Ray Harris here. Welcome to my life, so far. I have spent 95 whirlwind years on this planet, about 90 of which I have been making my own decisions of what to do and what not to do. The first five years I listened to my parents. For the most recent 90 years, I consider… Read More »
For several years, I’ve been writing a blog about Minneapolis and about my activities in Minneapolis during the 94 years that I’ve resided on this earth and in Minneapolis. During this time, Minneapolis offered a wonderful quality of life. During these years, Minneapolis also had many challenges – problems. I consider myself a problem solver… Read More »
I’ve written blogs about dogs – about people – about buildings and about my adventures during the 94 years that I’ve occupied space on this planet – So far, all of these blogs have been in the past, describing things that have already happened. This blog is going to be different – about something that… Read More »
In 1894, Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book in which he wrote of Mowgli (probably my new name), a little boy who was raised by wolves in the jungle. During that time, Mowgli learned self sufficiency and wisdom from the jungle animals. I feel a similar close relationship with the sixteen dogs who have shared… Read More »
As I sit in my trusty electric wheelchair, looking out the window, I am in awe, at my past – as it flashes in front of me – of what I’ve seen, what I’ve done – who I’ve known, what I’ve enjoyed and what I’ve tolerated. The good old times were mostly good. I think… Read More »
All of the subjects covered over the last couple of years in my “Been There, Done That. Took Notes.” Blog have covered my activities, mostly in Minneapolis. I’ve also written about some interesting aspects of Minneapolis which occurred during that same period but did not involve me directly. In all of these articles, I have… Read More »
I was born on March 25, 1929. Since that day, I have awakened 33,900 mornings, including 23 leap year days. Since I am a “morning” person, on almost all of those days, I have been eager to begin – to study, to work, to play. In October my kidneys, affected by diabetes, stopped pumping. I… Read More »
All of my blogs have related to the years during my professional career in Minneapolis. During these sixty plus years, the physical environment has changed greatly. Some of these changes to streets or parks or public buildings have been the result of public decisions and community needs. Most of the changes, however, have resulted from… Read More »
I was born in Eitel Hospital in Loring Park and now I live in the Kenwood – less than a mile away, not far in 93 years. But I doubt that anyone has ever seen and done more in every day, hour, minute and second. My hero, Don Quixote, and I are tilting at windmills… Read More »
The installation of the Interstate Highway System during the Eisenhower Administration caused major changes in urban areas throughout America; changes to our psyche, our lifestyles, and our physical environment. The massive roadway expansion cemented our love affair with the automobile – increasing our reliance on it for our groceries, our vacations, to travel to our… Read More »
Thanksgiving week has passed and Thursday, November 25th was Turkey Day for most Americans. However, my family did not celebrate in our traditional manner. My grandson Chet Holmgren, a 7’1″ basketball player, and his Gonzaga Team were playing two games in Las Vegas, Nevada with half of the family attending. Knowing this was scheduled, our… Read More »
Some of the people reading my blogs are asking and often I wonder why I have chosen to take on some of these risky and seemingly impossible projects and persist until success appears or, in very few cases, failures is the end result. After all, being self-employed, I have no one else to blame; I… Read More »
One of my favorite and most memorable books is Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. The book portrays the lives and travails of the Lilliputians, a mythical group of tiny people. A STRULDBRUG is an old and decrepit Lilliputian who keeps getting older and older but never dies! By the time you finish reading this post,… Read More »
My professional career in Minneapolis began in the late 1950s, almost sixty five years ago. I’ve been a part of many changes/improvements in Minneapolis – and I’ve been an interested spectator at many more. During that time, there are several persons who particularly influenced me and played a very important part in Minneapolis, as it… Read More »
The need for more affordable housing is one of the top priorities for every community in the United States. Minneapolis is no exception. City officials, developers, politicians, and community groups have consistently focused on this problem – a wide variety of efforts to mitigate this problem have been tried. New construction, rehabilitation, and rent control… Read More »
My memories are overflowing my memory bank again. Today I’m going to provide some interesting facts about Minneapolis that only a few of us can remember and have probably forgotten – and some Minneapolitans (of a younger age or originally from elsewhere) were never aware. Did you know – That the marvelous Sculpture Garden on… Read More »
In the early 70s when Douglas School was demolished, the future use of the site and the effect it would have on the surrounding area became a concern for the surrounding neighbors. The School Board wanted to sell the site – for a use supported by the neighborhood and one that would put the property… Read More »
The first development proposal for the 4 and 1/2 acre Dunwoody property in the Lowry Hill neighborhood was submitted to the City of Minneapolis and the Lowry Hill Homeowners organization (LHHO) in 1959 – more than 20 years of controversy and negotiations followed before the property was developed – to everyone’s satisfaction. Part One –… Read More »
The Berger Fountain One day when I returned from a peaceful stroll with my dog, I noticed my phone answering machine (this was before iPhones) was sputtering with a message from the irascible Martin Freidman – the Director of the Walker Art Center. “Mickey (his wife Mildred Freidman) and I need your help – Right… Read More »
Smoking and Matchbooks In the distant future when archaeologists explore landfills around Minneapolis, they will undoubtedly uncover some soggy packages containing unused “cancer sticks,” (now we know what they are) sometimes called cigarettes. At one time smoking cigarettes was widely accepted. “The Marlboro Man,” “I’d walk a mile for a Camel,” “Lucky Strike green has… Read More »