Jill's Journal: Column about nothing is still a column about something

Every once in a while, this ol’ weekly newspaper editor is stumped for a column. I know, hard to believe since it seems I always have something to say.

But this is one of those rare occasions where I’m at a loss for words. About 400 of them to be almost exact.

Thankfully, this what-in-the-heck-am-I-going-to-write-about-this-week snafu only happens once in a blue moon. Did we have a blue moon, by chance?

When it does occur, I sometimes turn to a folder titled, “column fillers.”

I looked this morning, but the folder was somewhat depleted or simply not worthy of 400 word or so.

Oftentimes, I’d write about trip to mom’s for the weekend which usually provided me with some food for thought – or in this case – a topic for a column. Mom was always a bit fearful that her name and some sort of predicament we found ourselves in would be recorded in the next Jill’s Journal column space.

And she was right, because she often did. 

Sometimes, a trip I’ve taken fills this space. Unfortunately, I haven’t ventured too far from home this summer, and with very little of summertime left and no plans for a destination vacation until next year, well I guess there’s no stories to be told about the big fish that got away or the scenery that whipped by while traveling to Somewhere U.S.A.

I could write about some silly childhood memory or what’s irking me about today’s politics or politicians, but my memory bank seems to be as depleted as my “column filler” folder, and as for poking a bit of fun at politics or politicians, I’m going to keep those thoughts to myself – for now, at least.

I could write about Brandon Valley football and the big games that are on the horizon this week and the next against two respected programs, Class 11AA’s Pierre and Class 11AAA’s Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots. Seeing how our Lynx are playing these days, I’m confident in our boys and our coaches will have victory-worthy game plans in place.

I could also write about how the Minnesota Vikings need to turn their season around NOW, and was elated to see the Minnesota Twins punch their ticket last week into the post-season playoffs. I don’t tune in to the Twins as often as I would like these days, and with my “play by play mom” no longer cheering them on from the comfort of her recliner and providing me daily updates, it’s time for me to watch my “home state” boys of summer make their run.

When I sat down to write this week’s installment of Jill’s Journal, I faced an empty page and had no inkling of what I would even write about. As I wrap up this week’s installment, I’ve determined that a column about nothing is still a column about something.