I grew up in a union household. My father was a union member and civil servant, running the motor pool at Fort Snelling in Minnesota. He instilled in me the understanding that when people band together for the good of all, the results include reasonable hours of work, holidays, health insurance, a life outside ofContinue reading “Labor Day Weekend 2023”
Author Archives: Kathleen Cassen Mickelson
August Languor
I love the word, “languor.” It’s indicative of everything I associate with late summer: the mood, the laziness, the inertia that always hits me about now, the desire to just lay around and do nothing. Or to meander around outside, listen, inhale, feel the calm of the overflowing garden, surprise a tiny bunny. August’s lullContinue reading “August Languor”
Oregon, Ocean, Mother-Daughter Time
Above my writing desk hangs a magnetic bulletin board on which I have photos of my kids, grandkids, partner, friends. One of my favorite pictures is of me with my daughter Abby when we went to New York City after she graduated from high school ten years ago. In the picture, we are each holdingContinue reading “Oregon, Ocean, Mother-Daughter Time”
Under Lake Superior’s Spell
A summer weekend in northern Minnesota is a time-honored tradition. There is always a lake nearby, with Minnesota’s more than 10,000 lakes. Lake Superior is my favorite, its water never completely still, its laps against the shore the best kind of late night lullaby. Loons call to each other, their eerie songs blending in withContinue reading “Under Lake Superior’s Spell”
Breathless in July
This summer has not been typical in Minnesota and I’m not spending as much time outside as I’d like thanks to the wildfire smoke drifting over all of us.
I Wonder. What if? Let’s Try.
Lately, I’ve been exchanging poems once a week with my friend Connie. These are not poems ready for public consumption; these are whatever I’ve generated over the previous week. Our agreement is to produce seven poems each and send them to each other every Wednesday. No worries about how raw they are, no pointing outContinue reading “I Wonder. What if? Let’s Try.”
For the Love of June
Welcome, summer! Yes, I know the summer solstice is still a few weeks away, but Minnesotans are in full summer mode. The gardens are bursting, the school year is wrapping up, we’ve put chairs outside so we can plop down and linger anytime we want. There’s nothing like living in a place that includes winterContinue reading “For the Love of June”
Sharing Mother’s Day
This year, my granddaughter Camille’s twelfth birthday fell on Mother’s Day. My son Shawn hosted a brunch to celebrate both the birthday and all things mother-related. All this mother/grandmother needed to do was show up with some breakfast sausage. And Camille’s birthday present, of course. In my head, Camille’s birthday got first billing. I’ve beenContinue reading “Sharing Mother’s Day”
Diary From A Restless Spring
This spring has been a restless time after a long, long winter. How do you work through creative restlessness? Read on.
Of Birds and Warm Weather
By the time this post is public, it’ll be chilly again here in Minnesota. We are in the midst of a heatwave as I write this on a Thursday afternoon, temperatures in the 80s with small piles of snow lingering in shady, hidden places. Two weeks ago, family from Wisconsin arrived on our doorstep; whenContinue reading “Of Birds and Warm Weather”
One Minnesota Crone 