Wet Sticky Leaf

Rick tells me that in Japan, a man who is retired is referred to as a nure ochiba. This loosely translates to "wet leaf" or "wet sticky leaf,." depending on your translation.

The man, now with nothing to do after a lengthy career of being in the driven Japanese business world, sticks to his wife's leg like a wet sticky leaf.

I think Rick is getting a little worried that I will turn into a WSL. I say that apart from cruising down to his house on bread baking days to grab a couple of slices for a toasted tomato and basil sandwich, he doesn't have much to worry about.

Friday, September 13 was my last day as a longtime communications manager at WKAR. For 32-plus years, I have been proud to share the word about public television and radio in our community. I've worked with so many amazing people at WKAR, in the community and at the university, I am almost embarrassed by the richness I have experienced in that time. And yet right now my world feels as though it has turned upside down.

When I started working there, fresh out of grad school, we worked in a tin Quonset hut with weeds coming through the floor and asbestos hanging from the ceiling. Now we are in a remarkable building with four studios. I went from Selectric typewriter to computer, "regular" TV to digital. WKAR did a lot of production back in the Quonset days and we do a lot now. I am always impressed by our crew. And for the most part I have loved all the things we've done and I've experienced over time.

We did a ton of events where we'd meet and greet...

Open houses...

Festivals...

Parties. And I got to meet some great people, like Garrison Keillor...

...Julia...

...and Ken Burns.

The list was long -- I wish I could find my photo with Fred Rogers -- truly the real deal. Bill Moyers, Bob Ross (the Happy Painter), Graham Kerr (The Galloping Gourmet), Jim Lehrer, the This Old House guys, Michael Buble... that's only a few!

My favorite was Carrol Spinney, aka Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird, who came to our 50th and was one of the most remarkably generous human beings I've ever met. We still swap holiday cards. Big Bird is Carrol.

I got to travel to conferences and when I did, there was usually a terrific batch of station cohorts with whom to laugh our way through dinner.

Over and over again!

I had many great bosses -- here are two of them. Susi is now our TV station manager and Tim, our  executive producer, pictured here at the NETA conference. Some people have office husbands. I have an office brother -- Tim. We grew up there, Quonsets to current, and have worked on more projects together than I remember. I remember when he met his wife Sara. I danced at their wedding, and I've seen their children grow into wonderful young adults.

My favorite task was doing pledge breaks, which used to be very frequent and less so in recent years, with the pre-packaged PBS breaks.

And the remotes were even more fun -- our crew was terrific -- and we always stopped for popcorn or ice cream when we were done!

I loved meeting colleagues from around the country. A favorite moment was running around Disney World in the rain!

Over the years, the faces changed. The fun was the same.

The NETA conferences were my favorite and I've posted about them here several times. The NETA team -- Gayle, Bob, Maryanne and Lisa and Skip (not pictured) have been wonderful friends and will remain so. NETA meetings also reunited me with an old friend, Joan, and many new, special people.

And, after we merged with the Communication Arts college, I got to work on other events too -- and one led me to meet my one and only athletic hero, Greg Kelser. Twice!

The gang below is one I've spent a lot of time with over the years. Although most of us are in different work groups now, and two are no longer at the station, they are still my core. We've shared so much.

But they are only one group of many. Some good friends have passed on, some have moved on. And yet I feel so privileged to have worked with them all. Now it's my turn.

I was lucky enough to be invited on our radio show, "Current State" for a short "exit interview!" If you want to listen (it's about two minutes), click here!

I'll tell you a bit more about the last few days in another post. But for now Cheers! Let the new life begin!

Change of Seasons

"All of the pink flowers are gone, but look at these," said the man in the orange shirt, walking a milk chocolate brown chihuahua.

He was pointing to the golden rod -- that often maligned flower -- or weed -- that comes out when the nights get cooler and fall is in the air.

We were walking around the ditch -- he had gone one way, I the other. And somewhere along the way we passed and exchanged pleasantries, as all the ditch walkers do. He was captivated by something -- something in the goldenrod and was eager to point it out. A grasshopper. At least that's what we thought it was -- although he didn't move a muscle for all the time we were standing there.

I admired that -- it was rather difficult to photograph him with a few fairly gusty breezes whipping him around. But he stubbornly remained.

The ditch takes its own character in the early fall. There are more lily pads, but the flowers have gone.

My white heron had returned, fishing for dinner.

Harry wasn't happy to see her and quickly flew away.

But she stuck around, looking for fish and finding a few, too.

The ducks were having a time of it, looking for food...

...and just looking cute!

The light changes and almost every scene seemed like the inspiration for a painting by Monet.

My orange-shirted friend is right -- there are new flowers out. The seedems are turning pink now -- I love these handsome blooms.

I don't know what these are, but their dark red cone-like flowers seem to be the very essence of fall.

Signs of fall are even coming to the leaves on the trees.
 A sure sign.

Berried branches seem all the more vibrant in the end of summer light.

My own yard is showing signs of wear. today I bid farewell to much of the basil, turning into a rather tasty pesto. And the sunflowers? They're looking good in the new little teapot I bought from Marilyn. I suspect I'll be enjoying these quite some time.

Things are changing for me, too. I retired yesterday, after more than 32 years at WKAR. I have lots to post about on this, some self indulgent, some reflecting, some with much gratitude... that's coming soon.

Brownwood

Admit it. You can't resist a general store.

You can't resist peering through the window at all the interesting things, checking out the wooden Indian outside, something from another time.

You can't resist opening the pristine white screen door and peeking inside!

Welcome to Brownwood Country Store on Torch Lake. Rick and his cousins tell me it was the place they had to visit whenever they came to Torch as children -- and it didn't change when they were adults!

Remember these?

The "Dots" are just one of the dozens of candies at Brownwood. I couldn't resist buying five malted milk balls from one of the big glass jars.

Just five.They were the size of jawbreakers and so dense that waiting for the chocolate to melt down to the malt was so sweetly agonizing!

The shelves behind the counter and on the opposite walls hold an elaborate array of Brownwood treats -- honey, jams, salsas, barbecue sauces. I've had many of them, all delicious. And if you're lucky, there's even a sampling table!

Of course you have to buy the requisite summer gear. Brownwood has it all -- tees and sweats in every size!

I think our family was personally responsible for at least a dozen branded bits of clothing this year-- maybe more!

The outdoor grounds are beautiful, too. There are several buildings. This one holds the ice cream store. Another is the old schoolhouse and now holds trinkets ranging from moccasins to jewelry and all sorts of fun things for kids.

The garden is small but lovely.

In the earlier parts of summer, you'll see a variety of flowers, including lots of daisies.

Later, the hollyhocks and other splashes of color begin to bloom.

I know that in a few months, when the snow is deep, the wind blowing and when bundling under fleece seems like the most lovely thing in the world, I will look back to these pictures and remember these moments and this place.

I'll imagine one of those monster malted milk balls -- and I will smile!