IN THE PHOTO, one of the few from his childhood, he is a slim blonde-haired almost 7-year-old standing in front of three of his four sisters.
One of my favorite photos of Randy: holding his 10-day-old granddaughter, Isabelle. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo April 2016.
Fast forward 53 years and he is a 60-year-old father of three and a new grandfather. He is my husband, Randy. And today he turns sixty.
We’ve known each other for more than half our lives. I often wonder how those decades have passed, snap, just like that and we are each now sixty.
Birthdays for me today are more reflective and less celebratory. Not that I don’t appreciate another year of life. Rather, I find myself thinking about the past.
I have heard through the decades stories from Randy’s past. He was born in North Dakota and moved with his family to central Minnesota in his early elementary years. As he tells it, in the one-room country schoolhouse he attended in North Dakota, students were kept in from recess one day due to coyotes roaming the schoolyard. I love that story.
While attending a Catholic school in Minnesota, he apparently misbehaved and was punished by a nun drilling her thumb into his skull. I don’t love that story.
And then there’s the story about the day my husband saved his father’s life. On Saturday, October 21, 1967, my father-in-law’s left hand was pulled into the spring-loaded roller of a corn chopper. Blades sliced off his fingers. The roller trapped his arm. Randy was with him. As his father screamed, the 11-year-old disengaged the power take-off and then ran along cow pasture and across swampland to a neighbor’s farm for help. Randy saved his dad’s life. I love that example of courage and calm exhibited by a young boy, my husband.
That trait of quiet, reassuring strength has continued throughout Randy’s life. Not much rattles him. It’s an admirable quality, especially in times of stress and difficulty. And, as we all know, life brings many struggles and challenges.
He is strong. Strong in his work ethic, his faith and his love of family.
Today I celebrate and honor the man I’ve loved for some 35 years. Happy birthday, Randy! And many more!
© Copyright 2016 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Sending Birthday wishes to you, Randy, along with heaps of blessings and, of course, many hugs. I do hope something special is on your agenda for today!!!!!! A wonderful sweet tribute, Audrey…………………….
Thanks for the wishes for Randy. Hopefully he will get calls from all of his kids. We’ll celebrate with Amber and Izzy visiting us on Saturday.
Happy Birthday to Randy.
Thank you for the wishes for my dear sweet husband.
beautiful, quietly moving post, Audrey.
wishing Randy a very happy birthday and to you both, many more years together with much joy.
Such sweet words, Marney. Thank you.
I love reading your posts…you are so conversational and always leave me with the feeling that I have just had coffee and a great visit with a good friend! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Loretta. That you feel this way about my writing style humbles me.
Al: Could be you holding baby?
On Wed, Oct 12, 2016 at 5:01 AM, Minnesota Prairie Roots wrote:
> Audrey Kletscher Helbling posted: ” IN THE PHOTO, one of the few from > his childhood, he is a slim blonde-haired almost 7-year-old standing in > front of three of his four sisters. Fast forward 53 years and he is a > 60-year-old father of three and a new grandfathe” >
Ronald, I assume Al is someone you know who could be a clone (in appearance) of Randy???
Tell him Happy Birthday from all of us and remind him that 60 is not all that old.
I will pass along your wishes, Greg. Thank you.
So, do you think 60 is the new 40 then?
Happy Birthday to Randy!
Thanks for the wishes for him, Valerie.
I just recently discovered your blog and being a Minnesota girl myself am enjoying it very much! So much so that I nominated you for a Liebster award! If you would like to accept and participate please follow this link. https://aparodyoflife.com/2016/10/12/read-all-about-it/
Welcome to Minnesota Prairie Roots! I’m always delighted to meet new readers. And thank you for the award. Even though I don’t follow through on these, I am humbled that you would choose Minnesota Prairie Roots.
Thanks for the blog birthday write-up. Thank-you to all the birthday well wishers. Randy
You are welcome, Randy. Can’t wait to taste the apple pie dessert.
Classic photos and sweet article, Audrey. Thanks!
Ah….
Happy Birthday Randy!!!
Happy Birthday wishes to Randy!
In your minds eye remember to reflect on the past, enjoy the present, and anticipate the future………………………
Great advice, Don.
Happy Birthday to Randy! Wish i could huff and puff and blow some warm southern air your way! Looks COLD up there!
Thank you for the birthday wishes for Randy. Yes, we woke to frost this morning.
Happy Birthday to your dear husband, what a lovely tribute. I did not realize the he and Rick’s birthdays are only a day apart. Rick’s is the 11th. How did you celebrate?
Well, a belated happy birthday to your sweet Rick.
We went out to eat last evening at Warehouse A, a new restaurant located in an historic building across from the Faribault Post Office. On Saturday, Amber and Izzy will be down to celebrate.
Happy birthday. Yes, Randy. 60 is young. I have a son who is 60, and a daughter who will be 62 Friday. Yes, 60 is young.
Thank you for your wishes for Randy. I will tell him he is young. And then I will tell myself the same thing.
Beautiful entry for a terrific big brother. Happy 60th birthdays to both of you this fall. I used to think 60 was old, but that was a long time ago. Now it’s just another year. Enjoy the year!
Thank you from both of us, Rosie.
Beautiful – Happy Birthday to Randy – love the photo of him with his granddaughter – I can see him having tea and playing ball and biking with her when she is older 🙂
Oh, yes, Izzy will probably have her grandpa doing all of those things.
A day late but still my best wishes to Randy. Nice reflective tribute and hope he had a great day.
Happy Birthday
I think he had a nice day. Not too much hoopla, just a treat at work (apple pie bars) and dinner out. Tomorrow he gets to celebrate with the granddaughter and her mommy.
A late Happy Birthday to Randy! Each birthday is cause to celebrate espically with our children and grand children. Love the photo of him holding the new baby.
Come and see us if you can. Love Uncle Robin and Aunt Dorothy
Thanks for the wishes for Randy. If only Randy had more than 10 vacation days annually, we’d consider a trip to Arkansas. But he doesn’t.