GaryOsberg.com

Good morning from Collegeville,

 It is MEA weekend in Minnesota.  Larry Nelson was a city kid whose grandparents had a farm near Upsala.  He would spend summers on the farm and as a teenager he would come uptown to hang out with those of us who lived in town.  He ended up marrying the banker’s daughter, Sharon, one of the girls who lived in the “village” of Upsala.   Larry was unique.  At my sister’s wedding dance he took out his pocket knife and cut off Phil’s tie.  Phil and Sharon were first cousins.  I remember Phil was not very happy at all.

 Larry was the kind of fellow that wanted others to experience life.  He knew that I was not into fishing and hunting (having spent my youth as a delinquent)  so he went out of his way to invite myself and my son to tag along on a fishing opener and a grouse hunting trip one MEA weekend.  He was part owner of “the shack” near Talmoon.  There were three adults, Ron, Larry and myself and our three sons.  The boys took the dog and I rode with Ron and Larry.  I didn’t own a shotgun so I simply walked along.  We brought 17 grouse back to the shack and Larry cooked up the grouse along with the wild rice and mushroom soup.  It was a feast indeed.  Larry was one of the very first to have heart bypass surgery.  I recall he had to travel to Houston, Texas for the surgery.   He died way too young, but he lived life to the fullest and he looked out for his friends.

 The show this week is live from Christian University in Abilene, Texas.  Special guests include the hottest fiddler from Cowtown, Elana James, steel guitar and Dobro daredevil, Cindy Cashdollar and the wonderful gospel singer Jearlyn Steele.  Enjoy the show.

 “Dost thou love Life?  Then do not squander Time; for that’s the stuff Life is made of.”  Benjamin Franklin.