We recently had to say goodbye to a good friend, Rodney Nelson, who passed away at the age of 71 on the morning of Oct. 28 after a short battle with cancer.
- Rodney Nelson
Editor’s note: Please enjoy this Rodney Nelson column from 2018.
- Rodney Nelson
I have three young grandsons ranging in age from 18 months to a first grader. They look a lot like their dad and when their dad was a young boy he looked a lot like me. I suppose it is safe to say they may look a bit like me.
- Rodney Nelson
I have had little sympathy for out-of-state protesters that have disrupted life in North Dakota in recent times. I do wish I had been an out-of-state protester at Effie, Minn., July 24-26. Had I known what was happening I’d have tried to be there.
- Rodney Nelson
I like to eat like most people do, I am not especially fussy about what I eat. I do like almost anything you can slather with butter. I avoid very few foods, but abstain from tuna and any type of diet food. I try to stay fairly slim so I will not willfully eat any kind of low-calorie food. M…
- Rodney Nelson
I feel lucky to live where I do during this pandemic. Of course things are different, but my life is not dramatically different. I haven’t worn a mask and really haven’t paid too much attention to social distancing. Crowds have been light here at Sims due to not much to protest about.
- Rodney Nelson
Things have been tense around Sims since last year, but recent events have made for lighter hearts.
- Rodney Nelson
It is fun to stumble onto a pleasant surprise. I love to find a book of special interest to me. A friend recently told me I should read a book called Ever The Land by [Ruben Parson]. I bought the book and didn’t read it for a long time. I wasn’t crazy about the cover and it was another immig…
- Rodney Nelson
I had an idea for a column but I had to do a little research so I dug into some boxes that have been sitting here for years. The stuff I found really bogged me down. I found lots of very old pictures, newspaper clippings, and old magazines that had articles about old friends and old relative…
- By RODNEY NELSON
The pandemic has affected all of us but I am impressed that North Dakotans, who are used to freedom, have tried so hard to abide by the rules to avoid spreading the virus. People have indeed stayed at home and maintained distance from each other.
- By RODNEY NELSON
I can still hear my dad say, “One thing about ranching, no matter how bad things get, we still have work we can do.”
- By RODNEY NELSON
I’m not much of a texter. I’d rather have a conversation with someone. I often enjoy conversations with people I don’t know.
- By RODNEY NELSON
A flat tire is aggravating anywhere but on I-94 20 miles west of Fargo it is really aggravating. Things were going great and I was heading home at 75 miles an hour, confident I’d be home in daylight when my pickup shuddered violently with a blown tire.
- By RODNEY NELSON
I haven’t been very popular in Sims lately, as I left the Missus home alone for a week when I went to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nev. She grumbled before I left, “Have fun in Elko where people think you’re great.”
- By RODNEY NELSON
I wonder how everyone is doing with their New Year’s resolutions. I usually try to think of something I should do or avoid doing in the New Year. Many people think losing weight would be a good thing to do. A person can gain a lot of weight from Halloween candy, Thanksgiving and Christmas fe…
- By RODNEY NELSON
It was D Dub’s fault for mentioning Lonesome Dove to me. He said he felt the urge to read it again. It had been long enough for both of us so, unable to find a copy in my bookshelves, I quickly bought a used copy.
- By RODNEY NELSON
I couldn’t believe it when Dad proudly told me he had bought me a new car.
- By RODNEY NELSON
There are always new fads showing up. In my life I have observed lots of fads in clothing styles, haircuts, jewelry, shoes, and other things. Most fads have been of short duration.
- By RODNEY NELSON
The high school rodeo season has started. I like to go to a high school rodeo now and then to see how the kids are doing. Kids are like they were when I was a kid. Some kids have talent and take the sport seriously and some are there just so they can say they rodeo. The biggest change I can …
- By RODNEY NELSON
It has been a frustrating year to put up hay at Sims. Blessed with plenty moisture, we are also blessed with plenty mole or gopher holes. Making an average round requires crawling off the tractor to pull giant muddy boogers off the guards. Not being blessed with unlimited patience, I have be…
- By RODNEY NELSON
Every year there is news coverage about the running of the bulls in Spain, where thrill seekers flock to Spain to run with the bulls. I am willing to bet no cattle rancher in the United States makes a special trip to Spain to run with the bulls. Ranchers have plenty of trouble with bulls at …
- Rodney Nelson
Two thousand-seventeen could go down as the year of no weeds as far as Sims is concerned. Weeds usually find a way to grow despite a lack of rainfall. Areas where cattle are fed often have weeds six feet tall by this time of year. They are less than knee high this year.
- Rodney Nelson
I guess I can't say it hasn't rained here at Sims. As of July 11 we have had 2.77" of rain since April 1 and it rained 13 times to get that much. We have an accurate rain gauge, and do not lie about our rainfall.
- Rodney Nelson
As I write this I am nearly at the end of my mandatory do-nothing month. At first, the thought of not being allowed to do even simple physical movements was unsettling. I am really getting used to it. Now I am starting to dread the thought of working again as I have come to enjoy relaxing in…