Dad's Lessons -:)

(Local View from 4'2, Lake County Press, September 18, 2026)

Season changes bring about times of reflection for me and this season I have lots of gratitude for my dad and the wisdom he has passed down since my childhood.

A few weeks ago I came home at dusk on a beautiful early fall evening where I wanted to enjoy more of the warmth on my skin and the smells of the gentle breeze. I said goodnight to several neighbors who were going in and out. It was finally quiet as I sat and did some work on my phone when I heard the door open and I thought I had heard a neighbor’s dog coming around the corner. Thankfully I looked down before extending my hand down for the dog to sniff. It was a medium sized SKUNK! I immediately froze and heard my dad’s voice in my head from childhood saying, “Just. Sit. Still.” I am grateful for this internal reminder as I and the skunk froze so we could realize we both didn’t need to be a threat to each other. It moved on with its night and I stayed fresh and clean.

Most recently I not only remembered my dad’s safety conversations but also those with friends who were local EMS workers and family who work for MN-DOT. I was traveling northbound on Highway 61 on the Saturday of the massive motorcycle accident at the Silver Creek Tunnel. I had to pull over safely four times for an ambulance, a trooper, and two rescue squad trucks with ATVs in their box beds. Half of the time other motorists pulled over with me and the other half were scary incidents of people either inattentive driving or choosing outright not to get out of the way of these beyond fast, siren and light producing EMS vehicles flying up the left lane. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t tear filled every time this happened.

I found myself full of so many different emotions from fear to anger to concern for the lives of the responders to whoever was needing their help. As we talk a lot about here- we are interdependent on each other. Every life and choice impacts those around us, whether we realize this or not. By the time I got safely into town my nervous system had had enough. Lessons learned- know your surroundings so you don’t pet a skunk,  love others by getting safely out of their way so they can go and help others, and listen to my dad.