That summer of \u201979 was the best ever, and one July evening I enjoyed my Golden Birthday on Kava\u2019s porch surrounded by a dozen new friends. Although only 6 months into my second go-around as a Minnesotan, I already had a best-imaginable circle of friends. I lucked into all this of course with a little pluck on my part.<\/p>\n
The luck was while still living in Philadelphia, but knowing I wanted to get back to Minnesota, I asked this guy I never knew before, Nick (who was from Minnesota, an activist in the co-op movement, and visiting a friend of a friend of mine in Philadelphia), who I should look up next time I got back to Minnesota \u2013 folks involved in left-wing politics. He gave me three names and I braved to call all three once I\u2019d settled back in Minnesota. Wow, it\u2019s almost like I owe my whole future fortunes to Nick. Those three names were great connections, heavy into politics, and, along with Nick, are still some of my best friends 33 years later.<\/p>\n
The pluck was volunteering for the St. Paul Tenants Union while I drove a cab and studied for the Bar Exam. The Tenants Union had an entry in the \u201cCooperative Commonwealth Co-Rec Softball League.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/a>And now Nick also enjoys playing ball<\/p><\/div>\n
We had no umpires, no firm rules – except to have fun (and an equal number of women players as men players) \u2013 and the 10 teams in the League were all from left-wing political groups \u2013 like the Lawyers Guild, Haymarket Press, May Day Bookstore, Minnesota CO-ACT, etc. And the team you played always went for a beer with you afterwards. Wow, was I lucky to meet such a huge great group so fast.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow: Baseball<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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No virus found in this message. Next stop Willmar That summer of \u201979 was the best ever, and one July evening I enjoyed my Golden Birthday on Kava\u2019s porch surrounded by a dozen new friends. Although only 6 months into my second go-around as a … Continue reading
\nChecked by AVG – www.avg.com<\/a>
\nVersion: 2013.0.3462 \/ Virus Database: 3658\/6913 – Release Date: 12\/12\/13<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"