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Family Stories -- by me

A potpourri of stories about various family members or events

Organized by topics

In this index, note that stories can have 1 or more topics assigned to them. At the end of each description, [yyyy-mm-dd] gives the date published; {abc; xyz} indicates topic assignments for the story. If you wish to see the listing in the order they were written, visit here.

1870s

Sesquicentennial of the Hibbard-Westurn Arrival
This longer post documents the arrival of the Hibbards and Westurns from NY to MN in 1871. Where were they? Why there? Why did they come? [2021-06-17] {family history; 1870s}

1910s

How My Paternal Grandparents Met
Was he courting tennis or Edna? [2021-02-13] {1910s; Grandparents}

1920s

How My Maternal Grandparents Met
If they differed in ages by 7 years, how did they meet at college? [2021-02-13] {1920s; Grandparents}

1940s

How My Parents Met
Connected to the ratio of women to men at SCSC in 1944? [2021-02-13] {1940s; parents}
Potentially a Last Photo
A family photo before my dad heads back for service [2021-01-21] {1940s; parents; grandparents; military}
Getting Milk
Karen recalls using a container to retrieve milk from the barn [2026-01-09] {Karen; JEH farm; 1940s}

1950s

Leaving Michigan
Explores thoughts about why we left Michigan [2021-01-09] {trip; home; 1950s}

1960s

Life in Our Trailer Home
The main focus is on the trailer that we lived in while at my grandfather's farmyard. This also hints at why we built a house in 1963. [2026-02-19] {Al, home, Parents+Siblings, 1960s}
First Call Answered
This describes my first time answering a telephone. [2026-01-26] {Al; 1960s, technology}
My State Fair Experiences
This has two main foci: my grandfather taking me to the MN State Fair in about 1963, and a visit about 40 years later to the IA State Fair when I took Christina. [2026-02-20] {Al, children, grandparents, 1960s, 2000s}
Hungry?
I share some of the advantages of living near my grandpa [2021-03-25] {Al; 1960s; 1970s; Grandparents}
Riding a bus for 8 years
This describes my school bus years [2025-06-26] {Al; education; 1960s; 1970s}
Memories from grades 1-12
The title suggests what this is about. [2025-08-30] {Al; education; 1960s; 1970s}
More about the hamster and the bear
Comments about previous post [2020-06-13] {Parents-siblings; trip; 1960s}
The hamster and the bear
An event on a trip to Yellowstone in 1967 [2020-06-12] {Parents-siblings; trip; 1960s}
So Many Flat Tires!
Al recalls his experiences in learning how to patch a flat bike tube [2026-01-22] {Al; biking; 1960s}
Overview of 1969 Trip East
MI, Ontario, Quebec, VT, MA, DC, PA were all visited [2021-02-14] {1960s; trip; parents+sibs}
I know which way to go
An experience at Expo 67 (in 1969) [2021-01-29] {1960s; Al; trip}
From Burlington to Mahnomen
From Burlington, VT, mom was called to return to Mahnomen [2021-02-06] {1960s; parents, grandparents, trip}
Rolling over (the odometer)
They all coincide: Travelall, 1969, Boston, 100K. [2021-01-14] {trip; 1960s}

1970s

Another Prison Story From Grandpa
Recollections about the Gray Stone College [2021-02-03] {1970s; Haven; grandparents}
Hungry?
I share some of the advantages of living near my grandpa [2021-03-25] {Al; 1960s; 1970s; Grandparents}
Need Something To Do?
This relates to a story that my grampa told us several times if he thought we were bored. [2021-03-25] {1970s; Grandparents}
Riding a bus for 8 years
This describes my school bus years [2025-06-26] {Al; education; 1960s; 1970s}
Memories from grades 1-12
The title suggests what this is about. [2025-08-30] {Al; education; 1960s; 1970s}
How Marcia and I Met
It was in the chemistry (class) [2021-02-14] {1970s; Al; Marcia; Education}
Blow up the Calculator!
How to get your calculator to blow up! How does one do this, and what does this even mean? [2025-08-25] {Al; education; 1970s}
Roadside Treat(s)
An encounter in 1977 on my bike around Lake Superior [2021-06-01] {Al; biking; 1970s}
Our Wedding Day
A description of our wedding day [2025-06-03] {Al; Marcia; 1970s}
Tim's Birth
Story of Tim's birth [2021-05-28] {children; 1970s}

1980s

Carrie’s birth
This briefly tells the story when Carrie was born [2021-03-11 - finished on 2/22 but not officially "posted" until later - Sorry, Carrie] {children; 1980s}
Bearly not intersecting
An event at the cabin when kids were young [2025-07-17] {Al family; cabin; 1980s}
A Fender Bender in South Bend
Can you guess what this is about? [2025-09-01] {Al's family; 1980s}
Do you weigh us before and afterwards?
A morning in the fields outside of South Bend, IN [2021-06-04] {Al family; 1980s}

1990s

Christina's Birth
Story of Christina's birth and naming [2021-04-13] {children; 1990s}

2000s

My State Fair Experiences
This has two main foci: my grandfather taking me to the MN State Fair in about 1963, and a visit about 40 years later to the IA State Fair when I took Christina. [2026-02-20] {Al, children, grandparents, 1960s, 2000s}
Marcia making the rounds
This briefly tells the story of how a friendship at church turned into Marcia choosing to regularly visit the elderly. [2021-03-09] {Marcia; 1990s; 2000s}

2010s

Thinking outside the box
The title is the punch line [2021-02-19] {2010s; grandchildren}
What does a dying person look like?
Marcia and I had a surprise when she initiated starting home hospice care. [2025-08-08] {Marcia; health; 2010s}
The Beginning of the End
This describes Marcia's last meeting with her oncologist. [2025-08-05] {Marcia; health; 2010s}
Marcia and her cannabis experiment
After using morphine to deal with cancer pain, Marcia explored using cannabis. This describes this process and the results. [2025-08-04] {Marcia; health; 2010s}

2020s

Why do you walk everywhere?
My answer to the question posed by a granddaughter [2021-02-11] {2020s; Al; grandchildren}
From dock to dock
During Aug. 6-7, I took out one dock and put in another. [2025-08-08] {Al; cabin; 2020s}
Binary Birthday Blast
This describes a recent birthday celebration using candles whose position gave a binary representation of my age. Thanks Tim T. [2026-01-24] {Al; 2020s}

Al

Life in Our Trailer Home
The main focus is on the trailer that we lived in while at my grandfather's farmyard. This also hints at why we built a house in 1963. [2026-02-19] {Al, home, Parents+Siblings, 1960s}
My State Fair Experiences
This has two main foci: my grandfather taking me to the MN State Fair in about 1963, and a visit about 40 years later to the IA State Fair when I took Christina. [2026-02-20] {Al, children, grandparents, 1960s, 2000s}
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
My hair, yesterday, today, and tomorrow [2021-02-12] {Al}
Homes where I lived
This gives a brief description of the homes where I have lived (for at least 3 months) [2025-06-25] {Al; home}
First Call Answered
This describes my first time answering a telephone. [2026-01-26] {Al; 1960s, technology}
Riding a bus for 8 years
This describes my school bus years [2025-06-26] {Al; education; 1960s; 1970s}
Around the Next Curve
A wild goose chase? [2022-06-17] {Al; cabin; 1960s; biking}
So Many Flat Tires!
Al recalls his experiences in learning how to patch a flat bike tube [2026-01-22] {Al; biking; 1960s}
I know which way to go
An experience at Expo 67 (in 1969) [2021-01-29] {1960s; Al; trip}
How Marcia and I Met
It was in the chemistry (class) [2021-02-14] {1970s; Al; Marcia; Education}
Blow up the Calculator!
How to get your calculator to blow up! How does one do this, and what does this even mean? [2025-08-25] {Al; education; 1970s}
Roadside Treat(s)
An encounter in 1977 on my bike around Lake Superior [2021-06-01] {Al; biking; 1970s}
Our Wedding Day
A description of our wedding day [2025-06-03] {Al; Marcia; 1970s}
Why do you walk everywhere?
My answer to the question posed by a granddaughter [2021-02-11] {2020s; Al; grandchildren}
Binary Birthday Blast
This describes a recent birthday celebration using candles whose position gave a binary representation of my age. Thanks Tim T. [2026-01-24] {Al; 2020s}

Al's family

Bearly not intersecting
An event at the cabin when kids were young [2025-07-17] {Al family; cabin; 1980s}
A Fender Bender in South Bend
Can you guess what this is about? [2025-09-01] {Al's family; 1980s}
Do you weigh us before and afterwards?
A morning in the fields outside of South Bend, IN [2021-06-04] {Al family; 1980s}

Biking

So Many Flat Tires!
Al recalls his experiences in learning how to patch a flat bike tube [2026-01-22] {Al; biking; 1960s}
Roadside Treat(s)
An encounter in 1977 on my bike around Lake Superior [2021-06-01] {Al; biking; 1970s}

Cabin

Around the Next Curve
A wild goose chase? [2022-06-17] {Al; cabin; 1960s; biking}
Bearly not intersecting
An event at the cabin when kids were young [2025-07-17] {Al family; cabin; 1980s}
From dock to dock
During Aug. 6-7, I took out one dock and put in another. [2025-08-08] {Al; cabin; 2020s}

Camping

How NOT to clean a cast iron pan
A third-grader's experience with a cast iron pan [2021-06-09] {Al; camping; 1960s}

Children

Tim's Birth
Story of Tim's birth [2021-05-28] {children; 1970s}
Carrie’s birth
This briefly tells the story when Carrie was born [2021-03-11 - finished on 2/22 but not officially "posted" until later - Sorry, Carrie] {children; 1980s}
My State Fair Experiences
This has two main foci: my grandfather taking me to the MN State Fair in about 1963, and a visit about 40 years later to the IA State Fair when I took Christina. [2026-02-20] {Al, children, grandparents, 1960s, 2000s}
Christina's Birth
Story of Christina's birth and naming [2021-04-13] {children; 1990s}
Babysitting from the Grandparents
This tells the experiences that Marcia and I had in having our parents babysit for our children. [2021-03-11] {children; parents}

Cousins

Getting Milk
Karen recalls using a container to retrieve milk from the barn [2026-01-09] {Karen; JEH farm; 1940s}
Around the Next Curve
A wild goose chase? [2022-06-17] {Al; cabin; 1960s; biking; cousins; siblings}

Education

Riding a bus for 8 years
This describes my school bus years [2025-06-26] {Al; education; 1960s; 1970s}
Memories from grades 1-12
The title suggests what this is about. [2025-08-30] {Al; education; 1960s; 1970s}
How Marcia and I Met
It was in the chemistry (class) [2021-02-14] {1970s; Al; Marcia; Education}
Blow up the Calculator!
How to get your calculator to blow up! How does one do this, and what does this even mean? [2025-08-25] {Al; education; 1970s}

Family History

We are Immigrants
Immigrant status of my 8 great-grandparents [2021-01-19] {family history}
Sesquicentennial of the Hibbard-Westurn Arrival
This longer post documents the arrival of the Hibbards and Westurns from NY to MN in 1871. Where were they? Why there? Why did they come? [2021-06-17] {family history; 1870s}

Grandchildren

Thinking outside the box
The title is the punch line [2021-02-19] {2010s; grandchildren}

Grandparents

How My Paternal Grandparents Met
Was he courting tennis or Edna? [2021-02-13] {1910s; Grandparents}
How My Maternal Grandparents Met
If they differed in ages by 7 years, how did they meet at college? [2021-02-13] {1920s; Grandparents}
Potentially a Last Photo
A family photo before my dad heads back for service [2021-01-21] {1940s; parents; grandparents; military}
Sayings From Grandpa
This consists of a (growing) list of sayings that Grandpa Jesse used to tell others. [2026-02-21] {grandparents}
A Prison Story From Grandpa
Moving sawdust? [2021-02-02] {grandparents}
My State Fair Experiences
This has two main foci: my grandfather taking me to the MN State Fair in about 1963, and a visit about 40 years later to the IA State Fair when I took Christina. [2026-02-20] {Al, children, grandparents, 1960s, 2000s}
Hungry?
I share some of the advantages of living near my grandpa [2021-03-25] {Al; 1960s; 1970s; Grandparents}
From Burlington to Mahnomen
From Burlington, VT, mom was called to return to Mahnomen [2021-02-06] {1960s; parents, grandparents, trip}
Another Prison Story From Grandpa
Recollections about the Gray Stone College [2021-02-03] {1970s; grandparents}
Need Something To Do?
This relates to a story that my grampa told us several times if he thought we were bored. [2021-03-25] {1970s; Grandparents}

Health

What does a dying person look like?
Marcia and I had a surprise when she initiated starting home hospice care. [2025-08-08] {Marcia; health; 2010s}
The Beginning of the End
This describes Marcia's last meeting with her oncologist. [2025-08-05] {Marcia; health; 2010s}
Marcia and her cannabis experiment
After using morphine to deal with cancer pain, Marcia explored using cannabis. This describes this process and the results. [2025-08-04] {Marcia; health; 2010s}

Home

Leaving Michigan
Explores thoughts about why we left Michigan [2021-01-09] {trip; home; 1950s}
Life in Our Trailer Home
The main focus is on the trailer that we lived in while at my grandfather's farmyard. This also hints at why we built a house in 1963. [2026-02-19] {Al, home, Parents+Siblings, 1960s}
Homes where I lived
This gives a brief description of the homes where I have lived (for at least 3 months) [2025-06-25] {Al; home}

JEH Farm

Getting Milk
Karen recalls using a container to retrieve milk from the barn [2026-01-09] {Karen; JEH farm; 1940s}

Marcia

How Marcia and I Met
It was in the chemistry (class) [2021-02-14] {1970s; Al; Marcia; Education}
Our Wedding Day
A description of our wedding day [2025-06-03] {Al; Marcia; 1970s}
Marcia making the rounds
This briefly tells the story of how a friendship at church turned into Marcia choosing to regularly visit the elderly. [2021-03-09] {Marcia; 1990s; 2000s}
What does a dying person look like?
Marcia and I had a surprise when she initiated starting home hospice care. [2025-08-08] {Marcia; health; 2010s}
The Beginning of the End
This describes Marcia's last meeting with her oncologist. [2025-08-05] {Marcia; health; 2010s}
Marcia and her cannabis experiment
After using morphine to deal with cancer pain, Marcia explored using cannabis. This describes this process and the results. [2025-08-04] {Marcia; health; 2010s}

Military

Potentially a Last Photo
A family photo before my dad heads back for service [2021-01-21] {1940s; parents; grandparents; military}

Misc

Skating
Skating is a MN winter activity [2021-01-15] {misc}

Parents

How My Parents Met
Connected to the ratio of women to men at SCSC in 1944? [2021-02-13] {1940s; parents}
Potentially a Last Photo
A family photo before my dad heads back for service [2021-01-21] {1940s; parents; grandparents; military}
From Burlington to Mahnomen
From Burlington, VT, mom was called to return to Mahnomen [2021-02-06] {1960s; parents, grandparents, trip}
Babysitting from the Grandparents
This tells the experiences that Marcia and I had in having our parents babysit for our children. [2021-03-11] {children; parents}
Some of Dad's Photos
the title says it all [2021-01-18] {parents}
Sometimes Plan B is Better
This explores the consequences of the decision to be in Fargo for 4 years [2021-01-16] {parents}

Parents+Siblings

Life in Our Trailer Home
The main focus is on the trailer that we lived in while at my grandfather's farmyard. This also hints at why we built a house in 1963. [2026-02-19] {Al, home, Parents+Siblings, 1960s}
More about the hamster and the bear
Comments about previous post [2020-06-13] {Parents-siblings; trip; 1960s}
The hamster and the bear
An event on a trip to Yellowstone in 1967 [2020-06-12] {Parents-siblings; trip; 1960s}
Overview of 1969 Trip East
MI, Ontario, Quebec, VT, MA, DC, PA were all visited [2021-02-14] {1960s; trip; parents+sibs}

Siblings

Around the Next Curve
A wild goose chase? [2022-06-17] {Al; cabin; 1960s; biking; cousins; siblings}

Technology

First Call Answered
This describes my first time answering a telephone. [2026-01-26] {Al; 1960s, technology}

Trips

Leaving Michigan
Explores thoughts about why we left Michigan [2021-01-09] {trip; home; 1950s}
More about the hamster and the bear
Comments about previous post [2020-06-13] {Parents-siblings; trip; 1960s}
The hamster and the bear
An event on a trip to Yellowstone in 1967 [2020-06-12] {Parents-siblings; trip; 1960s}
Overview of 1969 Trip East
MI, Ontario, Quebec, VT, MA, DC, PA were all visited [2021-02-14] {1960s; trip; parents+sibs}
I know which way to go
An experience at Expo 67 (in 1969) [2021-01-29] {1960s; Al; trip}
From Burlington to Mahnomen
From Burlington, VT, mom was called to return to Mahnomen [2021-02-06] {1960s; parents, grandparents, trip}
Rolling over (the odometer)
They all coincide: Travelall, 1969, Boston, 100K. [2021-01-14] {trip; 1960s}