We need some introductions…

Hey there. I’m Bjorn. By day, I teach psychology at a community college in northwest Minnesota. The rest of the time, I’m a woodworker, writer, raconteur, cook, lover of the outdoors, hunter, fisher, problem solver, and all around funny guy. I’ve also spent 32 years as a camp counselor, and this past January, I retired from being a lifeguard after 40 years. I’m a Marine veteran and a widower.

This is Rastmus the Ginger Goon. He’s been my best boy since November 17, 2019, when my Marine sister Gina told me that I needed a dog and she paid half the adoption fees to get me off my ass. Rast is 1/2 boxer, and the other half is a mix of German shepherd, Rottweiler, mastiff, and husky. I like to say he’s 100% American dumbass. He pretty much loves everyone and will either lick you to death or beat you with his happy tail…sometimes both at the same time.

Mona is my 1976 Jeep Cherokee S. She’s Mojave white over firecracker red and will soon be sporting my Marine Veteran plates. She has a rebuilt 360 cc V8 under the hood and a Quad-Trac full-time 4×4 automatic transmission. She’s named after a friend of mine who I went to school with in Norway — another lady with firecracker red hair. Who knows — maybe she’ll give me a picture to share here, too.

This picture has five of the characters of my stories. You’ve already met Rast, and he’s next to Wendi, who’s pulling Trixie, who is parked in front of Big Blue. And way up at the top parked on the street is Abigail. The four I haven’t talked about are —

• Wendi the Wheeler — a 1984 Honda 200 Big Red. Wendi is in remarkable shape, and I’m going to do my best to keep her that way. The one accessory I’ll be adding soon is a GPS speedometer. Oh, and I have a new sticker set for her.
• Trailer Trixie — Trixie is a homemade trailer who when I got her, had a big steel box on her. She was so heavy that Abigail, poor Abigail, could barely pull her. Removing the panels dropped her weight by almost 2/3rds. Trixie will be getting custom end gates, as well as two chests in which I can put tools and such.
• Big Blue — he’s a 1992 Dodge 3/4 ton Ram 250 with a 6-cylinder Cummings under the hood and a monster of a suspension. He was originally bought to pull a 28 foot fifth wheel camper — and when the camper is connected, or I have a good heavy load in the bed, he rides like a dream. The rest of the time….Oh, boy. That’s the main reason he was sold to my nephew-by-choice, Tyler.
• Abigail is a 2005 Cadillac Sedan Deville that I bought from my father about 5 months before he died. She was the best car he ever owned and he wanted to keep her in the family. She and I have been from Montana to Missouri to Virginia to Maine and back, and I might just be taking her up to Alaska next year. We’ll see…

And then — there’s the cast and crew:

• Fearless Companion (FC) — one of my best friends and a guy who loves to challenge me to be better. We’ve known each other over 20 years now, and we can make each other laugh to tears while going out on adventures.
• The Joke Squad (TJS) — A group of us which includes FC, Dakota Bones, The Ginger, Not Blake Shelton, and me. In typical guy form, we’ll kick ya all around your feelings, and then help each other in those times of greatest need.
• The Sisters — my blood — Eldest Sis (S1), Middle Sis (S2), and Little Sis (S3).
• The Nelson’s — Brother Bub, J. Mom, Alex the Silent One, Skitter Pop and Jack the Mouse (da twins), H. S., and Mama Mary.
• The Norass’s — Bubba John, Bubbette Kyja, The Mechanic, The Nurse, The Grinner., and The Kid.
• The ‘Midj Crew — An assortment of gadabouts, ruffians, good and big hearted people who I love spending time with.
• The Camp Gang — my camp family.
• The Marines — Another assortment of Brothers and Sisters worldwide who I can count on when times go sideways. ‘Rah.
• Best part of all — in the above groups there is a ton of overlap.

Now, let me give you some advise on starting a project like this — find a guru or two. I’m blessed with a friend who goes back to the 70’s who is a certified mechanic — Mr. Mechanical. Mr. Mechanical and I were on our high school swim team together, and we reconnected after many years on Facebook. He’s a man of many talents, good humor, and immense patience. And I gotta say — he rocks a mullet!

There will be more people added to this list as time goes by, so check back when you see a new name pop up!