Column: Pat  Mulso, Preserving the Past

October seems almost like a blur it went by so quickly. Starting out the month with the week-long research trip to Salt Lake City and then back for 10 days filled with meetings and general operating tasks. I attended the annual 4-H award banquet as I am a member of the Freeborn County Extension Committee. It is always a pleasure to hear about the outstanding achievements of our local youth. Unfortunately I missed most of the evening after spilling a cup of coffee that left me with second-degree burns on my left leg and minor burns on my right leg. As a result of this accident it put into perspective what was important and what is not in a big hurry. I had been worrying about when I was going to find time to purchase a new outfit to wear to my son’s wedding the following weekend, now suddenly that didn’t seem too important. I was now concerned whether I would be able to go and if so what would I even be able to stand to have on. I called my son and he said don’t worry about what you wear; we just hope you can still be here.

My husband and I left a few days later to attend a workshop in Lake Benton for the Travelling Exhibit we will be hosting here at the museum starting Dec. 22, through Feb. 12, 2012. The Exhibit is called “Electrifying Minnesota.” From Lake Benton we headed west to Montana. Needless to say Arnie did all the driving on the way out and I sat with a pillow on my lap to keep from putting any pressure on my legs. We stopped to visit with our grandchildren, Dylan and Morgan; they were getting ready to move to Ohio that very weekend, so was good to see them again before they left South Dakota. We drove as far as Gillette, Wyo., the first night and then into Bozeman, Mont., on Friday. We were able to visit with Matt and deliver to their apartment and storage some of the items we have been storing for the past couple of decades and then take Matt and Kris out for dinner.

The wedding took place on Saturday afternoon in Yellowstone National Park in the Roosevelt Lodge area by the Horse Barns, where Matt and Kris met about 11 1/2 years ago. They wrote their own vows and it was quite evident that they are best friends and make each other very happy. The day was clear; there was snow on the mountain tops in the background and the setting was certainly perfect for these two outdoor lovers.

We took photos and then headed for Gardiner where they had rented the Community Hall for their reception. We would be staying in Gardiner for the night. They had invited friends they had worked with at Yellowstone — they are as close as many families, for 10 years they had worked together and many came right from high school or college and then stayed in the area. I certainly understand the song now — “Big Montana Sky” — the sky is definitely beautiful and the mountains are majestic with the snow glistening in the distance. Two years ago, Oct. 27, is when Matt was injured in an accident while working at Yellowstone National Park, but he has a resilient attitude and continues to enjoy the wonders of the area, even though he is still recovering from the accident.

He and Kris are making their home in Belgrade, Mont. Kris works as a vet tech in Belgrade and Matt is employed by Hilton Hotels in Bozeman, Mont. And there dog, Keno is well cared for and takes them on daily hikes.

We are busy at the museum preparing for the holidays. We will be having our second annual “Village Light Stroll” on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. We are asking a $1 donation for adults, children are admitted free with an adult. Please plan on joining us to take a step back in time and enjoy the lights and maybe sit by the campfire and tell stories about a Christmas past. It is the season to take time for your family and make memories as we thank God for all our blessings.

We are also moving forward with our plans for the museum building expansion. You will be seeing some things going on this fall as we prepare to break ground in the spring. We have been working to correct some drainage problems, the site has been surveyed and we are removing some trees to make room for the addition. We hope that as you take a look at your yearend finances that you will consider making a tax deductible contribution to the FCHM Building Expansion Fund. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call or stop by the museum. We need everyone to contribute what they can to make the addition a reality! All donations are appreciated. Have a great week and don’t eat too much turkey next week!