Dear Dave, I have begun this letter in the same way since the mid seventies, Dave. Back then, you had moved to Fordville, North Dakota and were working as a mechanic. At the time. we would only occasionally correspond because we could also visit if you came home on the weekend. You eventually met your wife, Mary, and moved to New Rockford which is when we wrote letters more often, Mary also became a pen pal.
These letters have always been a simple means of communication, much like our fairly regular Sunday night phone calls.
I can even remember hooking the clamp from the television antenna to my walkie talkie so we could communicate on the Citizens Band frequency when you went back to Fordville on the weekends. I guess the need to communicate was always the same, just a little different method. Long-distance telephone calls were once a luxury and now are included with most phone plans but nothing delivers the message like a letter; so here you go.
Based on the time of year, my assumption is that planter and sprayer clinics at area ag dealerships and other branded-baseball-cap and catered lunch opportunities are done for 2024, Dave. We had a transition workshop for farmers this winter and a private pesticide workshop that were both well-attended and enjoyable. I know you have been hosting clinics and getting equipment serviced and ready for the area farmers. It’s time now to nervously wait for the ground to warm up and consider the duality of emotion that it isn’t muddy at planting time while still wishing for a nice rain just as you plant the last seed and are headed for the shop.
We are in the middle of preparation for a tree planting project, Dave.
It seems we are losing all of those nice shelterbelts of trees. These trees slow wind which reduces erosion in the warm months and drifting in the winter. We also removed a lot of buckthorn last year and need to replace them with some trees that block the wind and snow. We are currently getting some land ready for new trees; mostly old pasture that saw little use. I spent last year removing the fence, picking brush and clipping grass. This spring, I trimmed the existing trees so I can drive a tractor close to them and now it will soon be time to dig up the area to plant the trees. Our plan is to plant plum trees and hackberry trees for wildlife and spruce trees and red derosier to catch snow and reduce wind.
Lisa and I were watching the CMT music awards while I wrote you this letter, Dave. This brand of country music is “not my tempo” but the performers seem nice. I think Lisa and I were very impressed by the intricate stage show that featured lush colors and beautiful graphics.I miss the time when Don Williams, sitting on a stool and singing his song was enough for us. Country music has always been on a pendulum but I would like to see it swing back to something a little more traditional. Hope all is going well for you, You’re little bro
