From the Editor

OCTOBER 2021 • VOLUME 16, ISSUE 10

PUBLISHER Steve Jameson

EDITOR Joe Spear

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Robb Murray

COPY EDITOR Kathy Vos

CONTRIBUTORS Bert Mattson Dan Greenwood Jean Lundquist Kat Baumann Leticia Gonzalez Ann Rosenquist Fee Pete Steiner Nell Musolf

PHOTOGRAPHER Pat Christman

PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey

ADVERTISING SALES Danny Creel Jordan Greer-Friesz Josh Zimmerman Theresa Haefner Tim Keech

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Barb Wass

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Christina Sankey

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Justin Niles

Mankato Magazine is published by The Free Press Media monthly at 418 South Second St., Mankato MN 56001.

To subscribe, call 1-800-657-4662 or 507-625-4451. $35.40 for 12 issues.

For all editorial inquiries, call Diana Rojo-Garcia 507-344-6305, or email drojogarcia@mankatofreepress.com.

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By Robb Murray

For the love of pets

Ihonestly can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have a dog.

In my earliest memories of life on the east side of St. Paul, there’s a little black fluffy dog named Jingles scampering around. I don’t know whatever happened to Jingles, and I guess I never thought to ask. I was a toddler. But I remember him.

Then there was Peanuts, also a little black dog. He used to run around the living room and I’d chase him. Invariably he’d run behind the couch, tucking himself safely away as I reached my little arms in vain to grab for him. One of my favorite family photos of all time is of my father sitting in his favorite La-Z-Boy with that pup sitting between his legs. Peanuts’ head is slightly cocked, looking at the camera.

They told me he ran away. I don’t remember being sad about it, but I do remember my sister Kelley working quickly to acquire a new family pet.

A family a few blocks away had a dog with a fresh litter of pups. Kelley knew the family and worked out a deal for us to get first crack. She had her eye on Coco, a beautiful brown mutt. But on the day she went to pick her up, Coco was being antisocial and wanted nothing to do with her. So she brought home Sadie the mutt instead.

Sadie was the GOAT. Perfect temperament. Loved everyone. Loyal to my dad, but happy to play with anyone and everyone. She loved to roam. In fact, Sadie would regularly make the rounds of the neighborhood. I’d be out playing with my friends a few blocks away and it wouldn’t be uncommon to see Sadie walk by, just doing her thing. This was back in the day when a friendly dog could roam, and you didn’t have to worry about persnickety neighbors calling animal control. It was a different time.

Next came Brandi, a cocker spaniel who loved to fetch balls and chew shoes. When my dad eventually had to put her down, I don’t think I’d ever seen him sadder. He wasn’t really a crier, but he cried that day. And so did I.

I was petless for several years until Boo Radley came along. Boo’s issues with thunder were too much for us to handle, though, so we rehomed him to a family that could take care of him better. It was hard, but it was what was best for Boo.

Then there is Henry. Henry T. Beagle, to be precise. (What does the T stand for? “The.”) He’s still with us, but it looks like Henry’s time may be winding down. He’s my best friend. I’ll be a mess for a while when he goes.

Of course, we can’t forget Mongo, the latest addition, who is a scrappy and spry 15-year-old Chihuahua-pug mix who acts like he’s a puppy. We’ve got him in charge of security. Takes his job very seriously.

And, of course, I must mention two others: Sister, the dog whose misbehaving exploits were welldocumented in The Free Press; and Edna, whose death left me sobbing at the vet and unable to really talk about even to this day … I’m actually having a hard time finishing this sentence.

For the people who have them, pets become an indelible part of our emotional well-being. For every Henry T. Beagle or Sadie, someone else out there has stories of best friends and GOATs that lit up their world the way my pets have lit up mine.

And that’s why we do the pet issue. Enjoy all these wonderful companions!

Robb Murray is associte editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at 344-6386 or rmurray@mankatofreepress.com.

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OCTOBER 14 & 15

This year’s conference is all virtual and still free! Links available at www.southcentral.edu/global. Learn about cultures from around the world with a special focus this year on Asian Culture. Hear from keynote speakers and participate in a variety of breakout sessions.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Minnesota Author Kao Kalia Yang Thursday, October 14

Kao Kalia Yang is an award-winning Hmong-American writer. She is the author of three memoirs The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir, The Song Poet, and Somewhere in the Unknown World. She has also written three children’s books: A Map Into the World, The Shared Room, and The Most Beautiful Thing. Kalia speaks with great intimacy, perspective, and grace on refugee and immigrant experiences, issues in literacy and education, race, class, and gender.

MORE INFORMATION southcentral.edu/global

An affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator. This material can be made available in alternative formats by contacting the Academic Support Center at 507-389-7222 or ds@southcentral.edu.