GaryOsberg.com

On this date in 1973, I attended an auction on the north side of Cedar Lake west of Upsala. Agnes Olson was selling her house and moving to Cambridge. Gust and Agnes had lived there for many years. They were both teachers in Cambridge and I don’t think they had any children. Things had just started to go well with my office furniture career and one of my clients who worked for Red Owl was very encouraging since he owned a cabin on a lake in northern Minnesota. My banker was also encouraging. He knew that my saving account was not very hefty, but he suggested that I go and see what happened. I did not even have the $3,000 cashier’s check with me, so I had to speak to the local banker prior to the start of the auction to get his ok. I promised that if I was the high bidder, I would go to town and get the check from my mother-in-law. He thought about it really hard, but finally agreed. I am sure that the fact that my dad and he were great friends, and had both worked for the Upsala Farmers State Bank before the war, had an impact. Thank you Roland.

My wife Marcia, my coach, had told me “when it your turn to bid, do not hesitate, simply nod your head.” The Styrofoam cup of coffee that I held was shaking so bad, I probably could not have said anything anyway. The auctioneer milked $50,500 out of the only other contender, and when he turned his attention back to me, I did as instructed, a simple nod of my head. Lee Bolstad stormed away and was quoted as saying “Rats, that kid will never quit.” Needless to say, that day changed my life. One never knows what a day will bring. By the way, when I came back with the check, Agnes handed me the keys. No need to wait until closing in those days.

This week’s show is a rebroadcast of the May 13 show at the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Josh Ritter sings “Oh Lord (Part Three)” and “Girl in the War”; Jon Batiste plays “What a Wonderful World” and does a little piano-mandolin improvising with host, Chris Thile; and Emma Willmann joins Chris to discuss Maine, roommates, and New York City. Plus: Pekka Kuusisto and Eric Jacobsen play Bach’s Fifth Goldberg Variation; Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan join Chris and the band on “Julia”; and a message from our newest affiliate, WPET.

“The years teach much which the days never know.” Ralph Waldo Emerson