CURTIS
SWENSON ANSWERS
When and where were you born?
January 6, 1961 in Luverne Minnesota
Is there a reason you were given the first and middle name you have?
My middle name is the same as my
grandfathers, Edward Sehr.
Are
there any stories you know about your birth or when you were a baby that you
can share?
No
Where did you grow up?
On a farm 7 miles northwest of
Luverne Minnesota.
What kinds of games did you play with your siblings and the other kids
you were around as a child?
We played ditch with motorcycles,
baseball, kick the can, and many others.
What were meaningful traditions that you remember from your childhood?
When I was very young we would go to
our Grandparent’s farm every Sunday with all the other cousins.
What are memories about your mother and father that you would like to
share? Any funny stories? Stories from
when they were growing up?
My father would smoke cigars and pipe
in the car and fill the car with smoke. Mom was an ok cook but to her
everything had to be very well done, no medium or rare.
What were your grandparents like? Did you see them often? Do you remember
any stories that they shared from their childhoods?
My grandparents on my dad side died
when I was very young. On my mom’s side
my grandfather had Parkinsons and I remember him shaking all the time, he died
when I was young. My grandmother lived longest and remember her calling my mom
every night to check that she was ok. She was just like my Mom in how she acted
and lived her life.
What was being a teenager like when you were growing up? Did you have a
job? Date? Have a car? A curfew?
I worked as a hired hand at different
farms since I was 12 doing odd jobs. Worked has a hired hand for one farmer for
3 years did custom bailing of hay most of the summer plus helped him farm. I
worked at Country Kitchen during the winter and some weekends during summer for
3 years. I had a motorcycle when I was 14 and purchased a car at 15. No curfew
just had to be home for chores.
What was it like during the war? Being drafted?
Vietnam War ended before I became of
age but had to fill out draft card and register with the government.
How did you meet your spouse? How long did you date before you knew you
wanted to get married? Would you be willing to share your proposal story? What
was your wedding day like?
We both worked at Country Kitchen in
Roseville Minnesota. Fell in love with her from the first sight of her.
Proposal- I just asked her.
What were your hopes/dreams when you started college? Did they change as
time went by?
I knew I could not stay on farm
because had 3 brothers already working the farm so got a scholarship to attend
College. Enrolled at University of Minnesota in Waseca Minnesota and wanted to
do something in Agriculture Business but started working the Country Kitchen in
Waseca Minnesota and decide after one year college was not for me and stayed in
restaurant business after that.
Did/do you have any heroes/mentors? How did they impact your life? Have
you served as a mentor for someone else?
No
Did you always know you wanted to have children? The number? Did you
always know you would love your oldest the best?(Just kidding)
Knew I wanted children but none after
I turned 30 so they will be out of the house by the time I turned 50 but they
stayed longer.
What was important to you when raising your children? Life lessons you
wanted them to experience? Traditions that you wanted to have in your family?
Wanted them to do what they want and
grow up doing what they want and not to be followers.
Are they or have they been different for your grandchildren than your
children?
No same hopes.
Are they different for your great-grandchildren?
No will be same when I have great
grandchildren.
What has stayed the same about you all your life?
Do not worry about things you have no
control over.
What is important to you now that wasn’t when you were younger?
My children’s well being and to make
a life for themselves.
Can you talk about a meaningful gift you received in your life?
All gifts were meaningful to me.
What is the best gift you have ever given? (Just something that got a
joyful response from the receiver)
Do not recall any.
What has helped you stay hopeful in difficult times?
Do not sweat the small stuff or stuff
you cannot control.
Can you share something that you think is important in achieving
happiness?
Do what you want to do and not what
you think they want you to do.
What has surprised you about getting older? (no gross physical ailments
please) (hahaha!)
Nothing.
Are you hoping this list is almost done? Because it is…but you can add
anything you would like and not answer anything that you don’t want to.
Better story teller than a writer.
