Column: Outside Looking In

In the summer of 1995, I worked a three month internship at The Warroad Pioneer, which I'm sorry to say has since ceased operation. This was the first professional newspaper that I worked for in my career, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. I had only worked at Bemidji State University's newspaper for about a year and half before landing the internship. At The Pioneer I gained experience in sports, feature, beat and government reporting. I designed pages, took and developed photographs and was responsible for community relations. The best part is that I remain friends with the owners nearly 30 years later.

Aug. 8, 1995

By Devlyn Brooks

Every once in a while you run into one of those people who are truly amazing. You know the ones I'm talking about. They've done everything, seen everything and experienced everything imaginable. And just when you think you've absorbed everything they have to offer you about life, they tell you, "Oh yea, I've done this too."

I would like to introduce you to one of those truly amazing persons that I've had the pleasure of meeting during my stay in Warroad. His name is Alvin Johnston, and I'll tell you what, he's got a story for every day of the year, each just as exciting as the last.

As I said before, Alvin's done everything, seen everything and experienced more life than I can even foresee in my future. Each time I talk to him, I get that distinct feeling that I'm in the presence of history.

At an age when I was contemplating what I was going to do Friday night, and how I was going to manage to cheat on that history test I forgot to study for, Alvin was operating his very own trade newspaper with only one other partner. He had kids delivering the thing by bicycle.

Now, of course, you're going to say operating a newspaper is going to impress me because I work for a newspaper.

Well, it's not just his newspaper career that is impressive. He was also a commercial fisherman on Lake of the Woods for many years until the state bought out the liceneses of the fishermen.

He has owned a drive-in restaurant, and was in the fur business. Who is the last person you met that was in the fur business? I mean, let's face it, there are just not people like Alvin being born every day.

Just when I had thought I heard it all from Alvin, he tells me that he was also in the Air Force. Where was he stationed? "All over," he said. "When you're in the Air Force, you're always moving." He even survived a plane crash during his time with the Air Force.

Maybe I'm just impressed because Alvin has done things that I probably will never be able to even imagine. The scariest thing I've ever done is walk across Highway 11 during a Marvin's shift change. This man has faced actual, real danger and lived to tell about it with a sense of humor.

He is one of those people who when you are done having a conversation with them, you feel like it's made a difference in your life. You can feel the knowledge you've gained, and you know the conversation wasn't just a waste of oxygen.

I've never used the word "gusto" in my life, but I guess before I met Alvin, I never knew the true meaning of the word.

I had the opportunity to take a boat ride with Mr. Johnston this weekend in his boat that he loves so very much. I have to say that I am jealous. He has a passion for the water and his boat that I may never know in any aspect of my life.

Alvin is truly one of those special people who makes life so interesting. He has never wasted any of the time that has been allotted to him, and he makes me wonder just what I've wasted my first 20-some years doing.

I've been told that life is an adventure, and I can't help but think that the people who told me that knew Alvin. Listening to him is as rich and fulfilling as finishing an Earnest Hemingway novel, and it takes a lot less time also.

So get out there and find these people. I know I'm a better person for knowing Alvin, and I'd bet there are a lot of other people like him.