By Jim Studer
Perhaps the old conundrum from physics class, “If a tree falls in the forest and no creature, human or sound recording device is present, is a sound to be heard?”
I began writing this column for the Messenger about two years ago. The first one was about Major League Baseball insulting us with starting extra inning games with a ghost runner at second base. I have enjoyed the opportunity to continue putting pen to paper after the publication of three books. My ever present muse, my brother-in-law, Gary Stroeing, kept pushing me to write a newspaper column. I followed his advice.
Having written this column for two years thanks to the kind folks at the Messenger, I feel like that tree in the forest. Does anyone, other than the editor and a faithful reader who said she enjoys the columns and collects them in a scrapbook, read or care about what I write? I try to consider what might interest my audience. I do write about things that interest me: sports, books, words, nature and so on. I suppose I get carried away with nostalgia.
As I sit on my stationary bike on a trail leading to nowhere, I watch the squirrels playing tag and search for ideas to put some zest into For What It’s Worth. Do the readers of the Messenger care about the things I am enamored with: auto license plates, Native American place names, fantasy sports teams’ nicknames, seldom seen things that populate the bits and pieces of my youth, farmhouse kitchens, Etc.
Sometimes the ideas pop up two at a time, but most of the time my bike riding mind is occupied by the squirrels and the birds in the trees outside my window. It would help me if I knew what readers would like to hear. I need feedback.
That poses the question, “How can anybody let me know?” There are two easy answers.
No. 1 I have a Facebook page that my typist, editor, advisor and friend Ran keeps for me. It was set up to make people aware of my books and where they can be found. Ran also posts other seasonal messages for me. I will have Ran make a post where you can propose some topics or questions.
By the way, since the Book Break is closed, I am looking for a new outlet in Maple Lake for books. Any suggestions?
No. 2 Readers may drop a line to or leave a note at the Messenger office. The word will get to me. You can write in the form of a letter to the editor or just an unpublishable note to me in care of the paper.
I am grateful to the Messenger for giving me the opportunity to play with words, ideas and nostalgia. I owe much thanks to Brenda for her support.
As the kidnapped winter of ‘23-‘24 glides by, I search for food for thought to spice up my prose. Help spread the manure and plant the seeds by way of feedback. Thanks.
Happy Valentines Day!