October 29, 2010
October 29th, 2010 by admin
Good morning from Collegeville,
It is a chilly morning in central Minnesota. This is the latest frost in many years, but say that we may have a bit of Indian Summer next week. A record was set for low barometric pressure in Minnesota. It is time to “brace up”.
Axel Borgstrom grew up in Upsala, Minnesota and he was the owner of the Farmers State Bank in Upsala. He and his wife Carrie lived in a big house next to the funeral home. The Upsala Area Historical Society asked me to approach Axel about willing his house to the society so that a museum could be established. We had Axel and Carrie over for supper and I brought up the idea. Axel responded in a surprising way. He said that rather than wait until they were gone, he and Carrie would build a new house across from the bank and they would simply give the old house to the historical society. They were in their nineties.
In 1989, Axel was 101 years old and I met him on Main Street in Upsala as he was walking home from the cafe. I asked him, “Axel, what is the secret to living a long life?”
He responded, “When you think that you are going to die, brace up.”
In 1875 William Ernest Henley wrote a poem that was titled “Invictus”, (Latin for undefeated). The last two lines are, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” While incarcerated on Robben Island prison, Nelson Mandela recited the poem to other prisoners and was empowered by its message of self mastery. In the 2009 movie “Invictus”, produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, the poem is referenced several times. It becomes the central inspirational gift from Mandela to Springbok rugby captain Francois Pienaar in advance of the post-apartheid Rugby World Cup hosted in 1995 by South Africa and won by the underdog Springboks.
This video is a 12 minute message about another who would not be defeated, a woman who will be 107 years old next month. Take a break and be inspired.
The show this week is live from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Special guests include modern bluegrass pioneer Ricky Skaggs with Kentucky Thunder and New York singer and song-maker Heather Masse. Enjoy the show.
“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” William Ernest Henley
Category : General 