No, I'm not an adjuster

Writing a column for the Independent for the last decade, a lot of people recognize my face around these parts, but not everyone. Take this story: As I was driving to take a weather-damage photo Wednesday, I came across a home that had been hit by a fallen tree. So, of course, I pulled over and got out of my truck for photos and a quick interview. I walked up to a woman outside, the owner of the house it turns out, and she told me how glad she was to see me and that she had worked with my “office” before. ‘Scuse me? She thought I was an insurance adjuster. Thinking about it as I drove off to find more storm damage, I can see where the mistaken identity can come into play — it’s post-storm, a well-dressed man (no, I’m not GQ material, not even close) walks up, camera in one hand, notepad in the other. For all she knew I was from the insurance company. I guess I looked the part. Seeing the damage that resulted from Wednesday morning’s storm and after witnessing the nasty winds that howled in my neck of the woods in Murray County, I thought about the people across Minnesota who lost so much in last week’s swath of deadly tornadoes that killed three people and damaged or destroyed numerous homes and farmsites across the state. As the headline in Friday’s paper read last week, we really did dodge a big bullet. We got lucky. And while there were some downed trees and powerlines associated with this week’s storm, we should definitely count our blessings.