Lack of snow makes the cold seem colder

The initials "OMG" would have brought puzzlement in an earlier time. "Oh my God." Well that's how we're likely to react on this Sunday morning as we glance at the thermometer. Speaking of changing times, most of us probably would not glance at a thermometer, rather we'd look at a "screen." In my case, my laptop. 

I have been so shocked by changing times that I did not even want any "TVs" in my home anymore. So I purchased a new sofa at Unger's a couple years ago and used that occasion to have the two strong guys from that place haul away my TVs which were the type that had the big back. I could barely carry two of those TVs myself. Now at age 70 I'd withdraw from such activity. 

The low temperature aggravates my overall feeling of depression in this early January. It's not clinical depression so don't fret. It's a general feeling of depression or "malaise" if that term seems apt. And I'm inclined to think "malaise" because of the recent death of Jimmy Carter. He rather popularized the term. The "Onion" humor site had a headline not long ago about how "Jimmy Carter getting concerned that he will never die." 

I suppose there's no harm done in living to a very advanced age, is there? You only go around once in life. And if we go to heaven, will we see our friends and family there? Reminds me of the classic historical novel by Michael Shaara, "The Killer Angels," based in the Civil War. So a general is pondering death, his mortality, a quite logical thing to do when you're surrounded with death as in the Civil War. He's wondering about seeing friends and family in the afterlife. And then he had a curious thought: "What age will they be?" 

That kind of stuck with me. 

 

Snow is scant again

I feel depressed partly because of what the weather has foisted on us. Yes it's cold but the cold seems more of a letdown than usual. My curious mind goes to work: Why the deep funk? I think it's because we're missing the commensurate amount of snow. 

Unlike Missouri and that general region of the country, we're used to a true "winter wonderland" with drifts around us: nice crisp dry snow. Of course this can impose a burden with snow removal and its costs. But the winter recreation enthusiasts can get out and about. We'd hear the "scream" of the snowmobiles. 

I was in the elementary grades when snowmobiles took off in popularity. 

The vintage "Scorpion" snowmobiles. Black-themed.

I learned about the various lines of snowmobiles, headed for a long time by the "Ski Doo," so popular it almost became a universal term like "Kleenex." Popular, yes, but other lines of the machines quickly muscled in. They all seemed built the same way, they just had different shapes and colors. 

I guess for a long time you could say that about cars too. I heard a critique of "classic" cars once, to the effect that all that makes them special is the "shape of the metal." I had a friend who had a 1980 Ford Mustang that he put forward as a "classic." It's nice he felt so proud. But someone noted to me that the 1980 Mustang was really not a well-built car. 

Me? I drove a 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado through the 1970s! I could not have been prouder of that. My family acquired this true classic from Bill Dripps. Remember Bill's Oldsmobile place in downtown Morris? I sure do. Was close to the present-day Don's Cafe. Time goes on and we have to preserve these memories. 

Dad and I developed devotion to the Polaris line of snowmobile. They always did so well in the annual "Winnipeg to St. Paul" race. It was a company priority for Polaris. But as time passed I could sense that Polaris was being surpassed by "Arctic Cat" with its "patented" Torsion bar suspension. 

So much time has passed and I know that considerable engineering strides have been made with snowmobiles. I have not paid close attention in a long time. 

 

Sad but it's reality, at UMM

Why else might I be depressed on this arctic-like day in January? Well I simply have to be depressed by what is happening to our University of Minnsota-Morris. How could I not be depressed? C'mon, don't point fingers at me. Don't be blinded by such parochial thinking that we must be constant cheerleaders for UMM. If UMM were to warrant that kind of support, well terrific. 

But take a look at what is happening right at this time: "Symphonic Winds" in the UMM music program has bit the dust. That one example is enough to cite. So I won't belabor the overall point. 

Symphonic Winds is dead at UMM? To never present a concert again? It is absolutely true, not some delusion. The book is closed for what could be termed "UMM's band." My father directed the original UMM band in 1960-61. He obtained hand-me-down uniforms from the Twin Cities campus. I have heard the central campus also sent us instruments that were, shall we say, sort of worn out or "discards." But they meant well. The instruments just needed a little work, so I was told. 

My own photo of UMM in winter

And the UMM band made its first proud appearance at our armory in Morris when the armory was at the center of town. It was where the library is now. We were witnessing the birth of something new and exciting. The Morrison family greatly appreciated what this meant for Morris. 

When the Morrison family stepped forward as benefactors for UMM, specifically in connection to "Edson Auditorium," I felt I had to do the same and I did. And so did this lift up my reputation some in Morris? I had a flicker of a thought that maybe it would. 

But I grew doubtful. I had longstanding grievances about our public school system. I have zero regrets about that, how I came to despise the organized teachers union and how it behaved. So clannish, paranoid and scheming. Many years passed before these problems got tamped down. Today I'm quite comfortable with our public school. I have an active partnership with the instrumental music program. Sports has its bumps in the road but the overall attitude within the system seems healthy. 

Believe me I can remember a contrary tone. I could have gotten run right out of town. The worst scenario never happened. And I have the pride of my principles which supersedes everything, Kemosabe. 

But on this arctic-type day of early January, let me just say that I have no choice but to adjust my commitment to the U of M. And I will be speaking on the phone with a U person in the Twin Cities (Gotham) campus Monday. I wish I was not having to do that. But it's a no-brainer. 

 

Erosion

UMM music ensembles are henceforth going to be a combo of students and community. So we're in league now with Crookston. No more "symphonic winds." Say it ain't so. It most certainly is so. The kind of community people who will be in these groups have substantial personal wealth. They are upper-crusters. And so NO WAY do I need to be subsidizing this anymore. 

The purpose of the Ralph and Martha Williams Fund for the U is to support STUDENTS. And I most certainly will continue to point the family fund in that direction. But the focus will now be the Twin Cities campus. Good luck here in Morris where we can hear the coyotes out east of town. I tried hanging with UMM for as long as I could. Give me credit.

The red "Rupp" snowmobile

Addendum: I remember the Kussatz family had a "Rupp Sno-Sport" snowmobile. The Euls had the fairly rare green "Skiroule." The Bruns' had the Bolens "Sprint." The Pearsons were all-in with "Ski-Doo." We all had fun but as I look back, a lot of what I did was dangerous! I can even remember the TV commercial "jingles" for some of the snowmobiles. For Rupp: "Wake up your winter with fun." The Sno-Sport was red! I remember our old police chief Henry Hull saying to me one day at the restaurant: "We get more complaints about snowmobiles than anything."

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com