Snow complaints melt in the face of global tragedy
The column "Find Your Buried Treasure" appears weekly in the Chanhassen (MN) Villager. This column was published on March 17, 2011. One of the more popular pastimes this winter has been complaining about the cold weather and the amount of snow we received. Understandably, too, since we were hit with several record-breaking snowstorms that dumped more and more snow on top of snow that was already more than we could handle....
A zebra teaches lessons about attitudes and beliefs
The column "Find Your Buried Treasure" appears weekly in the Chanhassen (MN) Villager. This column was published on March 10, 2011. Fasten your seatbelt, because I’m getting ready to obliterate one of your longest-held, most comfortable beliefs about life on this planet. And I’m going to do it with one word: zebra....
Ten-year mark sparks new observations
The column "Find Your Buried Treasure" appears weekly in the Chanhassen (MN) Villager. This column was published on March 3, 2011. Ever since I was in college, it was a dream of mine to be a newspaper columnist. Over the next 25 years or so, I had a number of writing submissions published in newspapers and other publications. I won several newspaper writing contests. And, when my kids were young and playing AYSO Soccer, I was the person responsible for getting game reports into the local paper – although the only journalistic requirements for that were to say who won, list the game scores, and make sure every kid on the team was mentioned at least once in each article....
Do what you love, and others will notice
The column “Find Your Buried Treasure” appears weekly in the Chanhassen (MN) Villager. This column was published on February 24, 2011. I spoke last week to a group that had about 50 or 60 members present. After the program, a number of them came over to talk to me. Most simply thanked me for coming, and said they enjoyed the program. Some had specific questions or comments, or stories they wanted to share. A few said things like, “You really gave me some new things to think about,” or “I got a lot of great ideas from you. I can’t wait to try them out.” Those are the comments I always enjoy and appreciate the most. But then, just before I left, someone told me something I don’t recall ever hearing before. It was a simple observation, but one that I will always treasure. I hope it will always be true, and I hope it will always show....
Getting to know someone means sharing the fun
The column "Find Your Buried Treasure" appears weekly in the Chanhassen (MN) Villager. This column was published on February 17, 2011. I had coffee with a new member of our Toastmasters Club after our meeting last week. She offered me part of the whole-wheat croissant she had ordered, and I took a small piece, just to have a taste. It was delicious, much more so than I expected. I thanked her for sharing it, and for introducing me to something I might never have ordered on my own....
Whether coming or going, enjoy the experience
The column "Find Your Buried Treasure" appears weekly in the Chanhassen (MN) Villager. This column was published on February 10, 2011. I was in my 40s when my husband, kids and I moved from the Chicago area – where we were born and raised – to Roanoke, Virginia. It was the first of several moves we made to different parts of the country. After a few months of living in Virginia, one of my neighbors asked, “So, Betty, are you starting to like it here in Roanoke, or do you still miss Chicago?” My one-word answer: “Yes...”