Recently, we were surprised to find it snowing, with an inch of accumulation, as we headed out with Sam-the-Dog and Hank-the-Granddog for their nighttime walk. What a gorgeous night. Fluffy snow. Not cold. Full moon. Dogs delighted to follow bunny tracks. Paul slipped just a bit and quickly reassured Hank and Sam, saying, “I’m OK.” He explained, “They worry about me.” It was a sincere and funny moment.
Winter started in October (how rude), so a 50-degree Christmas Day was especially joyful. We walked to Phelps park with Sam and Hank, one snort short of giddy. Our life is good here in Decorah.
Year of the Flood
We will remember 2019 as the year of the flood. At 3:45 a.m., on August 21, Sam’s whining got us up to discover our refrigerator waterline burst. Even with industrial-strength dehumidifies and fans, the wood floor in our kitchen-dining-living great room could not be saved. After three weeks out of the house for new-floor installation, we returned home the day before Thanksgiving, full of thanks for WestBend homeowners insurance.
PSA #1: Turns out refrigerator waterlines cause havoc with alarming frequency. If you have an automatic ice maker, check the back of the refrigerator. If the waterline is a plastic tube, replace it with copper pipe or a flexible hose. Having learned the hard way, we turned off the water to the refrigerator and make our own ice.
Paul
Paul continues to appreciate the work and colleagues in the ELCA IT department. He is active working for justice for immigrants and refugees, both as synod chair for AMMPARO and a member of the Decorah Faith Coalition. He’s been getting more calls for congregation speaking engagements after the ELCA declared itself a Sanctuary Denomination at the Churchwide Assembly last summer.
Sue
About three days a week, Paul and Sam accompany Sue on the 7-minute walk to the Vesterheim Norwegian American museum, where she staffs the admissions desk. She loves the people and the place. Her 2019 consulting and contract work included helping the Deaconess Community of the ELCA (Chicago) with their communication audit. In December, Sue began offering part-time communication support at First Lutheran, our congregation in Decorah.
After good success losing weight in 2018, Sue earnestly spent 2019 repetitively losing and gaining the same four pounds. She persists.
Family Sweetness
Having the Edison-Albrights so close is wonderful. We have a standard date for Sunday brunch at our house. Walter and Sally’s designated bedroom and play area (“the Family Sweetness”) makes it easy to host them for overnight stays. We have a no-kennel policy for Hank and Sam, so they enjoy citizenship in both households.
Since our house is well-suited for no-step recuperation, Annie spent a week with us after a shallow melanoma was excised. Catching skin cancer early is key. Which leads to PSA #2: Schedule an annual skin-check with a dermatologist. Now, please. Thank you.
2020
Sue remembers working on a “Vision 2020” plan for at least two organizations, when 2020 was so safely in the future it allowed for strategic-planning arrogance. Now it’s here, and, well, uffda.
This is our first presidential caucus season as Iowans. Unless you live in New Hampshire, you can’t imagine the access Iowans have to A-list candidates. Sue attended events with Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and others.
We approach the 3 November 2020 election with terror and hope. We hold to the promises expressed in the “Canticle of the Turning,” Paul’s favorite hymn, including this line: “Let the king beware for [God’s] justice tears ev’ry tyrant from his throne.”
May the world be about to turn. God bless us, everyone.
Sue and Paul
2019 in pictures. Browse below (hover over the pic to see if there’s a caption, click for larger image, press Esc to leave larger image). You can also browse all images here (https://bit.ly/2019esphotos).
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