Welcome to Stump’s stories. I began writing these stories in 2006 for my grandkids. Currently, my grandkids all live in the digital world and this site allows me to provide them better access to my stories. This site is also in response to close friends who have encouraged me to publish my stories. The stories are about my experiences on …
Aebleskiver Philosophy
Æbleskiver Philosophy Preface: I claim to have 51% Danish ancestry because my paternal grandmother was a Dane and the matriarch of the family. In 2014, Ancestry.com analyzed my DNA, and they got it wrong because it didn’t come back as Danish. I married a close to full blooded Norwegian and we had interesting discussions about the virtues of Danes vs …
Grandpa Al’s Boat Ride
Preface: This true story is circa 1980. Grandpa Al’s Boat Ride The Luders and Stratton families shared some of the best times of our lives on the shores of Lake Pepin in Lake City, MN. Bob, Cheryl, and their kids, Jeff, Jennifer, and Nick, had a camper at Suza’s point and later moved to Smitty’s Campground, and even later, …
The Story of Stump
Preface: This is a true story. I was there the night of this momentous event. Most, but not all, of the Jaycees had nicknames, and I used them, or created them, for this story, and I know the history of some of those nicknames. Remember, I became a writer in my retirement so anything that happened in the past could …
A Letter to Mom
Preface: This letter, a hand written letter, was discovered as I unpacked from my move back to Iowa in the Fall of 2017. The letter was written to Elizabeth Horness by her daughter, my wife, Maxine. The letter was written three months before Elizabeth died on Dec 29, 1976. It is a heart warming story that included tears as I …
Nighttime Thoughts
Preface: This “story” was discovered when I moved to Iowa in October of 2017. Maxine’s mother had a knack for poetic story writing. I don’t recall the event that put Elizabeth in the hospital. Elizabeth and Hack had a strong faith in God that was passed down to their kids and this story is part of the family history. …
Swiss Orange Chip
Preface: This is a story about about a brief moment in time creating a life long memory. Tap the off button on your electronics and go make a memory. Swiss Orange Chip The last ten years I worked for Deere I spent a lot of time in Arizona and California. I collected test data for use in laboratory testing. Anne utilized …
The Kid
Preface: It’s the little moments along the way that bring back smiles and chuckles as a person walks the path of “retirement”. The Kid During one of our early tractor testing adventures in the hot California summer, Anne and I decided to plan a day that allowed us to quit early (that means before dark). The test work had been …
A Chapel and a Church
A Chapel and A Church Sedona, AZ In Arizona, my two places to relax were Sedona and Prescott. On a Sunday, Anne, a co-worker, and I traveled to Sedona. The red rock formations of Sedona are a magnet for tourists. I love mountains, and the red rock mountains just drew me into them. The strip mall shopping center had a …
The Ring
Preface: A miracle is not always front page news, a trending tweet, or a viral video on Facebook. Sometimes it is an ordinary event orchestrated by the Holy Spirit and Angels. This is a story of such a miracle. The Ring I arrived in Reisterstown, MD in mid-afternoon during the Fall of 2007. It had been a long journey from Iowa. My daughter was having surgery the …
You Never Know
Preface: This story was written several years ago as I began the transition from technical writing to story writing. My left brain tech friends will recognize this could have been written in four or five sentences in one paragraph. Story writing takes a few more words. You Never Know Winter days can be dismal, grey, cold, and lonely. A birthday forgotten by your family …