Good Monday Morning!

January 15, 2024
Good Monday Morning!
               Where does God’s love go
               When it’s thirty below
               And yer engine makes unnatural sounds.
               The wind whips right through 
               Your old parka—and you! 
               While the snow piles up in mounds.

I’ve never been a fan of winter, especially the cold. The 2 AM call to the ER became a torture issue when it was ten below zero. I’d be shivering and sometimes  praying, sometimes cursing, trying to start the old van. I even put a bend in the key trying to start it up one night when I was called to a delivery. It finally coughed to life and I made it, mom and baby all good! Way back when I was a student, I had to travel to Mercy Hospital for an OB rotation. It was about 10 miles from our apartment, and my vehicle was a Volkswagen. As you may know, or not know, this particular chariot has a very poor heater, to put it nicely. I would get up at 6AMto beat the traffic, put on all the clothes I owned, and wrap my right leg (accelerator foot!) in a large plastic bag.  Years later I put that car up for sale. I had listed it for $150.00, and the first offer came from a daughter of a nurse at the clinic. “Would you take one twenty five,” she asked? 
I paused, thinking of my history with that hunk of metal. “Give me a hundred and it’s yours!”
Ah, yes! Minnesota winter. It’s either here……or it’s coming! Have a great week everyone, and keep warm!

January 8, 2024
Good Monday Morning!
Back in the day when we hand wrote our progress notes in the patient charts, it would take me a week (or several!) to get the new year correct. A habit of writing 1978, say, for 300 plus days wasn’t easily broken. I did a lot of scratching out in January in those days.
The medical evolved a lot during my career. Hand written notes in individual loose leaf folders, stored in family folders, was the system we used. The whole family chart was pulled for any individual appointment so the doctor could have access to what was going on in the rest of the family—sometimes the information was vital! But many times it was also illegible. Once I was trying to decipher a note written by one of my partners. It was just two characters like a scrawled “SL” covering half a page.

He happened to be in clinic that day so I trudged over to ask him what it meant. He stared at it for a minute then said “Screw Loose”.
Not long after that we hired transcriptionists to do our notes and things were much better. Eventually we evolved all the way to paperless charts…..computer only. I recall that fateful day well. My first patient of the day was someone I had taken care of for over 20 years. I explained that the clinic was going paperless, turned the computer screen to the wall, and then turned to her, face to face……..and told the only lie of my practice. “Mrs. Smith,” I said, (not her real name) “As the representative of all my patients, I promise you I will not let this computer come between us!” And of course, it did! Every place where there are two people and a computer, at least one person is staring at the screen, to the detriment of human connection. Oh, it is getting better in the years since I retired, but that infernal screen keeps demanding attention.
Have a great week everyone and remember, it is no longer 2023! Thank goodness!

December 18, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
The grandkids will be visiting next week and they have started inquiring about possible activities….like maybe ice fishing! They had such fun with our summer “fishing trip” that I’m sure they want to recapture that spirit! Sorry, kids, but the only ice here will be the cubes in your 7-UP!Such a winter! We’ll have to think of something else to do……and I’m sure we will!
However, it did get me thinking of my many ice fishing adventures, one which I should share today. I thought I had developed one of the greatest ice fishing vehicles ever…..my old, full sized van with a set of swing out side doors, like Emeril’s French door air fryer! My plan was to drive to my fishing spot on the ice, situating the French doors on the leeward side. Then I’d drill my hole between the two open doors, take a seat on the van step, and fish all afternoon! (This was long before “fish locators” and gas drills!) I had packed a little lunch, a full thermos of coffee, and a small bottle of Snowshoe Grog. Oh, it was a working wonder, and I actually caught some fish, too! And then it came time to leave. I packed everything up and jumped in the drivers seat, turned the key, and heard that sound dreaded by all Minnesotans in the winter…. “Rrrrrrr…….rrrr….rr..click.” Dead battery. While I was nonchalantly fishing, the dome light was draining the battery! I had to throw myself on the mercy of my fellow fishermen for a jump, and none were jumping up and down to help, so to speak. (You KNOW they all had jumper cables in their trunks…..this is Minnesota, for crying out loud! In their defense, the fish seemed to be in a feeding frenzy, and who wanted to interrupt that?) Finally, one guy reluctantly started up his vehicle and positioned it for the jump, all the while muttering things about the stupidity of humanity, or some of us, anyway. After the van started, I offered him a pull from my bottle of Grog, but he declined—just wanted to get back to fishing. It was the first and last time I used my “Fishing Van.”
Have a great week everyone, and a wonderful Christmas! (GMM guy has informed me that he will take a week or two off over the Holidays, unless some compelling story pops up. And with him, you never know! He will for sure see you next year!)

December 11,2023
Good Monday Morning!
Grampa Bocky was sort of a hellion growing up. He and his older brother loved to play pranks, generally making life a little more interesting out on the farm. One day they dressed up in their ‘Sunday-go-to-meetings’ best and visited a neighboring farmstead, posing as representatives of the University of Minnesota. The story was that they were sent out to purchase cats to be used for research. The pair had noted quite a number of cats around the barnyard.They pitched their story to the old farmer and his wife and were about to reel them in, so to speak, when the old guy looked them over and slowly muttered “They don’t buy cats!”
At that, his wife—the likely keeper of the household purse—jumped up and said “Shut up, you fool, they DO buy cats!”
So that story was often trotted out if some one was trying to pull a fast one over on the old man, or if one of us was being gullible and ready to bite on a deal to good to be true! But it came up quite for real when I started my human anatomy course at college. Turns out, we would spend the next couple of months dissecting….. a cat! I often wondered where that cat came from!
Have a great week everyone! And, like a line from “Back to the Future”, ‘Don’t be so gullible, McFly!”q

December 4, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Perhaps you were born into a bilingual family. If so, you perhaps are familiar with mash up conversations, with some words in English, and others in, say, German. Such was my mom’s family in North Dakota. But she was the 13th child, and as she was growing up, most of the German had been replaced with English. But she loved to tell us kids about her brother, our uncle John. He was playing near the barn as his dad and grandpa worked inside. One of his “games” involved poking a stick into the barn through a knothole. The men inside told him to stop, but Johnny must have felt empowered by being on the other side of the wall. Finally, granddad hollered “Hör auf, den Stock in die Scheune zu stecken!” (Stop poking the stick into the barn!)
Uncle John, quite full of himself, replied, “Der stecker ist alright!” (The plug is alright!) He was implying that he was helping by plugging the knothole!
That was enough for grandpa to do his impression of the Kool Aid man—he punched his fist through the barn wall and caught Johnny by the scruff of his neck and after giving him a shake or two, let him go. Turns out, this all took place right where grandpa had tacked in temporary fix for a hole made by a rambunctious horse! The “punch out” wasn’t quite as dramatic as it sounded.
Mom often retold stories with German terms thrown in. She liked the sounds of the language. She retold this story if one of us boys was pushing the envelope, so to speak. “Der stecker ist alright!” became shorthand for “Better watch out!”
Just for the record, I did not grow up in a bilingual home, but my kids did! English and Pig Latin were often mixed together!
Ave-hay a reat-gay eek-way everyone!

November 27, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
You would think I could keep them straight! Three beautiful young women who married into our family with names starting with K……Keeley, Kaylee, and Karlee. You would think…but you’d be wrong. I mean, I’m a college graduate for crying out loud, but when I open my mouth, the wrong name comes out. Oh, they don’t make a big deal out of it, but I know what they’re really thinking….. “Silly old guy, probably going of his rocker!”
“But it’s not my fault,” I want to shout! “It’s hereditary!”
My dad was the champion of getting the wrong name. He had six sons, and even though none of their names started with the same letter, he rarely got the guilty guy on the first try! In order of birth, they are James, William, Charles (Roger), Philip, Gregory, and Daniel. When Pa wanted one of us for any odd job, he’d often go through two or three random names before he got the one he wanted. If he was upset with one of us, he’d seldom land on you without three, four, or even five shout outs! And the more names he went through, the more trouble you were in!
Anyway, it’s all in the family, and this last week was very good for family. We had such a good time at Eric and Kaylee…I mean Keeley…..I mean KARLEE’s home! Hope you had a good time, too! Have a great week everyone!

November 20, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
There are a couple of things that are good about getting older……..maybe. One would be that you always have a few stories to tell. Another is that people tend to forgive an old guy (translation: GMM guy!) when he starts repeating himself! So……don’t stop me if you’ve heard this one before!
Family camping trips to the Oregon coast were so much fun. Days filled with beach and ocean activities, huge pot luck meals, and nighttime gatherings around the campfire. Such big meals that we were constantly going for walks around the campground. So it was that my mom asked Joey (7 or 8 at the time) to join her in a little stroll. As they were walking, Joe asked his Grandma if she thought people could have things in common. “Yes, Joey, I do believe that people can have things in common,” she agreed.
“For instance,” continued the Joe, “you like to talk a lot…..and so do I!”
Oh, how my mom loved that story! She would tell it at every chance she could.
Enjoy this Thanksgiving time with your family! Like my recollections of the Oregon coast, have a lot to eat….and a whole lot of talk! Have a great week everyone!

November 13, 2023
Good Monday Morning!

                     “Cheer up, sleepy Jean
                       Oh what can it mean
                       To a daydream believer 
                        And a homecoming queen!”

                                The Monkees, 1967

My first job as a paperboy really allowed me to perfect my habit of daydreaming! I mean, it’s not like a job in a sawmill where you might lose a finger—or worse!— if you don’t pay attention. The worst that can happen on a paper route is you might miss a delivery (and get a nasty call later!) As I packed up my papers and started out, I imagined my bike as a horse! I became a Pony Express rider, getting the mail through to California while evading Indians and bandits. Empty lots were deserts, the creek was a raging river, a wooded lot was a forest. The corner grocery became a way station where I could pick up a quick meal (snack!) In the winter, I became a mountain man, joining Jim Bridger in exploring passes through the Rocky Mountains. Or, after a big snow, I’d be an advance scout for Robert Peary on our quest to find the North Pole. There were plenty of adventures packed into that first job. Most were byproducts of the books I was reading at the time. That’s why I welcomed the Monkees hit in 1967! I never stopped daydreaming, but I don’t think I ever became lost in one. Anyway, I eventually married the ‘Homecoming Queen’ of my daydream……in reality, she should have been, as she was smart, talented, and oh so beautiful! And the adventures continue to this day!
Have a great week everyone. Daydreaming is so cool cuz you’re in control of where it’s going!

November 6, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Boy, am I ever relieved! I thought I was getting forgetful, maybe even losing my mind! But no! I was merely using a different manner of responding, something like a Jedi mind trick. Do you recall “The Music Man”? It’s a favorite production of high schools everywhere because of the wonderful music and zany characters. The main dude is Dr. Harold Hill, who isn’t a Doctor of anything but rather a film-flam man. He is selling the townspeople the idea that their sons and daughters can become a grand marching band if they buy the instruments and uniforms he is selling, along with his unique learning formula he called the “think method”. All one had to do was think of a tune….very hard, of course…..and you could play it! On a trumpet, a flute, a clarinet…..whatever!
The “think method!” That’s what I was doing! I wasn’t forgetting your email, I just thought real hard about my response. I certainly didn’t forget to pay the gas bill, I just thought real hard about writing that check! Every day I seem to think long and hard about doing things, like returning the library book that was due last Tuesday. I’m thinking so much that I’m getting a headache. Now, did I take a couple of Tylenol……or did I just think I did?
Have a great week everyone…..and if I ever don’t return a text or email, remember, I’m thinking of you!

October 30, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
The call has gone out! Now is the time for all good blackbirds to come together……and get the heck out of Minnesota! I’m sure you’ve seen them sitting wing to wing up on the power lines. I’m guessing that they are somehow tapping into the current to energize their flight south! After topping off their batteries, they will jump into sky and join that awesome snake formation as it winds its way south. Blackbirds of many species make up the thousands of birds in a single flock. Grackles, Rusty blackbirds, Starlings, and many others join the flocks to head south, and then drop out when they reach their destinations. Ah, but the Red Wing Blackbirds are special! Or snooty, maybe. They fly alone together, sometimes a million or more in a flock! Red Wings are the most numerous species of the blackbird migration, and I must admit, I’m jealous. I’d love to join them flying in that undulating rope in the sky, heading to a winter home so much warmer than here. They don’t have to pack any bags, go through security, buy overpriced food and drink, crowd into an aluminum cigar tube, etc. Scientists have discovered the secret to their formation. Each bird keeps track of its six closest neighbors, no more, no less! Then they just have to keep on flying! But then I haven’t read how the leaders of this awesome display get the show on the road……er, the skyway! Instinct…and a good sense of direction!
Enjoy these signs of fall….without worrying about the season that comes after! Have a great week everyone!

October 23, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
GMM guy is still in a funk though he is showing signs of improvement. Like when he got up early one morning and made coffee for everyone, but he forgot to put a filter in……and what a mess! Anyway, he’s given me permission to search his files for a suitable writing ……this from 2007.

GMM!
We made omelettes on Saturday morning, Sarah and I. That’s our job, you know, making breakfast on the weekends. We’ve already mastered the fried egg, ham and cheese on an English muffin. It’s called a “Moon over Miami…my ham-y…..get it? Anyway, making an omelette is more tricky and Sarah wasn’t sure she wanted to tackle that. But I convinced her we could do it so we got crackin’……pun intended! She was very deliberate in all her actions, cracking the eggs ever so slowly, counting them aloud as we proceeded. Beating the eggs, preparing the pan, measuring and pouring, folding the cooked eggs at just the right time—all with more than a teaspoon of drama! And then the grand finale—sliding the complete omelette onto the plate! How proud she was! “Look, Mommy! It’s for you!”
Sarah, as many of you know, is 23 years old. (Ed. note—39 years old now.) She has always greeted the morning with a smile and a “this is gonna be a great day” attitude. School, work, or vacation—no difference. To be sure, she has her obstinate times, and all is not pleasant all the time. We have our disagreements! But her morning attitude has been remarkably smiley since she was a baby. She summed it up once a few years ago. “You never know,” she said with a smile, “what the world may bring!” I’ve thought about that so often over the years. Each day is part of an unfolding mystery. A positive attitude may be the only thing in your control as the events of the day proceed. The good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly—welcome it all as the reality of the moment. Let the good stuff surround you, become part of you. Show the bad stuff out the back door!
I sure don’t know what this week will bring, but let’s greet it with a smile! Have a great week everyone!

October 16, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
GMM guy is in a funk this morning…..he claims it is “writer’s block”. If you ask me, it’s really “Righter’s block”………he hasn’t been right for a very long time! Like the time he took a “short cut” through downtown Portland on our way to his parents farm. Good thing they left the light on for us! But I digress…GMM guy has authorized me to sift through his old files to see if any are suitable for reprinting…….just during his funk, of course. This first is from June 26, 2006.

GMM!
“Today is the first day of the rest of your life!” If you’ve heard that once, you’ve probably heard it a hundred times. And sometimes, when we get bombarded by these self-help cliches, we can get a little put off. “So what?,” we might say. “My life isn’t going so great right now…..and it’s not my fault!”
But if you look closely at that little message, you see that it’s not making any value judgements. No predictions, no comments on where you’ve been or where you’re going, no blame. Just a simple statement. I think we could even shorten it to “Today is…” Today is where we live, work, play, etc. Today is…..the only day we actually have! And I’m wishing you a great one! And have a great week everyone!

October 9, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
As Yogi Berra said, you can observe a lot just by watching! Well, I was watching some little kids at a local gathering as they picked at the food on their plates—a hot dish! AKA a Minnesota specialty! No, it’s not a casserole, it’s not a fry-up or a mash-up….it’s a HOTDISH! And did you know that little kids fall into one of four groups according to their response to hotdish? I know, because we had four kids, one in each division.
Group I: These darlings are parent favorites—they eat the whole pile of whatever it is on the plate. Clean plate club stars, indeed!
Group II: These guys won’t even try a bite! They know Mom or Dad will cave and bring out some mac and cheese or chicken nuggets (from McDonalds, of course!)
Group III: Clean plate wannabes comprise this bunch. They eat everything but pick out the mushrooms and try to feed them to the dog!
Group IV: Ya gotta love these kids—they just pick out the mushrooms and eat only those morsels! (Or morels, if you will!)
For the record, Matt was in I, Joe in II, Mike in III, and Sarah in IV. Funny thing is, as adults they are all good eaters exemplified by the way we demolished a huge Tater Tot Hotdish last week after the Twins game! Have a great week everyone!

October 2, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Astute readers of this blog certainly noted that there was no entry last week. What-ho! Is GMM guy a slacker or what? I’ll go for the “or what”. GMM guy, I have it on good authority, was so busy planning a birthday party that he forgot! Let’s join him now as he tells us all about it…..
Terry’s birthday dawned bright and warm and this was very strange for October 1! But it was a great day for a ball game, the last of the regular season for the Twins and Rockies. The ticket takers smiled and welcomed us to Coors Field in Denver Colorado. The grounds crew were busily preparing the field, vacuuming up any debris on the green and manicured outfield. Chalk line dudes made sure the foul lines were straight. The rakers and smoothers got the infield perfectly smooth and the water guys settled the dust with an even spray. Other guys held the hose off the ground lest it mar the nap of the mown grass. I was mesmerized by the way they took care of this field. It was if it was their own! What’s more, I couldn’t imagine the field looking any better for the first game of the season! As we made our way to our seats, the cleanliness of the stadium was only topped by the friendliness of the staff. Even dressed in Twins gear, we were treated as special guests, everyone offering to help in any way. The party room was ready with snacks, food and beverages—oh boy, it was “Party On, Garth!” Family and friends coming together for good time, aided by strangers genuinely giving of themselves to help us celebrate a birthday for mom, grandma, wife, friend, and wonderful person!
Have a great week, everyone! Enjoy this endless summer!

September 18, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Macaroni saved my life! It’s true! Because, my friends, I was a picky eater. My parents thought I was going to starve to death. They farmed me out, so to speak, to my grandparents. Grandmas everywhere are super indulgent when it comes to offer food to grandkids. Oh, they tried their best, but I only ate one bite out of each wind blown apples in their yard. Then, to paraphrase an old nursery rhyme, they took me to the doctor and the doctor said, “He’s much too little to have him bled!” No, no, no…..he just told my worried parents that I would eat when I was ready. So…..they persisted in cajoling me to eat, putting a little taste of whatever we were having on my plate. Cottage cheese…..ewww! Hot dogs…..ewww! Potatoes……ewww! Etc. etc. Until mom put some macaron and tomatoes in my bowl. (Now, I know what you are thinking. “GMM Guy, you must mean macaroni and cheese.” But no, mac ‘n cheese was not a part of the Shores’ culinary repertoire!) Anyway, it must have been like hitting the big jackpot at a Casino! Well, no bells or whistles, but mom said she did a little dance around the kitchen! Such was my introduction to the world of pasta, and over the years, I became a real connoisseur as I feasted at church pot luck dinners, otherwise known as pasta heaven!
I was reminded of all this as I pigged out at our parish fall festival yesterday. A wonderful collection of at least 10 different varieties of pasta. Yes, folks, I spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch, more stuffed than a Thanksgiving turkey! And no Vikings game to ruin my peaceful repast!
Have a great week everyone! This is such a beautiful time of the year!

September 11, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
This summer marks 55 years since I returned from Vietnam. One of the promises made to returning servicemen was a steak dinner. I was much more looking forward to my mom’s home cooking, but I d take a steak from the Army cooks if it meant I was one step closer to home. As usual, I was the last guy in the chow line, and guess what? They ran out of steaks! Not to renege on a promise, the cook reached into the big freezer an pulled out a thick steak, flopped it on the grill where it sizzled wildly, flipped it over a couple of tomes, and tossed it on my tray. Truly the rarest steak I’ve ever had—still frozen in the middle!
I’m pretty sure I told y’all this before, but it was one of the memories that came flooding back yesterday. The MN Twins held a little ceremony commemorating the end of the Vietnam war as part of their Armed Forces Appreciation Day. I was one of 50 veterans who were welcomed onto the field for pregame ceremonies and the singing of our National Anthem. Each of us was presented a commemorative pin, personally applied by an active member of the military. The young soldier assigned to me was in the Air Force. Turns out, he had just returned from deployment to Africa, where he helped maintain radar and communication equipment. My job in Vietnam was to fix helicopter radios! A nice connection!
55 years ago, we returning vets couldn’t get out of our uniforms fast enough. The attitude towards us was anything but gratitude. We spent many years trying to fly under the radar as the participants in an increasingly unpopular war. Many of us even joined the anti war movement. Yet there always seemed to be the feeling that we—the GI’s who served— were to blame, we were the problem. So…..yesterday’s observance was very welcome. Thank you, Minnesota Twins! Your thoughtful inclusion of we old vets in your Military Appreciation Day was special indeed!
Have a great week everyone!

Monday, September 4, 2023
Good Labor Day Morning!
Nobody loved swimming in the summer more than I did, growing up in Mankato. Dad moved the family from near downtown to the north end for one reason—to be close to Toutellotte Park with its swimming pool and ball parks. And I took full advantage, riding my bike there for hours of summer fun. The pool opened shortly after Memorial Day and closed Labor Day afternoon, the end of summer ‘cuz school always started the Tuesday after Labor Day. That was always a bummer! But until then, it was a full time blast, just swimming and jumping off the boards, playing tag, learning new strokes, and generally messing around. We didn’t have “water park” amenities or such. Just a big pool with three diving boards. One summer, when I was eleven or twelve, I set a big goal for myself—by the end of the summer, I would finally dive off the high board! All summer long I played my usual games and then suddenly here it was….Labor Day! My last chance! I jumped from the high board several times while I formulated my plan. I would eschew the usual novice method of a standing dive from the end of the board. Truth is, I was afraid I’d chicken out and just jump. So…..I would climb that ladder, take a deep breath at the top, and run straight to the end and dive in. No time for second thoughts, just one smooth arc slicing through the air to the water below. Oh yes, 6 or 7 running steps and I was airborne…….
Of course, I learned much later—in high school physics—that gravity is a matter to be reckoned with. Objects fall at a rate of 32 feet per second per second. Now, the high board was about 12 feet above the water, so the moment my feet left the board, my body had roughly 1/3 second to orient itself to diving position. Let’s say my form was a little slow in developing. At 1/3 second, my body was not perpendicular to the water. Another way of describing it is…..BELLYFLOP!
Well, the sting of a bellyflop is hard to forget! I decided that there was a lot of fun to be had without diving from the high board, so that was my first and last! Have a great week everyone! Stay cool as it appears this summer doesn’t want to end on Labor Day!

August 28, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
The 1st Sergeant was a mighty hard man. I won’t use the other descriptive adjectives we had for him, but let’s just say he wasn’t beloved! If he felt wronged by anyone of us he’d have us out in the hot Georgia sun doing extra calisthenics. If he felt really wronged—say, a poor showing in a Fort wide inspection—he’d go nuclear on us by canceling all passes and leaves. Which is just what he did on the day I was set to meet my best friend Richie in Charlotte, NC. He had joined the Navy six months before I was drafted and he was stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, while I was at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Charlotte was about midway between us. We planned to meet around noon on Friday, spend a couple of glorious nights away from military life, and then return to our bases on Sunday. But that dream was fast evaporating right in front of me. It was well past noon and there would be no way to get a message to Richie (pre cell phones, kids!) At 3 PM I had my chance. I put on my best game face and marched up to Company headquarters. Surprisingly, the clerk let me get into the 1st Sergeant’s office. I think the entire office was looking for some entertainment, and my being thrown out onto my ear, followed by a string of cuss words, was going to provide a good show! But more surprisingly, he listened to my plight! Then he signed a new 3 day pass and wished me a good time. I took the next shuttle to Augusta Georgia where I just caught the last Greyhound to Charlotte. Richie was quite relieved to see me get off that bus—- he had a total of 50 cents in his pocket! And this wasn’t surprising at all. But we were good! One of the first things we did was to find a bowling alley, where Richie cooked up a plan to earn some cash. We would bowl a couple of games and Richie—an excellent bowler, by the way—would find a fish and reel him in. No trouble finding a mark. There were several alley rats hanging around. The bet was $5 a game, for 2 games. Let’s just say that Richie wasn’t the one doing the reeling! Of course, I coughed up the bet, we slunk out into the night, and walked a mile and a half to the YMCA. There we were able to secure lodging for the next two nights—a cot in a barracks style room and a communal BR/shower! So much for escaping the military life!
We both went on to finish our Military stints, and not too much later, became brothers! I married his younger sister! How ‘bout that! All’s well that ends well! Have a great week everyone!

August 21, 2023

Good Monday Morning!

GMM guy is on vacation this week and he wishes you all the best for the coming week…….and every week! He’s gonna be in Milwaukee to see the Twins take on the Brewers. A baseball road trip is quite fun. One finds that a love for the hometown team is universal, especially during a rivalry series like this. Also fun and exciting to see a different stadium and, more importantly, try new concessions! He’ll let you know if he finds anything wildly different! Otherwise, a hot dog is just a hot dog unless it’s at the ballpark! Have a great week everyone!

August 14, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
That twinkle in her eye told me we weren’t quite done with her scheduled visit. “If I might ask,” she started, “do you have any birth control pill samples?”
She was 80 years old and the look on my face prompted her to continue. “Oh, not for me!,” she said, waving her hands. “They’re for my plants!”
She explained that the plants, both foliage and flowers, seemed to flourish with a pill or two a week. Well now, I guess I could scrounge up a pack for that. Truth is, we were provided a lot of sample medication, enough to provide a big break for some of our most needy patients. Birth control pills (BCPs, for short) were never in short supply and sometimes outdated before we had appropriate patients. I found a couple of packs, we had a good laugh, and the little transaction cemented our relationship. Later that summer at the local county fair, I saw with my own eyes—she won a blue ribbon for her beautiful flower display!
That was my impetus for entering something in the fair…….though definitely not flowers! Whatever the opposite of ‘green thumb’ is, that’s me! I looked over the fair book and settled on jelly. As a kid, I was a big help at jelly time. Well, at least that’s what grandma Martha and aunt Alice said. I was really fascinated by the paraffin sealing process, which involves melting wax and pouring over the jars of hot jelly as it sets up, creating a seal that would protect the finished product. (Spoiler…literally…..this process of canning is no longer considered safe!) I hoped that I might be the beneficiary of “jelly making genes” and that I had some Blue Ribbon blood in me. I settled on currant jelly as my calling. I prepared the fruit and followed the recipe closely, sterilized the jars and equipment, and canned the jelly in a boiling water bath. OK, the whole thing was a little more involved than I first thought. But I got it done, filled out the necessary paperwork, and Voila! I was entered in the fair! There were only 2 entries in my Lot, so I anxiously awaited the decision of the impartial judges. Finally, the doors to the exhibit building reopened after the judges were finished. I have to admit, my heart was pounding a bit as I approached the table of jellies and jams. Would I be first…..or second? I found my little jar of currant jelly with a ribbon attached to it. A white ribbon…….indicating third place! One of two entries and it gets third place! Hmmm……didn’t seem very “fair” to me! Just wait ‘til next year!
For the record, I did enter again the next year and won a Blue ribbon for my currant jelly. Practice makes perfect…..or at least, better! Have a great week everyone! Enjoy this fair time!

August 7, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
It was 46 years ago, give or take a few days, that GMM guy started his career in St. Peter. He was up early that morning and started as he usually did……with a cigarette and a cup of coffee. Oh, but was he ever excited about this day! With everyone else still sleeping, he made his breakfast—Cheerios and milk. Nearly poured the coffee into the cereal bowl, so distracted he was. He was both pumped and nervous. OK, he was a mess…….but in a good way, if that’s possible! He read the paper, he fed the cat, he had another cigarette. Finally, it was 7:45, time to leave for the Hospital to start daily rounds. Only he needed his glasses. Where could they be? He looked in all the upstairs rooms before the search became frantic. Now he returned to the bedroom where he was again unsuccessful in his efforts to quietly find his glasses. It was getting late! If he was ever to find his glasses and start taking care of all the good people in St. Peter, he was gonna have to play the final card……yep, wake up his wife. She would understand, of course, but more importantly, she would know where to find them. “I can’t find my glasses,” he blurted out, as he was shaking her awake.
Through sleepy eyes, she blinked up at him and said, “Well, you have them on!” And indeed, he did! He was soon off to work where he would stamp out disease and illness wherever it might lurk for the next 33 years!
Have a great week everyone! It pays to look in the mirror before leaving home, just to see if you have yer glasses on!

July 31, 2023
Good Monday Morning!

The summer of 1977 proved to be an emotional roller coaster for GMM guy. The end of his residency pitted the loss of close friends against the pending excitement of private practice. We all were ready for more autonomy in the practice of the healing arts, but we also hated to lose the camaraderie of our partners. I mean, I never had to think WWOD (What Would Olyn Do?) because I’d just blurt out “Hey Olyn, what do you think of this case?” (Dr. Olyn Wernsing was my good friend and confidant!) Yes, depression and excitement/anticipation took turns winning the day. As fate had it, depression was way ahead on the day of the wedding. It was a shirttail cousin of my wife, and the last thing I wanted to do was get dressed up, witness a staid ceremony, and be paraded around as the “new” doctor. Made up my mind to NOT be engaged, I did! But then things started happening. The ceremony was held at a Catholic Church, with both a priest and a Protestant minister officiating. Hmmm…..interesting. No mere organ for music, but a real band with guitars, drums, and trumpets. Hey, maybe this is going to be OK! The bride was beautiful, of course, the flowers gorgeous, the music like nothing I had heard in church before, and all the guests were genuinely in happy town. I was well on my way, too, when the Best Man got up to invite some individual prayers for the couple. A moment of silence was followed by a generalized murmur, at first, but it grew into a full throated, entirely incomprehensible noise! They were speaking in tongues! What did I get myself into?! It got worse. The Best Man asked for members to come to the lectern to bestow special blessings on the couple. (They reverted to English here or my story would be over.) One guy pushed me over the top. He practically shouted out that God would give them the gift of healing! What? I had spent the last six years of my life studying long hours, learning skills in diagnosis and treatment, and spending countless nights on call while my family endured a sleep-deprived zombie, all to attain the gift of healing. Which was now, apparently, being bestowed in an instant. Oh my. The roller coaster was on its way down, down, down. (GMM guy eventually got it back together and had a successful transition from school to practice!)
Have a great week everyone. May all your transitions go smoothly!

July 24, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
“FLY ME TO THE MOON….”
Tony Bennett recorded that song in 1965, and I was hooked, though I admit I was taking the words literally at first. It was the decade of Apollo, and its mission was to land a manned crew on the moon. That wouldn’t happen until 1969, but I had been pumped since President Kennedy announced that goal to the world in 1961. If invited, I would have climbed that huge gantry supporting the Saturn V rocket hand over hand if necessary to get a seat on an Apollo mission. Of course, I wouldn’t have been taking much risk….I would have passed out long before the vehicle experienced its maximum 3.9 G’s! But then, if I survived, what a glorious feeling the weightlessness of space must provide! Not to mention the spectacle of the earth waning in the rear view mirror as the moon grew ever larger. Oh yes, I wouldn’t have thought twice. I’m sure I could’ve been an astronaut if not for my need of glasses. Why, if it was today instead of 1965, I’m sure they could compensate for my eyesight defect by grinding my helmet visor to my prescription! What might have been…
But back to the song. Mr. Bennett died last week, but he never stopped singing. I know, I know, his signature song was about losing something in San Francisco, but the melody and lyrics of this song have remained with me, even as the dream faded a bit. It’s such a beautiful love song, the way Tony sang it. He was my favorite of the crooners, and this rendition of his hit song is, IMHO, the best. It’s over 4 minutes long, lyrics sung only once, soft yet powerful, a message for your true love. See if you don’t agree. Have a great week everyone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJuZUBJtWUo

July 17, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
“1960 will be better!” That was my dad in 1959 when I was 12 and fascinated with fishing. He announced that he was building a ship! Well, he was finishing the superstructure on a 14 foot pontoon. He wasn’t afraid to tackle any project, and remember, this was long before YouTube videos! There was a plywood deck painted gunmetal grey and a security wire fence with working gates (more about those later!) It was complete with a driver’s console, though the seat was a lawn chair. Pa wanted a boat that could take all of us on adventures together, and we definitely filled it up! When it was finished, we 6 boys had a wonderful outlet for summer fun. Pa had made an arrangement with a resort owner on Madison lake to anchor the boat off shore. We would access the boat with a rolling dock, also home built, that could be rolled up on shore when we were done. The mighty ship was powered by —are you sitting down?—a 5 ½ HP Johnson outboard motor! I’m pretty sure that if we 6 boys each had an oar, we could have made better time. But that little motor never let us down. We enjoyed swimming, fishing, and just goofing off. Mom loved to fish for sunnies and crappies and she always used a cane pole. However, she was too short to lift he catch over the railing! Someone needed to be on “gate duty” at all times. When mom yelled “FISH!”, the gate needed to be opened to let mom swing the fish onto the deck! Oh, she loved it so….and so did we!
The lake had its lurking dangers, too. One memorable afternoon while I was both on gate duty and fishing, I was mesmerized by my bobber doing its thing. To this day, I’m not sure if the bobber went straight down or if I was dreaming it , but I became fully engaged in anticipation of catching a big crappie. Because I was so distracted, I can’t say that I really felt anything, but I happened to look down at my bare feet. There, brazenly and in unison, were two deer flies, one on each big toe. I was under synchronous attack! What happened next is of some controversy…..some say I started dancing, as in the Bristol Stomp (a dance craze of the early 60’s—you could look it up!) I say I was trying to dislodge the flies from my feet by imitating the snow clearing stomp Minnesotans do in the winter. That’s when I vaguely remember hearing “FISH!” followed by a ‘splat’ and a ‘splash’ as the poor fish smacked into the gate, came off the hook, and dropped back in the lake. Oh yeah, the gate! I forgot the gate! I finally dropped my pole to shoo away the flies, but not before they had extracted what felt like a pound of flesh…..each! That was the day I found out I was super sensitive to deer fly bites. Still am. My poor feet swelled so bad that I couldn’t wear shoes for a week! Mom made a poultice of bacon and applied it every night. It seemed to help!
There were lots of memories tied to that boat, from its building to its ultimate end as scrap metal, and I wouldn’t trade any of them! Have a great week everyone. Keep making future memories!

July 10, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
I was always up for staying overnight at grandma and grandpa’s place. They lived in a big old house on North Front Street, sandwiched between a parking lot for big trucks and the original Midwest Electric factory. And right down the street on the corner was a Dairy Queen! I mean, what’s not to like for a little kid, plus all the extra attention from G & G! The summer was great, playing in the back yard, watching the big trucks as they came and went, and occasionally visiting with the factory workers as they took their breaks outside the hot building. G & G didn’t have a lot of toys, but there was a small bow and arrow that I loved to play with. I shot all kinds of pretend bad guys, much like the kid in Christmas Story used his Red Ryder BB gun. I had to be careful not to lose the arrow as there was only one. I’d shoot the arrow then chase it down. Sometimes I’d shoot the arrow into the sky just to see how high it would fly. That’s when it happened. Just as I launched the arrow, the sun came out from behind a cloud and I was temporarily blinded. Where did it go? I put a charge into it, but it couldn’t have reached exit velocity! I looked everywhere, but no luck. Time to consult the expert, or in other words, pray to St. Anthony, finder of lost things. Prayed hard, I did, as I made another search of the back yard. Still no luck. I didn’t want to fess up my losing the arrow, so I busied myself with other things. Later that day, as I was washing up after using the upstairs WC, I looked out the window towards the electric factory. There was my arrow, on the flat roof of the factory! Might as well have been on the moon. I sure wasn’t able to get it down, and I wasn’t ready to explain how it got up there to anyone who could. I guess St. Anthony helped me find it, but now I needed help from St. Jude, the patron Saint of lost causes!
Have a great week everyone! We’ll be back next week!

July 3, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Summertime, and the grillin’ is easy……well, it should be. Hamburgers, hotdogs, brats. Keep it simple and chill with a cold brewski. But no! I had to go all fancy to impress the in-laws! Barbecue duck for Sunday dinner would showcase the pinnacle of my culinary skills. It would be complicated because Terry and I had to attend a piano recital in the early afternoon and a babysitter would need to watch the kids as well as tend to the duck. But the only “tending” she needed to do was leave it alone! I had prepared the duck, set up the barbecue for indirect heat from the charcoal briquettes, covered it tightly , and put it in the middle of the driveway, just to be safe. I carried my beeper (as I always did) so the sitter could get us in an emergency. We were set. The recital was….how can I put this delicately……BORE-ING! I was nearly asleep when several beepers went off in the audience. I saw the men leaving and recognized them as firemen, half wishing I was one them. Then a minute or two later, MY beeper went off. I headed for the phone in the vestibule (it’s what we did in the pre-cell phone era!) The baby sitter was so excited informing me that the duck was on fire! I slammed the phone down , gathered up Terry and rushed out. I just knew what I’d find at home…..a burned up duck with a group of firemen enjoying a good laugh on my driveway! Well, I was half right…..the duck was burned up. Julia Charred would have been proud. Thankfully, the firemen were off at some other emergency. Seems the babysitter had heard “sounds” coming from the barbecue and decided to investigate by lifting the cover. The sudden rush of oxygen must have ignited a grease fire of near Biblical proportions and Sunday dinner’s fate was sealed! But I was sooooo relieved to see no fire truck on the scene. I never would have lived that down!
I believe we had potato salad and hotdogs, er…. “tube steaks”….for dinner that day, and I haven’t ever tried to cook a duck on the grill again. Have a great 4th, and a great week! Remember, if you take a fifth on the Fourth, you might not come forth on the fifth!

June 26, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Did I ever tell you about the time I……..yeah, I think I did. But it’s worth repeating, don’t you think? I’m talking about that time I found a small fortune in the Honolulu airport. In a restroom, to be more specific. We were on our way home from a great vacation in Hawaii (is there any other kind?) and I had just shepherded our bags through the watchful eyes and scanners of the agricultural police. The scanner guy was sure he caught me red handed—more accurately ‘yellow handed’—trying to smuggle a pineapple in my luggage! With one hand on his handcuffs , he watched as I dutifully opened my suitcase and fished out the “pineapple”…..a white noise generator we use to help us sleep (cancels out my snoring!) Scanner guy didn’t even say “Thank you” or “Sorry ‘bout that!” So I was ready to relax a bit before the long flight home. I went into a Men’s Room. Remember, this is a big airport at a busy time. The restroom was eerily empty! I saw a line of booths and quickly looked around for the urinals to be sure I was in the right restroom. Yep, right place, I thought. I went into the first stall and closed the door. It was only after I took my place on the throne that I noticed the wad of cash on the toilet paper holder. Holy cow! Tens, twenties, fifties….and then the voice! “Is this the stall with the cash?”
“Yep, right place,” I said, this time out loud. An open hand appeared above the door. I couldn’t see it of course, but I’m pretty sure there was a Glock in the other hand. I quickly stuffed the cash into the waiting hand and that was that. For the second time that morning, no “Thank you” or “Sorry ‘bout that”! I tell ya, people are losing their manners!
Anyway, that was a long time ago, and sometimes even I wonder how such a thing could happen……but it did! Now, if only I had been just a little bit faster……….
Have a great week everyone. Summertime, and the living is easy…..enjoy!

June 19, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
We met up with our grandson Eddie for lunch last week. His parents and siblings were gone on a school sponsored trip so we had him to ourselves! It was fun discovering what he was doing with the summer before his senior year, what he was planning on studying, and what colleges he was considering attending. He’s a great young man—I’m sure I’m not biased! —and he’s got a wonderful future. Only later did I recall my own summer-before-senior-year adventures. My friends had obtained summer jobs flipping burgers, herding kids at the summer rec program, or detassleing corn. I took a less traveled path, hitchhiking to North Dakota to work on a relatives farm. My cousin’s husband Gene had stayed with us in Mankato for several months while he worked on a construction job, one that helped him afford his farm in North Dakota. In a way, he was repaying that favor by giving me a summer job, though I didn’t get that angle until later. Kids not very sharp on those things, you know. I was having a great experience helping with the farm work as well as helping build a new home for his family. They had been living in the finished basement. You might have called it the embodiment of care free times. Purposeful activity with learning new skills with people I really liked! Until early August, that is. August 2, 1964 to be precise. Gene’s sister brought us a mid afternoon lunch that day along with a startling announcement. “We’re in a shooting war now!”, she said. Her exact words. She went on to explain the news report about how a US Navy ship in the Gulf of Tonkin in some place called Vietnam was fired upon by North Vietnam, arch enemies of the “Freedom loving people” of South Vietnam, our allies in this land called Vietnam. I knew instantly— in that moment— that I would be visiting that land as part of a huge war effort, one that would eventually claim over 50,000 young American lives. I’ve never related this before, but it’s as real as my knowledge that I would be a physician one day. Now, trying to build a case for war is always difficult for a democracy, but it helps when the other party is the aggressor. As it turned out, the “torpedoes” described by the captain of our ship were really dolphins, and no such attack by North Vietnam took place. Nonetheless, the Gulf of Tonkin incident became the flash point to begin the war in earnest, and remains a reminder that we are all vulnerable to misinformation.
Anyway, I’m glad there’s nothing quite so ominous happening to confuse Eddie in his last carefree summer.Or is there? Have a great week, everyone! And always look at things critically. In the words of my childhood hero Davy Crockett, “Be sure you’re right…then go ahead!”

June 12, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Really, it’s a BLAH Monday morning for the GMM guy…….no real reason except that it’s normal to have that once in awhile. Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that all emotions are normal and usual. It’s the getting stuck in any one emotion that is not good, not OK. So I expect that he will bounce back next week singing the Minnesota Rouser and expecting the Gophers to be in the Rose Bowl next January 1! (And if that happens, remember……you heard it first right here!) So until then, have a great week everyone, and be safe!

June 5, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
A young girl carrying the cross led the procession into the church on Sunday. You could tell it wasn’t her first rodeo. She stood tall, walked at a solemn pace, and never wavered. She was obviously the leader of the altar boys….er, altar servers….team! Got me to thinking of my time as an altar boy…..as it was a boy only thing in those days. That was only one of three big things that were different then—we needed to learn Latin to properly answer the prayers, and the priest faced the altar with his back to the servers (and the congregation!) The nuns taught us the Latin responses, but the chief of the servers was the “enforcer”! That guy, it turned out, was a good friend of my older brother. I don’t think he would have really punched me if I failed any lesson, but the threat was enough! “Ad deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.” I can still hear him drilling me on the pronunciation of “juventutem”…..YOU-VEN-TWO-TEM, he would have me say. Rarely did we altar boys have to serve alone, so we made a lot of friends over the years. The usual crew was two for a low mass and four for a high mass. Father couldn’t keep an eye on us when he was facing the altar and our eventual boredom led to some high jinks. We’d find ways to punch or elbow each other, step on another’s cassock, or even trip the poor guy trying to move the book from one side of the altar to the other. The priests with better hearing would occasionally admonition us with a “Cut that out!”, and we’d back off…….until communion time. That’s when the server got to hold the paten under each recipient’s chin to catch the Host should it fall from Father’s hand as he distributed it. The paten could easily (accidentally of course) make contact with the recipient’s neck! Believe me, there often was contact! A good power to have over friends and enemies alike!

Monday, May 29, 2023–Memorial Day
Good Monday Morning!
She had hugged me so hard that September morning in 1968. The morning we learned that her son wasn’t coming back from the war in Vietnam. I had returned from my tour there less than a month before, and Mrs. G’s tears and mine ran freely for her son and my good friend. I remember more details from the ensuing wake and funeral, but holding Mrs.G as she held me that first morning is now part of my DNA. Bill G. would have been 76 now, but he lost his life fighting for the “Freedom loving people of South Vietnam”, according to President Lyndon Johnson. Bill and I were young when we went off to war, and I don’t think we had any idea of “why”, except that we felt it was our duty, our turn to heed the call of our country—and not question a thing! We learn a lot over time, and some lessons are very hard. Turns out, we all should have asked more questions about Vietnam and our role in a civil war. About what exactly was our mission.
I try to visit his grave on Memorial Day. Don’t always make it , though. We were once soldiers, he and I. I try to remember the times…….try to recall the way we thought…..try to make sense of it. I’ll try again this morning.
I really do love this Holiday even if the above sounds like a downer. It’s the start of summer or, as it’s known in Minnesota, freedom from winter! Time to get fishing, grilling, and tanning! And it is important to remember all those who have secured our freedoms by sacrificing their lives. Have a great Memorial Day and a great week!

Monday, May 22, 2023
Grandpa was one tough guy, let me tell you. If you are a frequent reader of this blog (and I hope you are!), you know that Bocky, as us kids called him, had diabetes. The discovery of insulin in the 1920’s was a lifesaver as grandpa’s disease showed up in the 1930’s. He initially had to get to Rochester MN from Tolley ND for diagnosis and treatment, not an easy trip even today. His wife and son (my Dad) tried to make a go of things, but when the dust bowl years made farming nearly impossible even for healthy people, the family moved to Mankato to be closer to help mand family. My Dad instantly lost his farming deferment and was drafted into the Army, leaving my Mom with one toddler (my brother Jim), Grandma & Grandpa, and Aunt Alice. Bocky did not give in to diabetes, but he wasn’t able to work again. He loved to garden, especially tomatoes, and tend the lawn. He and my Dad mounted an electric motor on an old fashioned push mower. It worked great until Bocky ran over the extension cord! He would have been impressed, and safer, with my new battery operated mower! H loved to tinker and stay busy. When he needed to saw a board for some project, I’d help by making sure he stayed on the line!
The doctors of the day were hopeful that insulin would cure diabetes, but it turned out that it only controlled blood sugar. The target organs for diabetes including the eyes, kidneys, heart, and small blood vessels continue to be assaulted. Bocky had all of the above, but especially the circulatory consequences. I helped him with “shock baths” for his legs and feet. This involved first dunking his feet and lower legs into a bucket of hot water for a few minutes, then into a bucket of cold water, in hopes of increasing the blood flow. The therapy didn’t work—no surprise there—and his poor feet suffered. When one of the toes on his right foot became gangrenous, he amputated it himself with a wire cutter! (I told you he was tough!) That leg was the first to go—a BKA (Below the Knee Amputation.) He adjusted to life with a wooden leg, and then the left foot followed suit. Eventually he had that leg amputated too, so he learned to walk on his knees with “stump boots”, continuing to garden, but no more lawn mowing!
I was remembering these things recently as my feet were tingling incessantly, wondering if it would ever stop. Recalling my grandpa’s battles makes my experience, as he would say, a “darn sight better”, only he didn’t say “darn”! Have a great week everyone! Gratitude is a most peaceful feeling!

May 15, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Did you ever drive across Nebraska? I mean, from Omaha to the panhandle and beyond? And survive?! Oh boy, that is one long trek with—excuse me, loyal Nebraskans—nuthin’ in between. If you suffer from insomnia, just get behind the wheel in Omaha and head west on I-80. You’ll be asleep in no time, guaranteed, but you’ll also be in the ditch….or worse! I’ve come to dread that endless stretch of highway on our way to Colorado. But this time, I discovered “The 60’s” on satellite radio. The DJ played all the hits while I sang along…..LOUDLY! I provided great entertainment for my wife and daughter who laughed hysterically at my car karaoke efforts. More importantly, I stayed awake as the miles slipped into the rear view mirror.
It was more than a little amazing how quickly the songs jogged my memory and how I recalled the words effortlessly, even the “Ooh-ooh-oohs”! And I hadn’t heard some of the songs in over 50 years! I have a theory about that! (Folks who know me aren’t surprised!) I think that for most of us, the impact of music is highest when we’re young. It’s when one has the time to dedicate to the learning of lyrics, not to mention having intact hearing acuity! I remember all those words but from 1974 and on, not so much. (Though I can sing the entire Sponge Bob Square Pants theme if you want me to.) So the music of my youth was not dead but merely lying dormant…….until a trip across Nebraska revived it!
What was also blatantly obvious, to my dismay, was the frivolity of the songs. “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…..”, “C’mon, c’mon do….the locomotion with me…” Not many deep thinkers in that era! But then, it was a carefree time before the tumult of the later 60’s would be upon us.
Have a great week everyone. Grab a little nostalgia when you can…..it’s a great escape!

May 8, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
My mom was a nurse. She worked in small rural hospitals in North Dakota before she was married, but once she was and started having babies (eventually six boys!), she much preferred to be a full time mom. Of course, it was great having a mom who was also a nurse when you were sick or hurt, but not so much if you were trying to fake something! Her nursing profession choice undoubtedly impressed me and I knew from a very young age that I would be a doctor. I would regale her with stories of what I would do when I became a doctor, from age 5 on! She especially liked my plan to accept bartering for medical care—say, a dozen eggs for an earache treatment. But it didn’t stop her from trying to steer me away from medicine and towards the priesthood. I think I finally prevailed when I pointed out that a priest only gets to preach on Sunday. “Ma,” I said, “as a doctor I’ll get to preach every day…..Thou shalt not smoke! Thou shall eat thy vegetables. Thou shalt not partake of the hated cholesterol!” For the record, I don’t think she was disappointed in my choice!
I only bring this up because it is National Nurse’s Week! It started on May 6 and ends on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12. And if you know a nurse, it is time to thank her/him. I think the best nurses have a combination of medical skill and commitment to care coupled with a deep compassion that leads to healing for their patients. Without a doubt, the most important part of our health care delivery system. And I know two of the best of all….my mom and FNH (Faithful Nurse Helen!) Have a great week everyone. Next week….Colorado!

May 1, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! (Said three times in a row, it is an oral distress signal, the equivalent of SOS in Morse Code. It is actually derived from the French term “m’aidez”, which means “help me” and is pronounced “mayday”!) I only bring this up because this year it really fits. Our distress? The winter that won’t end!! I am sick of it. Regardless, the calendar has turned over to my favorite month, and I am again filled with gratitude. May 1, the other Mayday, is the start of summertime….and the living is easy! The 5th of May is “Cinco de Mayo”, a wonderful celebration and great excuse for having tacos twice in one week! May 6 is National Nurses Day honoring the most important people of health care! May 14 is Mothers Day, honoring the most important people…..period! And May 29th is Memorial Day, a day set aside for those who gave their lives so that we could all live in freedom. It was also in May, 1998 (25 years ago!) that I came home from work one night and promptly had a heart attack. That started my journey of taking full advantage of the wonders of modern medicine—clot busting drugs that stopped the heart attack and bought me some precious time, a helicopter ride to Abbot Northwestern hospital, and finally a quadruple bypass. And it all worked! They gave me a chance to live—not just exist!—for these 25 years, and I have nothing but gratitude in my heart. (Well, there are those bypass veins from my legs and 5 or 6 metal stents, too, but who’s counting?) But it’s all good, all good. And I’m looking forward to year 26!
Have a great week everyone! Enjoy this wonderful month, the gateway to summer.

April 24, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Pa was a voracious eater! I think he approached mealtime like he did any job……have a plan and just git ‘er done! He was a little guy, but could he ever pack away a supper of hamburgers and corn. He really loved steak but he could only afford hamburger, what with Mom and six kids needing to eat, too! (After us kids had all moved out and Pa was retired, he forlornly remarked that now, when he could afford the steak, he really preferred the hamburger!) Mom needed a faster way of cooking so Pa bought her a larger fry pan. He ate fast, too. How fast, you say? Well he’d start looking for seconds before Mom had a forkful. (Of course, that’s not saying much because Mom would never start until everyone else had all they needed.) Needless to say, he also liked his food hot. No microwave to re-heat it so it was as hot as it was gonna be when it hit your plate!
One evening just after Mom took the potatoes out of the oven, and after we said grace, Pa jumped up and began what I can only describe as the chicken dance! What to do? 9-11 had not yet been invented. Around the table he jigged and jumped ‘til he finally settled and was able to take his place at the table. “Did you ever,” he croaked out, “get a piece of hot potato skin caught right there?”, as he pointed to his neck. Then turning his attention back to the meal he said “Hmmmmm…..potatoes getting cold!”
That didn’t slow him down any, and I truly worried that he’d get something else stuck “right there” and not be able to dislodge it. But it never happened, and so another example of useless worrying……..or, could the worrying prevented the event some way? I don’t think so, but…….
Anyway, have a great week everyone, and slow down a bit and enjoy those potatoes!

April 17, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Astute readers of this blog (and I hope you are one!) realized straight away that there was no entry for last Monday, April 17. Alas, GMM guy was preoccupied with his back. Seems something (still to be determined) went “out” causing considerable pain and distraction. You hear that a lot…. “My back went out!”….usually followed by some groans if not outright expletives! Well, it seems that what went out has at least partially returned to where it belongs, and he is feeling better.
Friday, May 5, 1961. 0936 Hrs. Do you remember where you were? I should’ve been in school, slogging through my last month of 8th grade. An hour and a half late! Pa was responsible for getting us kids to school on time when he was working the second shift, but he wasn’t going to miss this! More importantly, he didn’t want us kids to miss it! What was it? Only the launch of America’s first astronaut, Alan Shepard! There we were in the living room, watching the picture on a little black and white TV. The rocket was standing tall and motionless, but with excess oxygen venting near the bottom it looked as if it were alive and breathing. We watched as the countdown proceeded, reassured by the calm voice of Mission Control that the clouds would clear before the launch window closed. Finally, after two hours in unplanned holds, they lit the candle. It was a grand introduction to a lifelong fascination with the space program! Dad said that we would remember this long after whatever else we were scheduled to learn at school that day. He was so right!
So…….where were you when the first launch test of the world’s largest rocket was conducted? The one that is eventually going to take us to Mars? What’s that you say……it’s scheduled for this morning?! See ya….gotta get to a computer screen to watch this one! Have a great week everyone!

April 3, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
For years now, I thought that the best thing to come out of Iowa was I-35!
Not anymore! Hands down, the best thing is the University of Iowa Women’s basketball team! Did you catch their game with top rated South Carolina on Friday night? The semifinals of the NCAA Division I tournament? It was THE best college basketball game I’ve seen this season, men’s or women’s. Rarely does a match live up to the pre-game hype, but this one did. Iowa was led by Caitlin Clark, the most exiting player—men’s or women’s—in the March Madness tournament. She was the picture of focus and intensity on the court, scoring or assisting on 75% of her team’s points! Play after play, she calmly went about her business. And not once did I see her holler to the crowd or beat her chest after completing a play! The game was close throughout. South Carolina refused to give up and played like the champions they are—they had not lost a game all season! Only when the victory was secure did Caitlin put on her happy face as she danced around the court. The post game interview showed her to be humble in giving credit to her coach and team and family. Not unusual, but her manner was so mature, her speech so articulate, her composure so refreshing, and none of it dampening her elation a bit! I certainly enjoyed it completely! Iowa ultimately lost in the championship game with LSU, a very worthy opponent. Caitlin and her team played with that same focus and intensity, but not with the magic results. She appeared very gracious in defeat. I sure hope she stays in the college game for another year or two before turning pro.
Have a great week everyone. I’m going to try giving a little more intensity and focus to the things I do this week. Maybe I can get the dishes done by 7 PM!

March 27, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Oh, the things you only do once a year! Take maple syrup making…..please! I mean, where did I put that stuff last spring when I was finished? I know I spend more time searching for things than actually doing anything. I should’ve taken an organizational course from one of those self proclaimed gurus, but it’s too late now! Not sure you can teach old dogs (or docs!) new tricks. My usual method of searching resembles that of the squirrels rooting around my backyard yard looking for the nuts they buried last fall. I’ll find something, and if it isn’t exactly what I was looking for, I’ll make it work. But that’s hard to do when a specialty item is needed, like maple tree spiles. Just as I was considering a run to Fleet Farm, I found everything! Catastrophe averted! Trees tapped, sap collected, now time for boiling. I found my propane burner easily enough, but for some reason, I couldn’t get it to fire up. Plenty of gas in the tank……hose connection tight….maybe a spider web in the burner? I blew it out with my air compressor that took forever to build pressure (I didn’t have the settings right), but no help. I looked it up on the internet and learned how to use the “bleed” valve on the tank. Was as much good as medical bleeding was for George Washington’s pneumonia. I even called a fireman friend, figuring that someone who knew how to put out fires might know something about starting them. After I tried everything he suggested he said I likely needed to buy a new regulator. Again I started planning a trip to Fleet Farm. In desperation, I tried once more, this time giving the regulator valve a hard twist……Voila!! Fire! I had the regulator closed all this time! Duh!
I’ve got the first batch of sap processed now, and maybe I should quit while I’m ahead. I know I bought a new case of jars and lids last year when they went on sale, but where the devil did I put them? Have a great week everyone. Hope you find everything you’re looking for!

March 20,2023
Good Monday Morning!
March 20, 1971. You could tell that this was going to be a special day! Even the sun seemed to do a shimmer dance as it rose into the clear blue sky. True, the snow from the annual “Boys State Basketball Tournament Storm” two days prior stood guard over the landscape. It was like ol’ man winter telling us he wasn’t done yet, even though the calendar said it was Spring’s turn. But the snow actually accentuated the day! The sun’s brightness was doubled by the reflection from the snow. “Blinding”, some would say. I’d call it near heaven. No fairy dust could make things any better! This day wasn’t just in the “top ten”. No, this was Number one, Top of the List, Ichiban!
And I was ready! No doubt that this day would bring a tidal wave of change into my life. With such an auspicious start, how could I miss? Nervous , yes…..(“a little bits, I was”, as daughter Sarah would say years later!) But more pumped and primed. Six months down the road Med school was waiting to grind my bones. Now I wouldn’t have to do that alone. Or do anything else alone again. Forever! If you haven’t guessed by now, it was my wedding day. Well technically, OUR wedding day—William G. Shores with Theresa I. Korth—now fifty two years in the rear view mirror. But isn’t that the whole point of marriage? That you commit to be with each other forever and a day? Admittedly, not all of it has been as idyllic as that start-up date. But we did it together, with love.
Spring is the best season of all, filled with promise and hope. Having your marriage start on the first day of spring gives every anniversary that sense of renewal that is so vital to a forever union! Happy Anniversary, my love! And have a great week, everyone! It is spring at last!

March 13, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
Bud Grant died on Saturday. He was truly a gifted athlete, amazing coach, and, by all reports, an excellent duck hunter. My brothers and I enjoyed reminiscing about our favorite Bud Grant moments. Mine involved his refusal to allow sideline heaters during those very cold, pre-dome era games. Minnesota tough! Even with a star quarterback who played college ball in sunny Georgia! Speaking of Francis Tarkenton, I nearly had a run in with him once when the Vikings had summer camp in Mankato. More accurately, a run over! I was dating my future wife at the time and I was eager to impress her. I drove her around the Viking practice fields, pointing out things of such grand importance, like goal posts and tackling dummies. When I turned my attention back to the road, I had to slam on the brakes! Crossing the street to the practice field was Fran Tarkenton, just inches from my bumper. I can still see that look he gave me…. “Are you for real?” Oh my, I think I would have been hung from the nearest lamppost if I had run over him.
Have a great week everyone! Bud taught us many things about winning and losing, and I cherish that. Really, I do. But I still wish he could have brought us one Super Bowl win!

March 6, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
A little joke to start your day….the start of a football game is called the kickoff, a basketball game the tip-off, a hockey game the face off….so what is the start of a soccer game called? Nap time! Oh how ‘da boys’ on the sports radio program hooted it up when they first heard that 25 years ago. “Real” men played those other sports. Soccer was for kids. Well now, the rest of the world would beg your pardon! Over the years, America came to see “futboll” as a major sport, joining in on the excitement of the World Cup, especially the women’s teams. (They enjoyed more success, too!)
Speaking of women’s teams, Gustavus’ women’s hockey team is in the NCAA tournament again this year. They have earned a lot of success with hard work and determination. I was present at their inaugural game back in the 90’s as the “on-call” doctor. The girls were pumped as were the fans in the stands. When the teams returned to their locker rooms after warm ups, a red carpet was placed to center ice so that the President could drop the puck for the ceremonial first face off. The Gustie girls were first back on the ice led by their captain, skating full tilt around the ice heading straight into the red carpet. At first, I thought they were preparing to jump over the carpet in a show of superior strength, but no, they just hadn’t planned on that obstacle being there. One by one they tumbled to the ice, bruising only their pride a bit. The slower skaters at the back of the pack were able to turn and avoid the carpet. My first aid wasn’t needed then, nor during the game that followed this inauspicious start, and the Golden Gussies went on to victory!
Have a great week everyone. It’s March and I’m not waiting for spring any longer……going to Florida on Wednesday!

February 27, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
GMM guy is taking a little break today….he’s under the weather. No, no, he’s not sick or anything….well, kinda, he is. He is sick and tired of winter! And he’s finding it difficult to think of anything good on this dreary “wintery mix” Monday except that it is the second last day of February! He wistfully remembers admonishing old people to “get out there and enjoy winter!” Now, after falling on his keister in the iced over driveway, he is sincerely rethinking his position (literally) on aging in Minnesota. (Hey, didn’t they make a movie about that, something like “No Country For Old Men”? Never mind, that was about a drug deal gone bad…….yet something about that title is, shall we say, appropriate?!)
Anyway, he’s going back to bed this morning (retired people can do that, you know!) Maybe he will wake with a full head of steam, ready for the next 2 months of winter! May Day is on the radar!
Have a great week everyone. And don’t forget to wear a smile……it makes everyone wonder what you’re up to!

February 20, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
First anniversaries are special! It’s kinda like what they say about moving to Alaska…..if you make it through a whole year, you’re likely to stay! My wife and I didn’t have much money, but we decided to splurge on something fun yet significant to celebrate our first year together. Let’s go to a Dinner Theater! Fiddler On The Roof was the featured play at Chanhassen. It was excellent timing because I would be on break from med school having finished the grueling winter quarter tests. And spring time always holds the promise of even better things to come! But right off the bat there were signs of trouble. I was learning first hand an important medical lesson—when you are under stress, your body “gears up” to get you through, and then tends to crash after the pressure is off. So it was that as I finished the tests, a nasty virus took up residence in me a couple of days before our big date. Fever, chills, body aches, cough…..if it was today, you would say I had Covid! But in those days, you just took a couple of aspirin (Ibuprofen had not yet been invented!) and kept going as best you could. We arrived at the venue anticipating an intimate table for two, candlelight dinner, and a wonderful play. Instead, we were seated across from each other at a table for six—the middle couple, no less! Both of my elbows got a workout trying to avoid the neighbors on each side. Couple number one to my right (never did get any names) didn’t talk…not even to each other. Couple number three on my left talked alright…..but argued the whole time about the babysitter they had hired. I tried to concentrate on the meal. The dinner roll was hard, and the butter was harder—frozen, actually. The roast beef needed something more powerful than the knife they gave us, maybe a laser cutter (but that hadn’t been invented yet, either!) Canned peas, for God’s sake! CANNED PEAS! What with my time in the Army, work in a factory, and college cafeterias, this meal still stands out as THE most uncomfortable of my life! At intermission, we made our way to the back of the theater where we found a couple of empty chairs and watched the rest of the play from there.
That, my friends, was more than fifty years ago. Believe it or not, we have celebrated more anniversaries there over the years. After all, we survived that first one, and, as they say about Alaska, we’re gonna stay (together!)
Have a great week everyone. Only one more Monday in February!

February 13, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
The little kids were playing tag on the gnarly roots of the giant live oak tree. Older boys tossed around a football out in the street while little girls practiced their dance steps nearer the curb. Everywhere, people in costumes (or not!) settled in for the day. Two little old ladies sat in lawn chairs oblivious to the second hand “wacky tobaccy” smoke wafting around them. (I must admit that I did inhale some of that!) A poodle sporting a purple-green-gold hairdo kept close to her owner as more kids played a Louisiana version of “kick the can” using an old crumpled up King Cake box. Many of the adults held a beverage of some kind, probably containing some type of alcohol, don’t you think?! Pop up tents lined the common ground and step ladders with child seating on top were positioned along the curb. Smoke from the barbecues swirled as the tempting aromas woke my appetite. Occasionally , someone would stand up and look longingly down the street, then sit back down and take a long drink. The smiles and joy overflowed. It’s still an hour before parade time in New Orleans and the anticipation is palpable. I don’t think you’ve seen a happier place! This is an escape from reality! And there are more than 70 parades during Carnival time in the Big Easy!

My dad used to say that the happiest man in the world was the guy who always wanted to go to the state fair……but never got the chance to go. Meaning, of course, that anticipation of the event is often more satisfying than the real thing. But this one delivered as the marching bands, dancing troupes, flag wavers, and floats disgorging parade stuff all filed by. The happiness and joy is truly an escape.
Have a great week everyone. GMM will be back in Minnesota next week.

February 6,2023
Good Monday Morning!
Over the years, it has been my privilege as a physician to be invited into people’s lives, oftentimes during critical situations. Most of the time, I have been able to help improve an illness, repair an injury, or just be present to console. But sometimes things went wrong—occasionally terribly wrong! Maybe not directly due to my action (or inaction), but something I nonetheless felt could have been avoided. Those are the cases that lie just under the façade of even the greatest medical practitioners, because we’re all human. It’s a real conundrum, this thing thing called medical practice. “First do no harm” is part of the oath we take, yet as humans, our ‘doing’ will end up in error sometimes. Thus the following little poem. (Remember? I warned you a poem might break out now and then!) It’s not like I’m in a deep depression over it, but it is a thing.

The dogs of the night are loose again.
I hear them barking, snarling, in the distance even before
My head his the pillow.
They’ll soon pick up my scent—they always do
And they will be on me.
With names like Should’ve and Could’ve, they will tear at
The thin veneer of ‘good old Doc’
Releasing again the memories of mistakes, misfortunes, mess ups…
Medical misadventures! What a euphemism for suffering!
Tossing and turning as if wrestling with questions
Why didn’t I……? What if I had only….? Wasn’t there another….?
Until satisfied at last, the dogs regroup and retreat, but for how long?

For the record, the dogs aren’t loose very often, thankfully! So have a great week everyone! We’ll be in the Big Easy next Monday!

January 30, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
It’s watching me. It’s camera eye doesn’t miss a thing. I know this….OK, OK, I didn’t really know it….but I felt it! I’d been locked in a duel with my computer for a couple of hours over the password that would allow me access to my stuff! I tried one after another without success. It sent me to ‘time out’ for fifteen minutes to contemplate my dilemma. I had no record of the password, no instructions on how to recover it. Clearly, the computer was winning. What’s more, I’m sure I could hear chuckling! I got up and poured myself a stiff one (chocolate milk with an shot of espresso). I had to come up with a better plan.
I had it! I would use my phone to look up instructions for resetting my password, plus use a new tool to work on the computer itself (pictured below.) But before getting started, I made sure Mr. Computer saw the new tool….I held it up in front of it’s eye.
I’m happy to report that my new computer tool wasn’t needed. Mr. Computer started cooperating with me after, shall we say, seeing things differently. I’m now back in control…..maybe! Have a great week everyone!

January 23, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
“Fishing,” he said. Again, a little louder this time, “Go fishing!”
I was giving a mini-class on how to deal with stress using Eastern practices like Mindful meditation, Yoga, and Tai Chi. I had asked the group for their current stress reducing methods, and this old guy’s simple answer stopped me cold. He’s a genius, I thought! He should be teaching this class! Not that “exotic” practices like Yoga don’t do the job, or aren’t good for you. But maybe they just aren’t necessary. Maybe all one needs to do is apply his/her current modus operandi, as it were.
It made me stop and think. Fishing requires one to focus, concentrating on bait, lines, jig stick or rod, etc., pushing out all other thoughts. Hey, that sounds a lot like meditation! Cast out, reel in……..Breathe in, breathe out. I can dig it!
Turns out, we can use a lot of daily activities to reduce our stress. Things like washing the dishes, folding the laundry, sweeping the floors, all lend themselves to mindful moments where one can push out the thoughts that hold us down and/or cause us the most stress. And it can actually lower your stress level! Look around and see what may work for you. All it takes is setting your mind to the task and letting the activity retain your focus, keeping other thoughts at bay. Good thing I can do that with the dishes…….that’s my job around the home! Give it a try!
Have a great week everyone. January is on its way out. Can spring be far behind? Unfortunately, yes!

January 16, 2023
Good Monday Morning!
I was definitely in need of decompressing! I had just finished the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), without a doubt the most difficult test I had ever taken. (Google it!) And I really thought I had bombed it. I was looking for Pa to get a little attitude readjustment…….or a shot of Black Velvet! I found him out in the backyard, on the garage roof, with a saw in his hand! I learned long before this not to ask a question like “What the hell are you doing up there?” Not that everything he thought up worked out well, but it was always reasonable and had a chance of working! So I launched into my sad story of the big test. It must have appeared comical, Pa on the roof and me standing on the lawn, but I didn’t care. He listened, as I knew he would. He didn’t have any direct experiences with these kinds of tests. Academia was not his thing. Instead, he had taken and passed a bunch of tests from the school of hard knocks. He had positive things to say that I needed to hear. “Wait and see,” he said finally. “I think you did better than you thought!” We did have a little Black Velvet later, and as things turned out, I certainly did do better than I thought. The rest, as they say, is history!
Oh yeah, about the roof and the saw! Turns out that the old one-car detached garage was not quite big enough for modern vehicles and a necessary work bench. Rather than tear down one end and build an addition, he decided to saw the garage in half lengthwise, pull it apart, then fill in the gap. Did it work? Of course it did, though no thanks to me. Brother Roger was there to help, and it still stands today. But this wasn’t Pa’s first rodeo with garages. Previously, he had built a unique garage, not in its structure but its orientation. Instead of presenting perpendicular to the alley, he situated it at a 45 degree angle—very easy to drive into, and back out of! Most cars the had no power steering so making those hard right angle turns wasn’t a picnic!
Have a great week everyone! May you always have someone with wisdom who can help with any decompressing you may need!