From the Editor

Each autumn brings mixed emotions for me. It is the time that I feel most compelled to get organized and start afresh. It is a time of beauty and color. But it is also a time when I need to let go of my children once again as they head to school. And it is a time when I am most reminded of my father and the loss I went through when he died ten years ago.

    I suppose it was my dad who first taught me to love the water. We moved to Minnesota when I was entering fourth grade and he was bound and determined to live on one of the 10,000 lakes. It seemed almost as though this were a right of every Minnesotan. And so I had the privilege of growing up on the lake, swimming in the lake, boating on the lake, skating on the lake, and snowmobiling on the lake. (My siblings all became decent fishermen; I was never as adept.) It was my dad, and of course my mom, who gave us those tremendous opportunities.

    Each October brings the anniversary of my parent’s wedding, the anniversary of my father’s birthday, and the anniversary of my father’s death. All of that loss can overwhelm me at times. As that month approaches I get a little cranky, a little short, am more demanding, and I forget to stop and acknowledge why I’m feeling that way. Then I am forced to notice the dates approaching and the sadness sweeps over me once again.

I feel blessed to have had my father with me as long as I did, and blessed that my mother, siblings, and my own nuclear family are all healthy. I see my friends struggle with a myriad of issues and I feel so helpless in trying to aid them. I wonder why them and not me. I marvel at their strength, their persistence, and their optimism. I marvel at their profound resolve to go on with life and to appreciate all they have. And I feel blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people, each of them with their own story, each of them with their own struggle, each of them with their abundant strengths. Each of them sets a powerful example for me to follow.      If they can be so strong in pursuit of a good life then surely I can be strong in trying to help. I see how they appreciate all of the little things and how so many of them make the most of their surroundings, especially their lakes. So I too will try to pursue good. I too will try daily to do something, even if it’s something small; something that will help to make this world a bit better. Maybe it will be as small as making a child smile or maybe it will be something large.     Each person in this world carries both gifts and burdens throughout their life. With those gifts and burdens comes a story. I wonder about your stories, and your lives. I wonder how each season affects you and what you will choose to do with it.     I hope that you would consider joining me in trying to make this world a bit better. Perhaps you will let go of a grievance, perhaps you’ll help someone out, or perhaps you will just be thankful for a sunrise.

     We can do so many things. We can help to clean up our lakes, we can donate to the food shelf, and we can help out at hospitals and nursing homes. Five of my personal favorite organizations that I invite you to support are:

     I wonder what autumn brings to mind for you. This year as I see the leaves change, the lake cool, and the thermometer drop, I will also try to count my many blessings. I hope to be at least a fraction as strong and wonderful as the many people around me. And I wish you luck in supporting your own causes.

Celebrating life on the water, Nancy Henke, Editor

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By Nancy Henke