Outside Looking In

Drumstick doldrums

Because of the pandemic, Thanksgiving for many people was sad, lonely and unmeaningful. We have much to be thankful for, but the holiday came and went with little fanfare this year.
For me, it was the holiday that wasn't a holiday.
For the first time since I can remember, I didn't loosen my belt, head for the couch to watch football and utter "I'm so full" five or six times before getting up a few minutes later and wondering when the pie will be served.
I just wasn't all that hungry this year. I was deep in thought most of the day.
I thought about how lonely the residents of senior living facilities must be. I thought about how the "family" tradition became divided into smaller segments on Thanksgiving this year.
As I shoved my food around my plate in a contemplative way, I thought about the masks everyone is wearing ... and some not wearing. I thought about the students and how hard it must be to not be able to study together, eat lunch together, make fun of what a teacher is wearing together, play sports, act in a play together, sing together, or make other memories together.
I thought about the business owners struggling to keep afloat.
I thought about the how divided the country is. And I thought a lot about how the presidential election has divided the country even more than ever.
My thoughts then turned to what's in store for the month of December when there are normally a myriad of holiday events, both community and beyond, to attend and to get involved in. And now there is so little to do.
And the more I thought, the more I felt sorry for everyone, including myself. How much longer will this pandemic keep us down? We aren't able to attend holiday parties or open houses, we can't be in or attend a Christmas play, or even visit things such as the well-organized Christmas at Chippewa City in Montevideo. Even the festive and impressive Prairie Home Hospice Light up the Night has been scaled back.
And then, as I entered a store just prior to Thanksgiving to look for a certain gift for Christmas, I held the door open for a woman who was entering in a wheelchair. And for some reason, she sensed something was bothering me even though she has never seen me before.
"Thank you," she said politely, then asked: "Are you okay? You look kind of down."
As I crossed in front of her and falsely informed her that I was fine, I noticed her feet were not on the footrest of her wheelchair. She was missing both lower limbs and the legs of her pants were pinned up high in the seat of her chair.
Suddenly, I felt an inch high; an absolute selfish you-know-what. Pull up your big-boy pants and stop feeling sorry for yourself, I thought to myself.
I didn't want to ask her what happened, but she seemed much happier than others in the store. She smiled and said "Happy Thanksgiving” to everyone that passed by.
Her positivity turned my darkness into dawn. I decided to enjoy the holiday season even if they were going to be a little different this year. I felt like the Grinch when his heart finally started growing larger.
And that is why I am also so excited now about the Christmas Lighting Contest the Mascot is hosting. It's a way to brighten your home, brighten your community, and brighten everyone's spirits.
I hope everyone feels the urge to put up some lights this year as a way to say "Take that, COVID".
Register for our contest (the form appears in this issue even if you don't think you will win one of three prize packages of $500, $250 and $100. You never know unless you try. And those that register will be included in a map printed in an upcoming Mascot for families to follow on a night they want to drive around and see the decorated homes and lift their holiday spirits.
It sure has lifted mine.

Costner has local ties
Hollywood actor Kevin Costner now has ties to the local area after purchasing a horse once owned by Doyle Insurance agent Ken DeBaere of Ghent.
After DeBaere's best friend, Shawn Doyle, died in a boating accident 20 years ago, DeBaere purchased Doyle's horse, Beauty, from Shawn's widow, Sue, who is also Ken's cousin.
Beauty sired a foal named Trigger. DeBaere then took Trigger to a trainer in Cottonwood. A young Native American boy, who was working for the trainer, also happened to work on Costner's ranch in South Dakota.
The boy told DeBaere that "This horse is so good. Kevin Costner would love it."
Eventually, DeBaere sold the horse to the boy, who in turn, sold it to Costner. The horse could still be on Costner's South Dakota ranch.
If so, he's probably in a Field of Dreams.

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Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492