on second thought
By Lori Sorenson, editorJune 30, 2020A “novel” virus is, by definition, a new virus, not previously identified. When it emerged six months ago scientists knew nothing about it, except that it was highly contagious and could kill people. Today we know a little about it, like how it’s transmitted and what it’s capable of. But mostly, it seems, the more we learn, the less we know. Things at first believed to be true about it (like, it…
By Lori Sorenson, editorDecember 17, 2019Mom wasn’t a fan of Christmas. She didn’t raise her children to believe in Santa and our tree didn’t go up until well into December. Mostly Mom despised the commercialism of the holidays, openly cringing at the first Christmas ad on TV or first decorations to show up on store shelves. Of course, it didn’t help that the ag economy crashed when she and Dad had five children looking forward to gifts…
By Lori SorensonSeptember 17, 2019My husband’s parents, Arden and Mary Ellen, said good-bye this week to their little house on the banks of Split Rock Creek. The rolling green pastures, lush farm ground and thick grove of trees are deceptively tranquil considering the destructive force of the river in high-water years. For decades, a closely monitored sump pump kept flood damage at bay — until last week when an 8-inch deluge 30…
By Lori Sorenson, editorApril 09, 2019“Sweet dreams,” “Living the dream, “Man of my dreams,” “In your dreams” … all imply that dreaming is a good thing. But my dreams are mostly weird. Like the ones that find me in my childhood home in the kitchen with yellow linoleum, rooster-patterned wallpaper and a black-and-white television on the counter. There’s no real significance to the stories that play out in those dreams. They’re mostly…
By Lori Sorenson, editorMarch 19, 2019The expression on his face said it all. The high school junior was forced to try on a suit coat and matching slacks over the weekend as a step toward finding prom attire. In casual conversation with a friend last week, I mentioned prom, and she speculated that her son had a prom suit he’d be willing to sell. So, she brought it to me, and I brought it home, and the kid was required to try it on.…
By Lori SorensonApril 04, 2018April 21 will be an anniversary of sorts. On that day 25 years ago, I began what would become a long-term relationship with the Star Herald. When Roger Tollefson offered me the job, I was already in a relationship with the Worthington Daily Globe. Breaking up is hard to do. But I did, sensing a daytime relationship would be healthier than my nighttime copy editing at the Globe. And, of course, it…
By Lori Sorenson, editorSeptember 26, 2017Siri is slowly doing away with recipe books, how-to manuals and other tried and true handy references. Our old backyard apple tree has been busy bearing fruit, and we’ve been busy harvesting. Since our McIntosh apples are somewhat “vintage” I consulted my 1950s-era community cookbooks for old-fashioned recipes. Apple dumplings, applesauce, baked whole apples, apple cobbler and others were printed…
By Lori Sorenson, editorOctober 31, 2016Several weeks ago, my sisters and I and my parents planned holiday dates for the Kroontje Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. While we were busy entering the dates into our smartphones, Mom made an off-hand remark that stopped us mid-text. “It’s a blessing to be able to plan for the future,” she said, returning her calendar to its nail in the kitchen wall. It took us awhile for the observation…
By Lori Sorenson, editorAugust 29, 2016The college kid is back on campus, and while he’s four hours from home, we’re only a text message apart (or cell phone call if there’s a real emergency). So heading back to college doesn’t carry the weight of “good-bye” that my college days did. I had a dorm phone on the wall that placed calls to Kenneth only when used with a prepaid calling card. There were letters home, written in pencil lead…
By Lori Sorenson, editorMay 09, 2016Dear neighbors, Hang in there, the kid will get his driver’s license next year Dear neighbors: This is an open letter to all of our neighbors, whether you are just up the road or across the section (or two or three sections away). Since we moved here nearly a year ago, we’ve really grown to love our new neighborhood and new surroundings. We especially like the rolling hills and endless miles of…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJanuary 25, 2016Newspaper offices were at one time fascinating places to visit — with noisy presses, oversized rolls of paper and ink by the barrel. In my time at the Star Herald, we’ve never printed on our own presses, but there were lots of other interesting things to see and do. Tourists were photographed at the door and then led to the darkroom to learn how film (remember film?) is developed and prints are…
August 31, 2015We all remember the days when our children were babies and we’d feel invisible when arriving at social gatherings with our little bundles. “Oh, he’s so cute. And look how he’s grown. Come here, sweetie. Let’s hear you say, ‘Gram-ma.’” Um. Hello? I’m here. Anybody care? Good to see you all, too. My children are no longer babies, and people care again (I think) when they see me. But every so…
By Lori Sorenson, editorAugust 03, 2015Cancer can be a blessing. I read those words in Brenda Winter’s column a year ago when she wrote about her cancer diagnosis. Now I know what she means. … It took me awhile though. My mom was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer on May 28, and I can assure you, I didn’t consider it a blessing. It’s a cruel curse. A slap in the face to a woman who has lived her life so dedicated to good…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJune 08, 2015It’s funny how column topics can change from one major life event to another. I’ve written about the transforming experience of moving from a home after 20 years of accumulating stuff. That was good column fodder. This week’s column was going to be about actually leaving our beloved home to the care of a newly married Luverne couple who will fill the rooms with new memories of their own. These…
By Lori Sorenson, editorMay 04, 2015The final step in clearing my attic for our new homeowners was removing several Rubbermaid tubs of toys that had survived the keep-or-throw process. In 19 years of accumulating toys, we had thrown very few away. Once the boys outgrew them or stopped playing with them, I simply packed them away — usually during one of those cleaning flurries for last-minute guests. Because the attic was big, and…
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