It is not unusual to feel a bit uncomfortable around certain people or in certain groups. There may be a good reason for that discomfort based on past experience or the nature of the situation. Having significant discomfort when interacting with other people most or all of the time is a ...

As the Vice-Chair of the State Emblems Redesign Commission — the group tasked by the Minnesota Legislature to redesign the state’s flag and seal — I find it necessary to respond to the false information our local legislators continue to spread about our new state flag. Since our new ...

The medicine cabinet was crusty and rusty, much like me. And like me, it’s old enough to be a museum piece. The cabinet was installed in my parents’ bathroom when it was added onto their farmhouse more than 60 years ago. I was just a tyke at the time, and flushing the toilet was ...

I braced myself against the roaring north winds of Minnesota’s opening day, waves rolling into the south shore so hard their crests lapped at the just-installed dock and sprays of white splashed up between the slats, soaking my tennis shoes. It was a classic start to the season, and while I ...

While having lunch with family members, I was reminded of my four L's of being here. Not wanting to pontificate too much, I'll keep this short. However, I just walked by a fellow I can't ignore. Why? Because I find him slightly irritating. The fellow in question is what I'll call an ...

When most of us think about nurses, we picture hospital hallways, clinics, and exam rooms. That image is real, and nurses working in those settings deserve enormous respect for working on the front lines of health care. But here is something many people do not realize. Some of the most ...