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Category Archives: Mike's Posts

HEAVEN’S ALL-STAR TEAM GETS EVEN BETTER

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

By Mike Nistler

 

In the March/April issue of Minnesota Moments, I wrote about a hero of mine who was dying. His name was Lloyd Kunkel. After I wrote my column on Lloyd, I stopped in for a visit with him. I gave him a copy of the magazine and we chatted, for the last time.

 

I told him I hoped he and I could watch a Pearl Lake Lakers baseball game sometime this summer. We won’t get that chance. Lloyd passed away on Saturday after his long battle with cancer. I wrote the following words, a discussion I imagined that St. Peter and St. Paul had when they learned of Lloyd’s death.

 

I hope you enjoy it, Lloyd.

 

St. Peter: Say, Paul, did you see who are all-star baseball team just got to play left field and bat third?

 

St. Paul: No, who? Did something happen to Harmon Killebrew?

 

Peter: No, no, he’s doing fine. It’s that other power hitter from Minnesota, Lloyd Kunkel from Pearl Lake. He passed away on Saturday.

 

Paul: Aw, that’s too bad. He was such a great man on earth. He’ll be missed. But I’m sure the guys up here will be glad to have him. They’ve had their eyes on him for quite some time, ever since he was a youngster. Man of man, could that kid play ball.

 

Peter: Yeah, he was one of the best. It’s funny, too. He’ll be the only starter on our team who never played in the pros.

 

Paul: Do you think the other guys will hold that against him? Give him a razing and all?

 

Peter: Are you kidding. I hear that a group of them met him at the Pearly Gates. (Peter chuckles) Pearly Gates, that’s funny. From Pearl Lake to the Pearly Gates. Lloyd will be right at home!

 

Paul: What about Hank Aaron? Where are we going to play him?

 

Peter: Hank told Lloyd that he could have his spot. He said Lloyd was better defensively than he ever was. Did you hear stories about his prowess in the field? Why, some say he was better than Shoeless Joe Jackson on getting a break on a hit ball. Unfortunately, Shoeless Joe had some issues on earth that keeps him out of our starting line-up.

 

Paul: Well, that won’t be a problem with Lloyd. He was a man of impeccable character. And boy was that man ever humble. I never once heard him boast or brag. Even after he’d plant a baseball some 500 feet from homeplate, he’d just round the bases with his head down. What a fine example he was for so many for so long.

 

Peter: Speaking of planting, that Lloyd was quite the farmer, too. We don’t have many players on this team with roots in agriculture. I guess that’s why Lloyd farmed instead of played ball for a living. It was a much more noble profession.

 

Paul: Let’s go to the practice field and see how Lloyd looks in his uniform. We can welcome him to heaven and ask him how things are back in Pearl Lake. I understand the local team is going to have a decent squad this year. Maybe they’ll dedicate the season to Lloyd and win the whole ball of wax. Wouldn’t that be a nice tribute?

 

Peter: Ah, Lloyd wouldn’t like anything special. But yeah, that would be nice.

 

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Live life to the fullest

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

By Mike Nistler

A wave of sadness washed over me this morning as I read the obituary page of the daily newspaper.

As I looked at the pictures and short summaries of the lives of those who died, I was struck at how fleeting life is.

None of the people in the obituaries today, or any day for the matter, give much thought to what their final notice will look like or contain.

No doubt, a person’s life is filled with many events, many achievments, many good days that aren’t mentioned in one’s obituary. Still, I thought, we should all strive to live each day as though what we accomplished that day would be listed in our obituary.

“Bob made people laugh out loud.”

“Sarah helped an elderly man find an item at the grocery store.”

“Tim smiled as he opened the post office door for a woman whose arms were full of packages.

They may be little things, but a lifetime of little things mean something far greater than can be measured in words.

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A Valentine greeting

Saturday, February 14, 2009

By Mike Nistler

ROSES ARE RED

VIOLETS ARE BLUE

I’M WRITING THIS BLOG

BECAUSE AUDREY TOLD ME TO.

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An update from Mike

Thursday, February 12, 2009

By Mike Nistler

My blogging partner, Audrey, is always trying to get me to write more in this space.

She’s not been overly successful, as you can tell, but today she persuaded me to write.

It’s not that I haven’t had interesting things happening in my life, or that I’ve been too busy to write, it’s just that sometimes writing becomes more like work than fun for me.

Anyhow, here’s what I’ve been up to.

I realize that I am a true member of the ‘Sandwich Generation.” That’s a generation of folks who are caught in the middle of children and parents.

For instance, on Tuesday of this week I gathered with my siblings to pre-plan and pre-pay my father’s funeral. Dad is in the nursing home and his money is almost all gone, used up mostly by high nursing home bills. I was told that in order to provide a decent funeral for him, we should pre-pay the costs before the money is all used up by the nursing home. So, we gathered in the same room at the same nursing home where we gathered 11 years ago to plan my mother’s funeral. The only difference was that this time, Dad wasn’t with us. He wasn’t dead, of course, just lying in his bed at the nursing home. And, in the weirdest twist of irony, as we discussed options for the casket and such, my cell phone rings. It’s my dad. I had to smile as I sent the call to my voice mail.

Yesterday, I accompanied by youngest daughter on a car shopping adventure. Her present vehicle, one my wife and I handed down to her, is on its last legs. So, it’s time to buy a different car. She asked me to go with her. I really didn’t want to go car shopping, but I couldn’t very well send her out there alone. And besides, I figured it was my fatherly duty.

We went to three dealerships, test drove three different models, and found one that she liked. I told her we needed to wait a few days to think about such a big decision.

Later that night, I got a text message from her on the same phone that my dad had called me on the day before. The message read: “I love you so much. Thanks for the fatherly help today. You’re my hero.”

Sometimes being sandwiched isn’t such a bad thing.

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A cold in the cold

Thursday, January 15, 2009

By Mike Nistler

I’ve got a nasty head cold. It started 3 days ago and is progressing nicely through my sinus cavities.

It’s not so bad. Because I have a great support network of friends and family, I haven’t had to venture outside much at all, which makes dealing with a cold tolerable. All kinds of people have been delivering things for me and handling some of the tasks that I was supposed to have attended to.

For the most part, I’m holed up in my home office, which has a fireplace, music system, and a south facing window that lets in plenty of sunshine.

I’ve been drinking plenty of fluids, taking cold medicine and daily naps with a good book or two and a cat, if he decides to join me.

So, don’t feel badly for me. I’ll be 100 percent soon, just in time for what I’m hoping is a warm spell.

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Resolutions

Friday, January 2, 2009

By Mike Nistler

Generally, I’m not big on making resolutions for the New Year. It seems those almost always fail. However, that hasn’t stopped me from making a couple this year. I normally don’t share these with people, but I had one that I thought was a good idea.

As I was cleaning the house of Christmas decorations, I came upon the cards that came in the mail this holiday season. I placed them in a gift back and put them on the kitchen counter because I wasn’t ready to throw them out quite yet.

Then, an idea came to me. Why not hang on to them for the year. Each week, I’ll take a card from the bag, read it and write the person who sent it a hand-written note or letter? Everyone likes getting mail that isn’t considered junk mail or bills, but how often does that happen in this age of e-mails and text messages?

So, if you sent me a Christmas card this year, be warned. You’ll be getting a note in the mail sometime in 2009.

Feel free to steal this idea.

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Happy New Year to all

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

By Mike Nistler

Here I sit, in my home office with a glass of wine and a fireplace filling the room with heat. The cat is snuggled in a chair and the dogs are enjoying their heated garage. Birds are dancing around the feeder and music is filling the room from the stereo in the corner.

Snow and cold are just outside my window as I write this blog.

Looking back on 2008, I’m relieved that Minnesota Moments is still publishing in spite of a rough economy. We are fortunate to have just published our 5-year anniversary issue. Look for it in your mailbox or on newstands any day now.

I look forward to an exciting 2009. We’ve already begun work on our March/April issue. It’s difficult to think about spring in the midst of a cold and snowy December, but that’s part of the challenge of publishing a bi-monthly magazine.

But don’t feel sorry for me, I’ve got plenty to be thankful for, including all of you loyal readers.

Happy New Year!

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Rewarding days

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

By Mike Nistler

Some days just seem more “rewarding” than others.

That happens when everything seems to go right.

I had one of those days today. It followed a night where I took my Dad to a doctor’s appointment that lasted close to 2 hours. It was dark, snowing and the Care Cab we took to the appointment forgot us.

After making alternate arrangments to get back to the nursing home, my Dad looked at me and said “I sure appreciate this.” That made me feel better about the whole ordeal, which up to this point had been a big waste of time.

Today dawned bright with a fresh layer of an inch or two of snow on the ground. Not enough to drag the snow blower out, so I shoveled our long driveway. The golden retrievers watched my every move. I felt refreshed.

Then, I visited the home that my daughters live in to fix their washing machine that went on the fritz last night. I was about to give up when I leaned on the machine with my elbows. Guess what? That caused the washer lid to shut tight and the machine to work, perfectly. I felt like a real “guy,” the kind that can fix anything. And, I saved who knows how much money?

Next, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up two cans of Cream of Celery soup that my wife had left me a note for, and, I mixed it in to the dish we’re having for supper tonight. Next, I’ll prehead the oven and get the meal started and we’ll soon be joined by our daughters for a meal and family movie night.

Yes, some days just seem to turn out better than others!

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Marley & Me

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

By Mike Nistler

I just finished reading the book “Marley & Me” by John Grogan.

The story is about Marley, a yellow lab who isn’t the best behaved dog in the world. In fact, Grogan, his owner, thinks he’s among the worst behaved, but that doesn’t stop him from falling head over heals in love with the big oaf.

Well, ultimately, as in all books about beloved pets, Marley dies. I knew it was coming, but that didn’t stop the tears from cascading down my cheeks for the last 20 pages of the book. I couldn’t stop. Luckily, I was home alone, with my housecat, Dickie, and two golden retrievers, Buddy and Junior.

I’ve had to bury my share of family pets in my lifetime, and it’s never easy. In fact, as I age, it may be getting more difficult. You’d think you’d get easy to something like that after a while, but I think a pet’s mortality speaks to a human’s mortality. And that, no matter how old you get, is never easy.

If you haven’t read “Marley & Me,” I highly recommend it. It would make a good Christmas present for that pet lover on your gift list.

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Just logging in to say “hi”

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

By Mike Nistler

It’s been a long time since I wrote in this space. I guess I just don’t have much to say. 

I’ll try to sum up what’s been happening with me of late.

First, we at Minnesota Moments are putting the finishing touches on our January/February issue. We still have some advertisement space available. This tough economic time and the fear that so many people have about the economy makes it very difficult to sell ads.

On a positive note, the editorial content for this next issue is different since this next issue will mark our 5-year anniversary. You read that correctly, it’s been five years since we launched the magazine. Soon, we will be embarking on our sixth year. Wow! I remember when we started the magazine and asking myself where we’d be in five years. Now I know.

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