Remembering Wellstone...

Ten years ago on October 25th,  the ill-fated plane carrying Paul Wellstone, his wife, daughter and three members of his campaign crashed near Eveleth Minnesota. Wellstone was one of those guys who had sincerity and devotion to others written all over his person and persona. I had the privilege to interview him several times during my work as an editorial page associate with the Duluth News Tribune and we were awaiting another interview session the day he died. It never happened and we all mourned the loss of Wellstone and the others. I wrote a piece for the Duluth News Tribune that appeared the next day. It was reprinted in my book, Cooler Near the Lake, and in this blog two years ago at the eighth anniversary of his death. Appropriately, the title of that writing hits on the big shoes that are–and have been–hard to fill since Wellstone's death. The essay is linked HERE for you to review and reflect on Wellstone's legacy. Also check out Wellstone.org for more information about the man and his legacy.

Writing for fun is my mantra...

I guess I've been doing lots of other writing but still have itchy fingers to get in a few more musings here on the blog soon. So please stay tuned...

In the meantime, I know some of you readers who love Duluth and and its history surely must be linking to the new Zenith City Online. It's chock full of Duluth information and history. As you know, I've been writing a monthly column on that web site site as well as my in-print Duluth Superior Magazine columns–and some on-line writing with DSM as well.

I get a lot of comments from readers who grew up in Duluth or have Duluth connections. So hopefully if you're one of those readers, you've linked onto my Denfeld Boy (the moniker ZCO uses for the collection of my writings that focus on growing up in the shadow of Denfeld High School). Click HERE to check out those writings. This months' writing is titled "When Presidents Passed Through the West End." The recent columns are: "Cruisn' Duluth's last Drive-in;" "Lincoln Park, a magical playground and natural wonder;" "West End barber combined religion and grooming;" "West End churches represented many Christian faiths;" and "Where East was East and West was West."

And... while I'm at it, don't forget I still have that book–with a collection of my newspaper columns–for sale on-line and in area bookstores. The holidays are around the corner, I've heard. I've been told it's a great bathroom book or bedside book, a narrative a night etc. Oh yeah, the book is titled, "Cooler Near the Lake." Yup, shameless hawking by me!

Denfeld Boy celebrates 55th reunion...

Golly, it's been 55 years–last June 6–since I graduated from Duluth Denfeld High School. We ended a big three-day extravaganza on Sunday at  dear old Denfeld itself, where we had breakfast, toured the new additions (and walked the hallowed halls of the old) and ended with a photo shoot with those classmates attending that Sunday breakfast. I though you'd get a kick out of the photo of us surrounding the vintage '57 Chev owned by classmate, Walt Pietrowski. That's Walt in the car sitting next to classmate, Pat Nading Cohen. My boyhood friend, Larry Monson, is seen on the right wearing his old Regents Car Club jacket. He gave the jacket to Walt years ago and Walt keeps it for such occasions. Guess we are a vintage bunch. Happy 55th Duluth Denfeld Class of '57!

By the way, if you're a vintage Denfeld graduate, check out our new class web site for photos of the reunion. We're just in the process of reconstructing our web site as the old one was hijacked. You can check it out HERE.