Concerns after shooting and celebrations

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice steering committee.

It's Saturday morning June 14. I woke up making a list of my health issues. I've done that several times over the course of the last month in preparation for visits to doctors, physician assistants and physical therapists. Two items are noteworthy from my list. One is the re-occurrence of constant pain associated with my lumbar and cervical spine stenosis. I have resumed working with a physical therapist to determine if changes to my home PT program will stabilize my spine and help me regain my diminished functionality.
There is one new health concern on my list. It is officially called bilateral vestibular disorder which manifests as vertigo. I experience it as persistent light headedness. I have started working with another physical therapist who works with vestibular disorder patients with the goal of getting me accurately diagnosed and treated so I can regain functionality without attacks of vertigo.
In the background, I have my radio tuned to NPR news radio Weekend Edition. During a news break to programming, I hear that Governor Tim Walz will be holding a news conference regarding the shooting of Minnesota legislators around 9:30 a.m. I switch to a commercial television channel with a sense of heightened concern. Governor Walz reveals that someone posing as a police officer entered the home of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman in Brooklyn Park where he shot and killed her and her husband, Mark. In addition, earlier in the night the same person entered the home of state Senator John Hoffman in Champlin where he shot him and his wife, Yvette, adding that at the moment the Hoffmans were in surgery at a hospital.
This news has left me feeling devastated. You see for years during my retirement (thanks to Twin Cities PBS) I have been able to watch the MInnesota Legislative Session each election cycle. From this vantage point I have gotten to know these legislators. When Melissa Hortman was elected Speaker of the Minnesota House I had a feeling she might make a lasting impact and she did not disappoint. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am devastated by what has happened to you, your husband, Senator Hoffman and his wife. I can't say enough positive things about Speaker Emerita Hortman and Senator Hoffman.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STAY SANE?
Once a month via Zoom I participate in the SEIU Healthcare for Minnesota and Iowa Political Leaders meeting. Each meeting starts out with participants being asked by the leader to tell how they are coping with all that's going on the world. When my turn came, my answer is I write, specifically a column that appears in two south Minneapolis neighborhood newspapers.
Greater Longfellow resident, Phillip Cryan, is on the staff of SEIU Healthcare of MN/IA and a facilitator of the Political Leaders meeting. He stated that one of the ways that he stays sane is he reads Stories and Journeys by Donald L Hammen in the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger. Its always nice to know the column has readership.
If you have read this far you have taken the plunge into the river(flow) of life experiences that is Stories and Journeys. I ask you what are you doing to stay sane and remember the beloved Melissa Hortman? Tell yourself, tell others or tell me via tesha@tmcpub.com. 

CELEBRATING UJJWAL AND THE CREW THAT DELIVERS THE MESSENGER TO MY HOUSE
It was the last Friday of May. I was sitting in my front yard reading the May Messenger. A van pulled up in front of my house. The driver wanted to know where I got the paper. I said it's the May Messenger; do you happen to have a June Messenger? He proceeded to hand deliver to me the June Messenger. I proceeded to show him the page where he could find Stories and Journeys. What followed was a conversation about the newspaper delivery experience with me reliving the days decades ago when I delivered the Des Moines Register and Tribune. Ujjwal and his crew are my kind of people. If I could physically do a route, I would do it.

MY TASK OF LIFE COMPLETION
When I was working I used to think I was going to work forever until I developed lumbar and cervical spine stenosis. Turns out this was my body telling me that I couldn't work forever which lead me to something called retirement. Lately I have been acting as if I am going to live forever. Now my body is reminding that I am not going to live forever and that my primary task is life completion. In the meantime....

ELDER VOICES (TELLING OUR STORIES/SHARING OUR JOURNEYS)
Next meet up is July 25, 2025, 10-11 a.m. at Turtle Bread, 4205-E. 34th St. Look for the table with the Elder Voices sign.
In gratitude and solidarity with all living beings in these uncertain times.
Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice Board of Directors.