PCS…Permanent Change of Station. Some of my Airmen friends say PCS with a smile because they are happy with their new station, others are not happy at all, having grown fond of Minot Air Force Base and Minot. It could be because their kids have enjoyed going to school in Minot, it could be because they absolutely love the outdoors and what North Dakota has to offer, or it could be because they have made many friends, and now must leave those friends behind.

One of my first graders in Mrs. White’s class explained in great detail, and I am guessing this was a family discussion around the kitchen table, that a PCS gives their family a chance to move to a new home, and make new friends, and “when we move I’ll get my own room.” So, are you happy you are moving? I asked. “No, not really. Because I like it here, and I have a lot of friends who I probably will never see again.” Out of the mouths of babes, like they say.

I have shared in this column many times that I am one of those folks who likes to auger into a situation, and really dislike changes in my life. PCS is kind of a 180 degree spin for me. The Airmen I work with at Public Affairs are great. We get to know each other pretty well. I have taken some of them sailing with me on Lake Sakakawea. Sue and I have hosted some of them at our home for a bar-b-que. I have watched them mature in their Public Affairs positions. I am amazed at how good they become at photography and writing. True professionals. And you certainly have to be happy for them when they get a chance to transfer to a new position that may be closer to home, or involve learning a new skill, or joining another team of Public Affairs professionals. So, for me, I am often saying goodbye and good luck to folks who I have worked with for 2-3 years. For a while they’ll show up on my Facebook posts, but they lead busy lives where they are going, and reaching back becomes more of a challenge for them. So, like the little first grader said so well, “I have a lot of friends who I probably will never see again.”

But hey, soon there will be new faces, and new names to learn, and once again I can share those special North Dakota experiences with them.

I will never be fond of PCS folks, not today…and not tomorrow. But life goes on…right?

Learning About Cookies
I decided how better to teach kids about entrepreneurship, than to let them start their own business. My friend Casey, from Cookies for You, was a great help as Mrs. White’s first graders at North Plains Elementary decided to open their own cookie business, at least for one day, called Yeah For Cookies!

The class had learned about being an entrepreneur through their Junior Achievement classes. They had many ideas about starting a new business; a pet walking service, a hamster watching business or even a sidewalk chalking business. But with Casey’s help a cookie decorating shop was something we could do in the roughly 40 minutes of class time allowed for Junior Achievement. Every student received a cookie shaped like a carrot. A carrot would be a lot easier to decorate than an Easter Bunny, and it only took 2 colors of frosting, green frosting for the top and orange frosting for the bottom. We had a blast, but keeping 21 young folks on task decorating carrots was a challenge. And to the janitor at North Plains Elementary, I am sorry for the many spots of frosting that we left on the carpet. “OOPS”.
I am happy to share a photo of my Junior Achievement class for 2025, and a few photos of the cookies that we decorated. I told the kids that once we decorated the cookies, we had to sell them. That is what an entrepreneur would do. But it wasn’t that way at all. Each young student got to keep their cookie for afternoon snack time. Thanks kids! I hope to return to Mrs. White’s class again next year.

Also, a big thanks to Al Schon at Oak Park Theater for providing each of the kids with a free movie ticket to Oak Park. And most of all, a final thanks to Ted Bolton, my boss at the Northern Sentry, for allowing me the time to teach Junior Achievement each year. I think this was my 6th year.

Best Kept Secrets
There are so many trails that are within an hour of Minot, but I have 2 that I recommend every year. First is the North Country National Scenic Trail at Lake Audubon, roughly 40 miles south of Minot on Highway 83, and the many trails, including the Prairie-Marsh scenic drive at Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge just north of the Minot Air Force Base on the Souris River.
A quick google search will take you to the U.S. Government web sites that give you a lot of information about the trails, and the refuges.

Today’s Chuckle
A quitter never wins and a winner never quits, which is a good reason to just avoid starting in the first place.