After a five-hour drive and brief road trip spent in Minnesota, I headed south on highway 86 and found Northland Inn Motel which was in between Lake Park and Spirit Lake where I was to speak.

The next morning I drove toward Lake Park and was comforted by a digital sign outside Lake Park's Middle School that read: "Welcome Dr. Paul Mullen - Author." I've seen such school signs welcoming me many times now but I am still tickled by the nice friendly gesture.

I spoke to 150 K-5 students. I had the best umpire. I'd call him a reincarnation of Harry Karry without the wide-brimmed glasses. "Cubs win! Cubs win!" Every time a dispute was raised by a rather boisterous runner who actually head-dived on a hard gymnasium floor in his attempt to beat the forced double play, my young Harry rang up the batter to allow my skit to go by flawlessly.

My over ambitious batter did redeem himself though when I asked him what was the best bait to use to catch a catfish. With the wisdom of the old man in the sea, he said, "Chicken livers." I am always impressed by students who live in farming communities away from the bustling city crowds. I do feel that children in the country gain a better appreciation of the earth and what it has to offer at such a tender age.

My host, Deb Morrow, gave me a tour of the school which was once the high school. There was plenty of room for many more elementary students and I hope that parents will relocate to the charming community of Lake Park where their children will learn what I learned long ago: That chicken liver left in the hot sun to get ripe and really smelly does indeed catch the biggest catfish.