<< BackLetters - Spring 2010
River Reverie
Jennifer Vogel’s essay about living on the bank of the Mississippi River made me homesick [“Beached,” Winter 2010]. When I was growing up in Minnesota, my family moved three times but always settled in a town on or near the Mississippi, including Little Falls and Sauk Rapids. We vacationed in Itasca, near the headwaters, and on Lake Pepin. Later in my life I lived in St. Louis.
To me the Mississippi is like the ocean, so powerful and unstoppable. Every day it looks different and brings something else into view—every kind of boat and boater you can imagine, enormous tree limbs with branches sticking up like sails and birds perched on them, lunch coolers, umbrellas.
Now I live in the desert. But reading about the mighty Mississippi was like a nice, cool drink.
June Bednars (B.A. ’54)
Scottsdale, Arizona
In Awe of Apples
Before I saw the article about SweeTango in your magazine [“Get a Load of this Apple,” Winter 2010], I had heard about them and was lucky enough to buy a few of the new apples at Lunds. They didn’t last long in the store or in our fruit bowl at home. Delicious! I’ve never tasted an apple like this anywhere, ever.
Then I saw your magazine article and was interested to learn about the SweeTango’s parentage and about all of the apples born and bred at the University going back more than 70 years. My mouth is watering in anticipation of next year’s SweeTango harvest and in imagining how the U will top that apple. Nice work!
Tom Driscoll (B.S. ’67)
Minneapolis
A Model U Student
Great article about Kelli Blankenship in the Winter 2010 issue of Minnesota [“Intrepid”]. A true student athlete and very successful at each. The school needs more like her.
Jim Riehle (B.S. ’66)
Hayden Lake, Idaho
A Lesson for the Ages
Thank you for the article by Tim Brady, reviving the story about the federal work study program launched at the University of Minnesota during the Great Depression [“Students for Hire,” Winter 2010]. Educating as many young people as possible—that is, making it possible for young adults to afford a college or other post-secondary education—does not only benefit those individuals, the entire country is better off for it. That was true in the 1930s and ’40s and still is today. Let’s not allow today’s and tomorrow’s leaders to forget that lesson.
Jeanette Girard
Minneapolis
On Behalf of Miners
Very nice Editor’s Note, “When the Dust Settles”! [May–June 2009, about the Minnesota Taconite Lung Health Partnership]. I represent miners on the western Mesabi Range and am the son and grandson of miners and want you to know that I appreciate the good work the U is doing. Finally, we will get “unfiltered” info on our health problem.
State Representative Tom Anzelc
Balsam Township, Minnesota
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