He often chuckled and I wasn’t quite sure if he was laughing at me or laughing with me. Either way is OK with me. And when he asked me if I wanted to pull the trigger to start the show I was stunned. I believe I stared with that doe-in-the-headlights look ... “Um, are you serious? Yeah! That would be awesome!”

And it was. Simply amazing.

It was an unbelievable feeling to pull that trigger and fire those explosives while standing less than 200 feet away. Lon warned me of the dangers of being so close, but I didn’t think twice. I wanted to be there. And I stayed up close when I was done.

I could not only see the fireworks I have always marveled at, but that day I could feel them. The explosions shook the ground sending vibrations through my feet that traveled through every inch of my body. It was an unbelievable fantastical sensation. Every one of my senses was alive. Smoke filled the air on the ground and above the tree-line sometimes so thick I could not see 200-feet in front of me. It was a slightly electrified sulphuric/medicinal/gun powder type of smell almost like when you blow out a Eucalyptus candle. Or 10,000 of them.

I watched more of what was happening on the ground than what was happening in the sky. A much different view of fireworks than I had ever witnessed before. And at times the pitch-black night became as bright as daylight when several went off simultaneously. Pieces of shells that resemble coconuts dropped to the ground all around me.

I could not believe Lon when he said the show lasted 24 minutes and 45 seconds. It was one of those feels-like-20-seconds-and-I-don’t-want-it-to-end moments. My heart was still pounding and I could feel my legs shaking. It was almost like landing on the ground after a parachute jump.

I did not once ever feel the danger. My brain knew it was there lingering on the edge, but I didn’t feel it. Perhaps it was because I felt comfortable after watching the way the crew worked to make sure everything went off the way it was suppose to. Murphy’s Law is always a possibility, but I didn’t think of it. And thank the Lord, nothing went wrong.

I thank Lon and the crew for putting up with me and showing me the ropes. I will never forget such an electrifying experience.

I have heard nothing but kudos from the towns-folk about the show. It really was one of the best shows Garrison has ever had. From my point of view it was by far the best on the lake and quite possibly the best show north of the Taste of Minnesota. If it were simulcast to music on the radio, it would be the best in Minnesota.

Happy Independence everyone.

Peace.

p.s.
And then Jeff Foxworthy said, "You may be a redneck if... your lifetime goal is to own a fireworks stand." I don't want to own one, but I do like to pull the trigger.


Check out the video at http://www.millelacsmessenger.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=18754&TM=64553.52

My opinion on gill nets

Opinions are like (noses), everybody’s got one.

“The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinions.” - James Russell Lowell


The story of the lost tribal gill nets on Mille Lacs Lake has generated a lot of talk. Much of the discussion has quieted down.
A lot of people have posted comments and questions on the Messenger web page and on blogs. Some of the questions have been thoughtful while others have been redundant. The questions that have warranted answers have been answered, or so it seems.
Except for a couple. One in particular asked of me by “John.” He wanted to know if I had changed my position regarding gill nets.

While I don’t believe I ever spelled out my position, or opinion, about gill netting in particular (show me word for word if I did), I have given John's question a lot of thought.

As a writer, I am first an observer. I like to interview people in person, or be on the scene of whatever it is I am covering so I can see first hand what it is all about and feel some of the emotions. I listen to people. I watch people. I watch the whole situation as best as I can. Get the big picture. I sometimes get lost in the listening and the watching. But I feel I have to, to be able to tell the story. And then as a writer I tell you what I have found.

As a writer, what I think and feel, or my position on a subject, doesn’t really matter. As the writer, I should be out in the margins, not even a sidebar to the story. Because that is where writers belong. If I become a part of the story, then I am not an observer. If I am not being an observer, then I cannot be a storyteller.

There are exceptions, of course, to every rule. An op/ed piece is completely different than a hard news story and/or a feature story. However, some feature stories can be written in first person, and then of course, that puts me in the story. Opinions and editorials are of course, what they are.

But news is news.

I watched the entire story play out before my eyes. I was actually in a boat, on the water, in Garrison Bay and St. Alban’s Bay the night the ice floe moved in covering a story on electro fishing. I am not an expert, but there was barely a wind. The water was calm and it was a beautiful sunset. I gave no thought to the floe lingering just out of my view. And I watched as Band members set their nets for the evening.

I finished gathering electro fishing information and went home. It was well after 10 p.m. when I left the bay. I remember it being quiet. Peaceful. Not much wind to speak of. Only a gentle lapping of the waves on the rocks at the landing. Apparently, a few short hours later, something changed.

The following morning, I stopped by Garrison Bay again. I had no idea there were nets trapped below the surface when I first pulled into the parking lot. One look at the bay, and knowing there were 100’s of nets set the night before, and watching Band members struggle to maneuver their boats through the ice, I knew.

So I watched.
I listened.
I watched some more.
And the rest of the story has been written.
This is what I do.

I stand behind the facts as I have presented them to you — as they have been presented to me. The only factual information I have is from biologists and law enforcement from the Minnesota DNR and GLIFWC. Anything else is heresy and cannot be construed as fact without means to back it up.

What I have watched playout before my eyes since then has done nothing to increase my view of mankind.

Peace.

Gillnets not forgotten

It has been a few weeks now since the tribal gillnets went missing under the ice of Garrison Bay. While 10 of the 15 nets have officially been recovered, as I write, they are investigating the possibility of two more found near Myr Mar yesterday (waiting for confirmation from GLIFWC) which would bring the official recovered net count to 12. That means three are still missing.

A gillnet was found on the east side of the lake near Big Point. However it has not been determined if that is one of the infamous Garrison Bay ghost nets. It was an old net and no tag. And it is still under investigation.

The remaining nets may indeed become ghost nets. Then again, perhaps they are not really missing at all. Maybe they have already been removed from the lake without telling anybody.

Is that a possibility? Sure it is. I can imagine the questions: What about citations? Why are the people responsible not being held accountable? Why can't they find them all? Somebody must pay.

GLIFWC has answered the citation question on a weekly basis. And here it is again: There is an ongoing investigation. Until such time when the investigation is complete, there will be no citations. They have also said, if the outcome of the investigation indicates, people will be held accountable.

It has been less than three weeks since the nets went missing. But there are those who want heads to roll now. Including my head.

The issue of agendas has been brought up recently. I have to wonder about some agendas. Why are people so excited and want justice and punishment for what they see is a crime that may or may not have even been committed in the first place when it is about fish, or fishing rights, or netting?

But when a drive-by shooting occurs, or a woman is assaulted, no one cries for immediate justice. There doesn’t seem to be an outcry for justice when habitual offenders continue their cycle. There doesn't seem to be a demand for a speedy investigation when a cop lost his gun in January (that investigation remains ongoing). No one cares that there is a growing need for the services of our local food shelves and the supplies can't keep up with the demand. No one cares when people we know are losing their homes to foreclosures.

No one cares. Unless there is a fish involved. And that fish belongs to a tribal member.

I don't see the entire angling community up in arms when when some angler catches a 20-inch smallmouth bass thinking it is the world record rock bass. What about culling or keeping illegal length fish or going over the limit? Or saving fillets in the freezer for a fish fry? You all know it happens, and no one cries out angerly for justice. Why is ok to take a female walleye in the winter, summer or fall and not the spring? Either way, that female is removed from the reproduction cycle. No one cries out if a handful of anglers "make a mistake."

Absolutely these things happen. And absolutely wrong doing or mistakes are not an every day thing. Only a handful of the thousands of anglers who visit Mille Lacs annually try to bend the rules to suit themselves. But it happens.

Only a handful of nets were lost, but that it is a big thing.

Since the day they went missing there have been some pretty fantastic comments from all sides of the issue — the good vs. evil, the black and white, the we and the they. I have heard and read comments that have been spun-sugar bullcrap, cut-throat arrogance and some with clearly no grip on reality at all.

There has been a lot of name calling directed at me. My favorite was from a guy in Sartell, who compared me to a dog who barks too much and suggested my boss put a muzzle on me.

I have been accused of having an agenda, of not reporting facts, of not doing proper investigating. I was practically accused of signing the treaty in 1837.

While I appreciate the sentiment behind the accusations, I truly must confess: I wasn’t around then.

Steve Fellegy wrote what he called his last column for the Mille Lacs Messenger published in last week’s paper. He wrote that for the last 18 years the Messenger has been consistently reporting on a “racially based issue” of the gathering rights lawsuit with disregard to the facts, merits and what the mirror reflects. Perhaps Jim Baden and Joel Patenaude would take issue with that remark.

He wrote the proof of that is in plain view on staff blogs — mine and Brett’s. I don’t believe I ever wrote about the gathering rights lawsuit — blog or otherwise. I didn’t live here, nor had I even heard about the treaty rights lawsuit 18 years ago.

Fellegy wrote that Messenger readers have been denied what the mirror truly says. Those are his words. And quite frankly, it does not make sense. He talks about potty training and the birds and the bees and a need for change and looking in the mirror. What I heard was smoke and mirrors.

Some folks sent comments online claiming they are pulling their subscriptions and advertising in the Messenger because they have had enough.

Other comments say the facts in the Messenger are twisted and distorted to fit the agenda of the writer. (I believe that was meant for me.) This person also wrote that I have been “back stabbing” to reinforce my agenda.

So, I am confused. Readers want facts reported. Not lies. Good. I agree.

When I wrote the facts readers said I had an agenda. Because the facts didn’t fit with what they wanted to hear. They wanted blood. And not your blood but that of the netters. And possibly mine. Is this the racially based issue Fellegy spoke of?

I have no agenda about fishing (or cops losing guns for that matter). I have no agenda except the public’s right to know the facts and truth. I wrote the truth.

If I had an agenda, maybe it would be to end world hunger and homelessness. Or stopping domestic assault. That might be my agenda. If I had one.

Where are the facts to support the claims that I did not write the facts? If there are pictures of hundreds of dead and rotting fish found in the water, still in the nets, where are those photos? Why is it that the lost nets that were recovered within the same time period contained only a few fish and all were alive? Those are facts that are backed by biologists and law enforcement.

Mr. Fellegy said on the Fox News piece: "They're doing it (gillnetting) because they can just to spite our government and our society. That's the only sound reasoning you can come up with."

Maybe that is the only reason you can come up with Mr. Fellegy.

Who is doing what for spite?

If we, the Messenger, really wanted to give readers misinformation, write lies and cover-ups, we wouldn’t be dumb enough to let readers comment on our website or our Mailbag page. If we are really as bad as Steve Fellegy says, why would we have let him write for us in the first place?

The story of the lost gillnets will slowly be moved to the back burner where it will continue to simmer. In time, it will come back to a boil. But how long until it boils over?

“Don’t make me use uppercase.”

Peace.

The ghost story of gill-nets on Mille Lacs Lake

There has been a lot of talk regarding the ghosts of Mille Lacs. It is a somewhat frightening story I am sure will be told around campfires, bait shops and blogs for years. The story is drumming up fear in folks from near and far.

I know I am afraid.

This is a true ghost story. The names have not been changed to protect either the innocent or the ignorant.

Last week on a calm Tuesday, April 29, tribal members from Wisc. set 233 gill-nets in the open water of Garrison Bay on Mille Lacs Lake. A large ice floe was drifting several miles out to the center of the vast lake. As predicted the winds shifted and picked up speed in the early morning hours of April 30. Many tribal members began pulling their nets at about 3 a.m. By 6:30 a.m. many more were scraping boats through the ice in efforts to recover their nets.

However, by the end of the day on Wednesday, 15 of the 233 nets were ultimately not recovered.

Local anglers, self-proclaimed professional fishermen, resorters and more were infuriated. Some even set out in watercraft to the icy waters themselves. Were they out to help in the search efforts to save the fish caught in the missing nets in an effort to protect the fishery in which they claim they have a vested interest? Their intention is not entirely clear.

Draw your own conclusion. A local guy and some pals went out in a boat on Saturday, four days after the nets went missing. They allegedly found several of those missing nets. They allegedly documented the locations of the nets and took photographs of 100’s of rotting fish held captive within the nets. Did they turn the information over to Minnesota DNR officials or GLIFWC conservation officers to help get the nets out of the lake?

No. Allegedly, arrangements were made with an undisclosed media source for exclusive rights to the story on the nets and the fish, including photos of the nets and fish. I haven’t seen the photos. I was told other media (Messenger included) may be privy to them after the obligations of the exclusive offer have been met.

For someone who is so afraid of the ghost nets lurking under the surface of the water, it would — one might think — make sense to do everything possible to get the nets out of the lake as soon as possible.

I am afraid. I am afraid of ignorance. I have heard comments that include other people’s fears such as the fears that the drifting ghost nets are going to continue catching fish, get caught in boat motors when anglers hit the water for opener this weekend, or even catch loons and small children swimming in the shallows.

Facts from GLIFWC:
On April 30 15 gill-nets went missing in Mille Lacs Lake.
By May 3, 8 of the 15 have been found.
In all 8 nets there were a total of 29 fish for a total of 67 pounds. All fish were healthy and alive. There were no dead and rotten fish.
A daily catch-rate average that exceded 67 pounds was applied to the 15 missing nets as of April 30.
GLIFWC does not seek to minimize the significance of the lost nets. They are diligently searching for the remaining nets nearly 20 hours a day.

Gill-nets set in inland lakes such as Mille Lacs are bottom set nets. They are weighted to the bottom of the lake, Bill Mattes, GLIFWC great lakes section leader said. If the buoys break free, the nets sink because of the weights. They are not floating gill nets like in the ocean. They do not drift around the lake. It is more likely that a lost net will be on the bottom of the lake in a ball, Mattes said.

To think a lost gill net will fish as well as when first set is “akin to thinking a rod and reel lost overboard with a baited hook will continue to fish as well as when in the hands of an angler,” Mattes said.

As to allegations of rotting fish, the water temperature in Mille Lacs is cold. Near 40 degrees. The ice was not even out when the nets went missing. To think the fish caught in the nets were rotting within four days is absurd. So far, the facts support this theory as well. All of the nets recovered have held only live fish. True, each day that goes by decreases the chances of finding live fish in the nets.

As to loons getting caught in the missing nets, well that is a possibility because loons dive for their meals. But as for small children, I find it hard to believe parents would allow children to swim in any lake when the air and water temperatures are below seasonal averages. I mean it is just too darned cold.

The lost nets could potentially be caught in a boat motor. However, it is unlikely as the nets are most likely on the bottom of the lake. If boaters are in the shallows, they should be concerned, as always, to what may be under the surface of the water.

Should the tribal members have placed their nets in the water in the first place with weather threatening to move the ice floe? Who knows. What I do know is I have seen many anglers go out in unsafe weather conditions because the lure of fishing dictates. I don’t claim to understand the mentality of those so drawn to fish that they would put their lives at risk. But it happens.

What to do if you find a gill-net:

A suspect area may show up on a fish finder as a big blob or a line of small fish. The gill-net floats will show up on fish finders as a small fish because the air trapped inside the float is akin to the airbladder of a fish. That is what fish finders are seeing. Report the finding of any nets to local wardens or conservation officers so they can investigate and pull it out of the water if it is indeed a ghost net. Call GLIFWC: 1-800-943-4447 or MN DNR at 1-800-652-9093. The DNR can call GLIFWC.

I am afraid. I am afraid for the spirit of mankind. I have only heard two people express concern for the lives of anyone on either side of this situation. The first was a woman on shore at Garrison Bay Wednesday morning. She was a tribal member who struggled to get her nets off the lake. She did, but others from her tribe did not. “Those men are risking their lives out there,” she said. The second was Mille Lacs Band commissioner of natural resources Curt Kalk. His first question when he heard about the situation was, “Did anyone get hurt? No. OK, now we deal with it.”

I am afraid because people walk around with tunnel vision, expecting things to happen their way. If that doesn’t happen they stomp their feet, puff out their cheeks and take their bat and ball and go home leaving the rest of the team at the bottom of the ninth inning with bases loaded.

If you put yourself on an island, do not be surprised to find yourself alone.

Peace.

Au revoir mon ami, Jim. It's been a great ride

Thursday, May 1, 2008

I stopped to visit my friend Jim this morning. “Hi there, Handsome,” I said to him.
There is every possibility that was the last time I will see him.

He apologized for not getting up. “I’m sorry you have to see me this way,” he said surrounded by the comfort of his own bed complete with fluffy pillows and a soft comforter. The hospice people were to be coming later. And a priest.

“Don’t be silly. You look comfortable.”

He noticed I have lost some weight. I said thanks and that I had been working on it, but would give anything for a Dairy Queen hot fudge banana malt.

He told me I should just have one.“Don’t worry about stuff like that, Viv. If you want a malt you should have a malt. There just isn’t enough time in life to skip out on having malts. I know. Trust me. It all works out in the end.”

I laughed. A little. “I’ll keep that in mind. Is there anything I can get for you?”

“A couple more years would be nice. Right now I would take a day more.”

I held back the tears as he told me he felt in his heart that he had a day, maybe two left on this earth. That would be a good time to be wrong, Jim.

We talked for quite some time. Jim has always some great stories to tell. We have quite a few laughs over quite a few cocktails in recent years. I wish I would have known him longer. He has had a great life. But that is just about come to an end. He shared with me some very wonderful things. Some of them I will share with you.

“It’s been a great ride,” Jim said.

Jim has no regrets about his life. That is the way you should live, he said. “If I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

But he does wish he had more time. He said he feels bad that he will be leaving his family. He has some great kids, he said. He is lucky. He is especially worried about Mary, his wife. “She is wonderful. I don’t know what I would have done without her,” he said.

Here are just a few pieces of advice Jim shared with me today.

- Do the right thing every day. When you can look yourself in the mirror at night and know you were a good person that day, it was a good day. Have lots of those.

- Just get a long with people.

- Don’t be jealous of what other people have. You want something, make it happen, get it yourself, or get over it.

- There is no time for petty things.

- When you are lying down in the last few days of your life, it is not the big events that you remember. It is the little everyday stuff that can take my breath away. Those are important. Hang on to them.

- Make a lot of memories.

- There is not a lot that is better than a great day on a bike or on the water. Sun and wind feel good.

Jim said more. He always has more to say.
He said he has been thinking about religion a lot lately. It’s no surprise.

“I’ve never been a real religious man. I believe in God. But not so much in religion,” he said.

He was “kicked out of the Catholic church” many years ago when he got divorced and then remarried he said. So, he didn’t have much time for religion. But he knows there is a God and he believes in Him and he believes in heaven.

“There will be one more angel in heaven, Jim. I am counting on you to shake things up a bit up there.”

“And I will be there watching you. Wear your sunscreen. If you feel someone tapping on your shoulder and there is nobody there, you can just know it is me.”

Thanks for all the advice, Jim. I stopped and bought myself a Dairy Queen malt. I shared it with a cat that’s been hanging out behind the office. I named the cat Jim.

I will be thinking of you often, Jim. And miss you very much. I will be waiting for a tap on my shoulder.

It’s been a great ride.

Bon au revoir mon ami. Jusqu'à ce que nous rencontrons encore. Good bye my friend. Until we meet again.


Peace.