March 31st………“GRANDPA, LOOKING BACK ON YOUR FATHER RUSSELL’S LIFE ON YOUR FARM THERE IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, DID YOU SEE HIM AS A HERO”?
POEM – “Our Paladin Prince” by N. Elliott Noorlun. Created June 13th, 2013
Circa 1944 and Russ Noorlun is riding a fine super steed at the Wally & Genevieve Mutschler farm near Kiester, MInnesota. Our paladin prince, Of the prairie plow,
Rode horse and Farmall red.
And the only “gun belt”, That Russ ever wore,
Were full of tools, To fix things instead.
Farming has many happy moments. Like running around the acreage in this old jalopy with Elliott’s Aunt Pat Noorlun. š In comic books, And movie screens,
The super heroes soar.
They adroitly exude, Amazing strength,
And endurance all the more.
In a sense, Elliott saw his daddy to be like Superman, in bib overalls, that is! š My farmer dad, That Norwegian lad,
Was a “Super Hero” to me,
Cause on that farm, No matter the harm,
His endurance was awesome to see!
Russ Noorlun riding his “steel steed” of a Farmall H while helping neighbors in their harvest. 1962. For there’s no sick leave, Or vacation leave,
And there are no substitutes to call.
Life is 24/7, There on the farm,
In Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall.
The swinging head of a cow caused Russ to land on his ribs against a manger, breaking three ribs. Poor Daddy! :o( Like the time Dad’s ribs got broken,
I heard his hollers and moans!
Mom wrapped him up tight, And later that night,
He milked our cows while holding those bones.
After milking 15 head of Holsteins by hand, the muscles in Russ’s hands cramped up very badly. Or the winter when we lost power,
In frigid blizzard conditions.
He milked cows by hand, Till he just couldn’t stand,
His pain-racked hand positions.
Easter Sunday, 1952. Clarice hugs the arm of her handsome Norwegian hero, Russ, while six year old Rosie took the photo. š This father of ours was human,
With frailties like all of us,
Yet for love of his family, And providing our needs,
He was SUPER FARMER RUSS to us!!! š
Elliott’s daddy, Russell, loved to laugh!! Such a Super Hero he was in Elliott’s young eyes and to this very day!! š
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Published by norwegianfarmersson
I may be only one oat seed in a field of millions, yet I have a story to share of beginnings on our beloved farm in southern Minnesota and beyond to life as I've seen it to this point. Famous? No. Gifted? Unlikely. Yet, I want to leave a legacy to my children and grandchildren of who this gentle Norwegian man was. My happy times, sad times, successes and failures. Someday, those who are tiny now, will have this volume to come to and get to know this Norwegian Farmer's Son.
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Published
February 16, 2021 July 24, 2021
Norwegian Farmer's Son 