Attention surplus

As a lifelong Wisconsin resident, I expected my wife and me to be at least a little lonely when we moved to Minnesota in June so that I could attend Luther Seminary. On the contrary, thanks be to God, we have been met with an almost constant flow of attention from people — family and friends both old and new.

First of all, the Twin Cities weren't unfamiliar territory for me. My mom's family lives west of Minneapolis. And with that, I had family here to lean on. Tracy and I have had many meals and outings with my Minnesota family since we moved. Meanwhile, I have made a bunch of new friends at the seminary, some of whom have become friends to Tracy, too. We have also reconnected with some old friends who have likewise made their way to the Twin Cities. And our family and friends from Wisconsin have visited often.

Lately, we've had people visiting almost every weekend. Tracy's mom, sister, and aunt were all here three weeks ago. My friends since grade school, Scott and Sonya, were vacationing here last weekend for their anniversary and brought along their 1-year-old daughter, Clarissa (we're all pictured here at the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory). And this weekend, Tracy's friends from grad school at UW-Milwaukee are visiting. The attention we're getting at our new home is tremendous. It's wonderful.

I thought about attention a lot during the past week. Some people appreciate attention more than others. When we're getting enough of it and when we're busy enough that we don't feel like we really need it, it can be easy to take it for granted.

Hanging around with little Clarissa last weekend, I got to see over an extended period just how much a little attention means to a little kid. Every time you'd smile at her or play along with her game of peek-a-boo, she would be overcome with joyous laughter. I started to wonder what it would be like if adults appreciated each other's attention so much.

Then there's people on the other end of the age spectrum. Tuesday, after I determined that my homework volume was probably going to be at its lowest point in weeks, Tracy and I took the opportunity to pick up my Grandma and go out to dinner. (If you've never been to The Pizza Ranch, you need to go there ASAP. It will change your life.) I should tell you that my Grandma Alice is one of the most incredible human beings on the face of the planet — so generous, selfless, and loving that she should be on posters for the Lutheran church.

I'm lucky enough to still have three wonderful grandparents (all of them terrific Lutherans), and moving to Minnesota has offered me a chance to finally see almost as much of my Grandma Alice as I had for years seen of my Grandma Gladys and Grandpa Don in Green Bay. Yet taking the time to drive out and see her is tough, and finally doing so for the first time in more than a month was really rewarding. We had a great time talking and enjoying all the delicious buffet items. And 87 years Clarissa's senior, my grandma, who has lived alone for six years since my Grandpa Dick died, appreciated it to no end (so much so that she not only paid for the meal but gave us gas money and bought us a few groceries).

I hope that at whatever age I am, I'll appreciate people's attention — and God's — as much as I do now and not take it for granted. I'm going to try to keep that in mind.

Now if only I can keep all this attention from taking too much attention away from my studies.