The Good Life – January-February 2021

MM: In 1991 a group of North Dakota National
Guard soldiers were called to go over to Saudi Arabia
in preparation for Operation Desert Storm. They
went over not knowing what was going to be asked of
them, other than to provide purified water for troops.
They didn’t know how long they’d be there. They
didn’t know what they were getting into. It was just a
call to arms. From the time we arrived until the time
we had to leave, we only had a 76-hour window to
be there, but we visited all four units and videotaped
each and every one of the soldiers, so they could say
“Happy Holidays” or whatever they wanted to say to
their families. Then we brought back all the holiday
greetings and went to church basements and town
halls to air those for the soldiers’ families. It was
so magnificent to bridge concerned families and
soldiers halfway around the world. We had little kids
coming up saying, “That’s my daddy!” Then we also
videotaped greetings of the families and sent them
back to the soldiers. I’ve had wonderful opportunities,
whether it’s flying with the Blue Angels or interviewing
politicians and entertainers, but bridging a long
distance for families was the coolest.
GL: What does living “the good life” mean to you?
MM: It’s the opportunity to be able to earn a living,
to pay your bills and to be able to have choices on
what you’d like to do when you’re not working. It’s
opportunities to laugh with family members, to be
around moments that can turn into memories forever
with the people you care about, both family and
friends, and to have good health. •
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