WOW--- What a birthday celebration. I never thought I would reach the magic age of 100, and occasionally I had small doubts over the years when I had the flu, or when the Covid popped up to scare me but all that is passed now, and my clock has turned over and I can begin with a new set of numbers just like an old car. My pedometer has been re-set and I’m ready to go again until something more serious turns up.

It’s hard to imagine how much work was put into my party by Dave and Val Bohmer, by Nona, and some of the bank force who also helped with me being only vaguely aware. So I am glad I wasn’t included. I had other things to do instead. It is strange to imagine at my age that I have deadlines, but I am glad I have. It keeps me busy. I have always tried to keep going with one thing or other, because if I have nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs I think of it as a waste of time.

We have the most interesting area here at Lake Scandi. Our back yard is where we keep the bird and squirrel feeders filled with feed. We have three kinds of squirrels. The Big Red, the big Gray and the small red. They are very entertaining and they are hungry so they are around during daylight hours. We also have birds. A lot of red wing blackbirds, some woodpeckers, little gold finches, Orioles and of course humming birds and doves.

On the lake side we have two Martin houses. They entertain us with their acrobatic flights while catching bugs in the air to feed their little ones. One morning over a cup of coffee, I saw a hawk swoop down and pick up a martin and fly off with it. I didn’t like that but what to do? The law protects hawks so we can’t shoot them, but we have heard that any bird feeding area is like a smorgasbord for a hawk. Darn it!

Last summer we stayed in Florida because of the Covid. We didn’t like to travel, so we stayed at home isolating ourselves, wearing masks, staying away from crowds and missed living in Brooten for the summer. As soon as we got our shots and the Covid lifted, we came back to Brooten and Scandi and are very happy to be here to get reacquainted with you our friends.

We again thank all of you who helped celebrate my birthday and the remodeling of the bank building, and hope both of us can keep on serving you with our best intentions, and remind you that we are a FIVE STAR BANK so we will do our best to make you happy. Right Dave?