Book of the Month

5 STRIPES Arneson Tugs Heart Strings Again

Paul Arneson reaffirms his true sense of family in this recent work. I Couldn't Milk Another Goat captures the fantastic true-life story of his courageous grandmother Carrie Kirkeeide Thorson, who left Norway not knowing if she would ever see her family again.

The impetus for this book came when she went to Arneson for help to write her story. “Why,” Paul asked her, “did you leave your beautiful village on a Norwegian fjord?” Carrie responded without hesitation, “Da truth is, I just couldn’t milk another goat.”

Her story is not too dissimilar to the many other immigrants entering the United States in the early 1900s. Through Carrie’s stories, Paul shares her enormous energy and even larger loving heart. Using poetic license, he spiced up the tales to capture Carrie’s charming and gregarious nature.

Imagine the strength it took for the 24-year-old Carrie, with full responsibility for an 18-year-old brother, to step onto the S.S. Invernia and head to America. This was a time when the world began to change radically. In America, she experienced the birth of air flight, women’s suffrage, an influenza pandemic, the Great Depression, and two world wars.

Paul Arneson

Paul provides links for readers to connect with other significant events and locations in Carrie’s journey.

I asked Paul why he writes

family story-centric books? Without hesitation he said, “All families should have a documentarian. Someone who can talk to grandparents, uncles, and aunts before it is too late. I am that person for my family.”

Paul is a retired U.S. Air

Courtesy photo

Force colonel whose military career included postings in seven U.S. states and several overseas locations. He served as a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., ending his military service as the Transportation Director for Strategic

Review: I Couldn’t Milk Another Goat Publisher: Self Published Author: Paul S. Arneson Reviewed by: Ralph Peluso, Literary Editor Zebra Rating: 5 Stripes

Ralph Peluso

Airlift on the Air Staff at the Pentagon. Paul was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, where he married his sweetheart Betty in 1968.

“I Couldn’t Milk Another Goat” is a good read for wellbonded families and for those that need a little nudge to rekindle their unity.

Zebra rating 5 stars

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February 9: TUESDAY It's Great to be Loved by Courtney Gonzalez & Diana Karczmarczyk. Anyone with children in their lives will appreciate this fabulous book that enhances learning for kids in an unbiased way. February 23, TUESDAY Trying Stuff by Rita Mattia. Ralph and Rita will discuss the author’s intimate and varied recollections of some of the stories of her life.