Lake Minnetonka Opinion

Football teams watch game films, baseball hitters study opposing pitchers, hockey and other coaches scout the competition, so it's really no surprise that video learning advanced the game of tennis more so than anything else in the last decade.

Almost four years ago, on Jan. 30, my daughter took her own life. I tell this story not to elicit sympathy or for dramatic effect. I tell this story in the hopes that someone struggling with suicidal thoughts will see the devastating pain caused by suicide loss and seek help to avoid it. I a…

Tension is frequently a passenger in my car going or coming from the airport. The trip from our house can take 20 minutes or more than an hour; it can be frustrating. There is so much “hurry” in life.

Today, we tell of The First Story, making it a celebration of pomp, an affair of gold-embroidered vestments and costly columns and altars of marble, and choruses of choirs, of jeweled windows and incense, of the extreme abundance of gifting and getting.

It’s amazing how many cherished holiday traditions were created by folks trying to sell us more stuff. The Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, for example, is a beloved way to start the holiday morning, and it exists as nothing more than a two-hour commercial for a department store chain. You’d like…

I have a confession. Last month, I said Thanksgiving was my favorite holiday. I think I lied. It’s really Christmas. I don’t really like the chaos, or the gift wrapping, card sending or shopping, or the organizing and running from place to place. What I do like, is what I think Christmas is …

Marking a marriage by years of togetherness is commonplace — we celebrate wedding anniversaries. But making a marriage marvelous requires much more than time, grown-up puppy love and a once-a-year card.

It’s my favorite time of the year next to the first day of school. I’m one of those crazy Christmas-loving people who listens to Christmas music in October. There is so much to see and do in and around the Lake Minnetonka area.

Dorcas Reilly passed away a year ago this past October, she was 92, and no, I’m pretty sure you didn’t know her, but one out of three Americans will sit down and enjoy her invention this coming Thanksgiving. Ms. Reilly, you see, was the soupie who invented Campbell’s Green Bean Casserole.

Recently I wrote about my struggle with trying to understand why we are experiencing such a sharp increase in hateful, mean and frankly rude comments from individuals to other individuals who have opposing views. On social media and in real life.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. No gifts means very little stress. Just time with your family and your own traditions. I’m sure some people’s traditions revolve around watching football, playing games or eating certain foods. My family had those, sure, but our best tradition was the “tu…

It’s been several weeks since I’ve written a column. I’ve been occupied with two daughters getting married within a few months of each other, and life in general. Though I don’t think that is really why I haven’t been writing.

I stood alone at 2 a.m. at age 13 at the end rows of 20 acres of carrots. Why? My dad was a vegetable farmer in southern Minnesota and needed help spraying for weeds when air was still, and dew drops plentiful.

Much of the focus on “the election” hasn’t been on next week’s off-year election, but that should not diminish the importance of getting to the polls and casting your vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5.