Generally Speaking – Columns

Guest Columnist

The Editor at the Voyageur Press asked me to contribute to the newspaper from time to time. He suggested comments on the All School Reunion (it was great) or other topics that I would be interested in. I replied with the list of activities I’m currently involved in and just how busy retirement really is.

I alluded to the fact that I’m really bogged down.

This past week I remembered my comment as we made our way onto our cranberry bog to look for the red and yellow berries. I was given knee-high boots and a walking stick to better access the bog. We crossed a few feet of open water by trying to step on grass clumps before reaching the soft, green mossy expanse. I try to take mental pictures of memorable scenes and this truly is one.

The September sky was so vividly blue. Bright sunshine made the nearby lake appear as if covered in diamonds. Fuzzy Tamarack trees stood tall in higher brushy areas. We made our way across the mattress-like carpet. I wonder if it is similar to walking on the deck of a schooner in a rough sea? I liked having large boots on as I felt they kept me from sinking below the surface.

We share this bog with deer and geese. The deer only venture out a third of the way, and the geese feed closer to the pond. That leaves the middle section to us. If there wasn’t a late spring frost or an early fall one, we usually can find enough cranberries to serve as sauce at holiday meals.

Bob wore waders and was able to kneel down while picking. I did the bend-and-stoop method for awhile, then gave up and just knelt to pick the berries on their string-like stalks. Water bubbled up and drenched my legs, but it wasn’t cold.

When you are eye-to-eye with a bog, you see just how active it is. The pitcher plants grow in clusters, their open mouths waiting for insects to arrive for dinner. Frogs are also looking for six-legged food and dive under the moss as I crawl near. I see a variety of other bugs and flies moving around their swampy world. Birds soar overhead.

We gathered our share of cranberries and stopped to admire the beautiful day. It’s fun to count just how many shades of green make up this environment.

Buckets and sticks in hand, we make our way back to shore and leave the rest of the crop to the legal residents.

Yes, I was bogged down. But it was wonderful.

For this story and more, pick up this week's Voyageur Press.

When Chandell was less than a year old, I noticed something was a little off. I kept telling myself that every child is different, and I can’t keep comparing her to other kids. But I knew in my heart that something was wrong.

Something was wrong, and my five-year-old daughter, Chandell, has autism. On Saturday, September 14, a group of friends from Cromwell attended the Autism Walk at Duluth Denfeld High School to support her and to get out awareness of this condition.

This 5K Autism Walk raises money that goes to local schools and facilities to help children with Autism. It was an awesome day. They had games for kids such as a slide, moonwalk, soccer, golf. They also had crafts and food and beverages for everyone. It was the most emotional walk I have ever been apart of.

Chandell was tested and the Autism diagnosed when she was two years old. It broke my heart to hear the specialist say your daughter has autism. It hurt me so bad that I laid on the couch for two days and cried.

I didn’t want to talk about it with anyone or to see anyone.

All I kept thinking was how my child was different and that she was going to get teased or stared at because of some of the things that she does. People can be ignorant, rude, and cruel.

The second day on the couch I remember my husband Tyson came up to me and saying, “So are you sad about Chandell?”

I gave him the “what do you think?” look and said, “Aren’t you?”

He said, “No. She is who she is, and I love her no matter what. We can’t change the fact that she has Autism.”

Tyson made me realize that he was right, and I needed to get off the couch and get the help my daughter needed.

So what if my child isn’t perfect, whose is?

From that day on we have been working with speech and occupational therapists and with neurologists. It is a lot of driving back and forth, but every bit helps. It is so worth it to see how much better she can talk and interact with people.

There are three distinctive behaviors with autistic children. They have difficulty with social interaction, repetitive behaviors, and obsessive interests.

If your child is having any signs of Autism or you think something just isn’t right, talk to your doctor about your concerns. Early detection is the key.

We want to thank our friends for coming with us that day. You will never know how much it means to us and our family.

So thank you Alicia, Heather, Taylor Jatkola, Taylor Jubie, and Allie Cahoon.

Thank you,
— Tyson, Christine, Drake and Chandell Warner
Cromwell, Minnesota

For this letter and more, pick up this week's Voyageur Press.