Now & Then by Lorna Marquardt

Ole and Lena jokes are a popular style of regional humor in the Upper Midwest, featuring fictional Norwegian-American characters named Ole, his wife Lena and their friend Sven. Once a year I dedicate my article to humor. I find that it is so important to add humor and laughter to our daily life. There is…

I enjoy autumn, the season between summer and winter. I remember learning in school that here in the United States we often call the season fall because leaves fall from the trees during the season. The European language connects autumn with the harvesting of crops. In many cultures, autumn is marked by rites and festivals…

I met my hubby while vacationing at the home of my grandparents who lived on East Lieg Avenue. I was 16 at the time and he was 18. Although he had a car, he usually rode his horse, Beauty, when he came to see me at Grandma’s.  Her name was quite fitting; she was a…

I have done a fair amount of research on personality traits/types. Determining the traits of family, friends or co-workers can help to communicate with them in a way that suits their personality. Due to the limitations of space for this article, I will focus on the two major personality types: A and B. Some studies…

A friend of mine lost her mother recently. She is an only child. She shared with me what a difficult time she is having going through her late mother’s belongings. She said she goes to her mom’s home, but breaks down and cries when she handles her things. I told her that her feelings are…

The mission of the Elizabeth Street Business Complex is “to further the development and maintenance of a quality workforce through the integration of employment education and economic development services for employers, job seekers and workers.” Board member Dennis Heling commented, “I believe in our mission, and I want our legacy to be that we provided a…

I grew up in the 50’s in Marion, population 1,118 at the time. Other than early childhood, parents of kids back then did not find it necessary to entertain them. I quickly learned that when I complained about having nothing to do; my folks quickly found enough chores to keep me busy all day. We were…

We live in the present, look forward to the future, but enjoy remembering the past. I don’t mind saying I am 81. I feel very blessed that I am able to share with you some of the memories I treasure. So many changes have occurred during my lifetime, most are good. I really did enjoy…

Did you know over 7 million Americans 65 years and older are living with Alzheimer’s Disease (the most common form of dementia)? Worldwide, over 57 million people are living with dementia. By 2030, the number is projected to reach over 82 million. Dementia is a term for decline in mental ability, such as memory loss,…

People spend their free time doing a variety of things; including gardening, running, biking, fishing, swimming, skiing, hiking, and so on. My hubby enjoys racing. He regularly attends racing at the Shawano race track on Saturday nights. He also likes watching Nascar. One of my favorite ways to spend free time is playing bingo. I…