Signs & Wonders Blog

A significant portion of my high school and college years was spent roller skating. In the fall of 1979, I began frequenting a roller rink called Skateland in Fargo, North Dakota. The “roller disco” craze had attracted large crowds of people to the sport. I was captivated by disco music , particularly the Patrick Hernandez song “Born to Be Alive.” However, I couldn't get into a discothèque as a 15-year-old. I figured that Skateland would be the next best way for me to experience “Saturday Night Fever.” At first, I could barely stand up on skates. Gradually my rollerskating skills improved as I learned how to go backward, do splits, and other tricks. That helped increase my confidence in asking girls to skate with me during “couples only.” Soon, I noticed that the Skateland employees were like celebrities to the regular skaters. Knowing that working there would bring me popularity that I never received at school, I eagerly pursued employment at the roller rink.  After months of ...

If someone were to guess what my all-time favorite song is, one might assume it would be a hymn or inspirational tune. There have been a few that touched me over the years. However, one particular song stands out from the rest. In July 1979, I was fifteen years old and went on vacation with my family. One night in my motel room, I turned on a radio and for the first time heard “Born to Be Alive” by Patrick Hernandez. I already knew about the song since Casey Kasem had announced it was #1 on Billboard’s disco chart. I liked it immediately with its entrancing synthesizer sounds, dreamy strings, and catchy guitar riffs. Two weeks later (and exactly 40 years ago today), “Born to Be Alive” debuted on “American Top 40” at #40. I taped the song off the radio and for the next several days played it over and over (even today it still gives me goosebumps). Soon I bought the Patrick Hernandez album of the same name. Meanwhile, I continued rooting for “Born to Be Alive” to hit #1 on th...

Valentine’s Day can be difficult for single people. Despite go ing through two divorces, I’m still desiring to marry again. Previously in this blog, I wrote about a grade school girlfriend I considered my first love . While I went on to have many other girlfriends during my youth, there was one relationship I strongly desired that wasn’t meant to be.  This story begins in late 1980 around the time I landed a job at Skateland in Fargo, North Dakota. One day at the roller rink, I asked a cute redhead to skate with me during “couples only.” Her name was Jodi. I was interested in getting to know her until she informed me of having a steady boyfriend. So I pretty much forgot about Jodi until a few weeks later. On the day after Valentine’s Day 1981, I had that Sunday off but still spent the day at Skateland. During “trios only”, I asked two girls sitting together to skate with me. One of them was Jodi who reminded me of us skating before. Although she was still seeing that ot...