To me, when the pandemic started, it seemed easy out here in rural Minnesota to see it as something that wasn't going to impact us to any great degree. It seemed like the metro areas were a bigger concern and I thought (wrongly) that we'd be just fine out here on the prairie. Now, as we near the end of 2022, a lot has changed, and though the pandemic is still impacting many, our lives do seem to have settled in and, in some ways, returned to normal. That's the general consens

I came back to this blog today because it's the day before what should be Robert's 26th birthday. It's a day we always assumed we would be celebrating. When Robert was born we, like all new parents, felt that our new baby was the most special and beautiful new baby in the nursery (in the world) and we soaked in every special and every ordinary moment. We revelled in all the smallest details, how much he weighed, how long he was, the exact moment of his birth, the beauty of

This presentation was given to a composition class at Ridgewater College on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. A movie of Robert through the years played on the screen behind me. I could hear the soft music he played and occasionally his voice, both as a child and as an adult. I spoke, not because I wanted to, but because I felt I had to. I spent two days, putting my emotions into deep lockdown, and I managed to get through most of it without falling too far apart. We hope to have

It's been several months since I've written a blog and in the scheme of life for some that's a long time. For me, not so much, as one day blurs into another. I wake up breathing, which is always kind of a surprise and always kind of a disappointment. It's unbelievably hard. Everything in our lives is less exciting, less interesting. It seems there's little to look forward to because we've had our future taken from us. I can only believe that we're still breathing because we'r

It seems that so many are fighting against regulation against distracted driving - no one wants to take responsibility (the smartphone manufactures, the auto industry, individual drivers) and so many of us don't see to want regulation or toughening of laws because we think we can handle it. Thousands of lost lives later - How much proof do we need telling us we can't?!! Check out this website "Fairwarning", which publishes "news of safety, health and corporate conduct: ...

Yup! And Robert would have been totally psyched, even though I would imagine that he'd have been thigh high in some new venture - a new job, more schooling, teaching, playing gigs, getting married - who knows. We will never know. But what I do know is that Robert was a fierce fan of the University of Minnesota Marching Band. He was completely dedicated to his "Away from Home Family". His enthusiasm for this artistic sport was nearly unparalleled. He simply loved it! And toda

It's nearly August and that means lots of things to lots of people - there are the rural folks that begin to indulge in "all things fair" and the farmers that look forward to harvest. There's already ads all around us pleading with us to plan for the upcoming school year. There's the beautiful fall weddings, last of summer family trips, the upcoming orchard visits, moves to college, beginnings of new careers, closing of the cabin, replacing screens with storm windows and on a

There's a typical question. How many times in your life have you asked yourself the very same? We graduate high school and we want to know, "What do I do now?' We finish college and we wonder, "What do I do now?" We get married, have children, begin a new job, move to new state. The list goes on and on, but always we ask the question, we try to plan, we ask for advice, and we keep going forward. That is unless someone you love dies, or as in our case is killed. When that ha

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/04/18/dangers-of-distracted-driving (You may have to copy and paste this link to the original story to hear the full interview) From Issues MPR News Staff · April 18, 2016 Robert Brau was a popular member of the University of Minnesota marching band. He played the mellophone. He would have turned 23 this month. Instead, his mother Donna Brau will mark the second anniversary of his death this summer. He was killed in 2014 when another dri

It was Sunday, but not just an ordinary Sunday. It was Easter Sunday, but not just Easter Sunday. It was the day we brought Robert home from the hospital. Terry packed us up and strapped us into the car for the short drive. We stopped for a Sunday paper, which I had always loved to read, but it never even got a glance as baby life instantly overtook our little home. He was a wonder to behold, a happy, healthy baby with so much to look forward to. I cried all the way home ackn