this was supposed to be my backwash column this week, but the javascript wouldn’t work. so here you go!

We go every year. We do the same things every year. We see the same sights every year. Yet, every year I am still awed by the wonderfulness that is the Minnesota Newspaper Museum.

Every year I try to con one of the sisters, a brother-in-law, or a parent to venture into the museum with me. Every year they politely, hell not so politely decline my invitation. Every year I ignore the jeers of the fam as I make the journey to the far corner of Heritage Square by myself. I know I?m a geek and I revel in such geekiness. I grin, alone, as I get closer to the small building with the sign above it that says, The Press Shall be Forever Free.

Just approaching the building gets me a little choked up. As my foot hits the porch I hear Gerald Conner, a journalism professor at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire. I hear all the lessons he taught me. I hear the passion in his voice as he lectures about Schenck v. US and Near v. Minnesota.

Every year I half expect to find Ol? Gerry Conner manning one of the presses or sitting at the front desk making newspaper hats. Every year I am oddly disappointed when I leave without seeing him, though he?s with me every minute I?m in the Museum. Usually I have to revel in the glory of the First amendment all by myself.

This year it was different.

This year I conned Jaycie, 4 and Max, 3 to go with me to the Minnesota Newspaper Museum with promises of newspaper hats and other fun stuff.

Since my niece and nephew are budding super geniuses, much like myself, the enjoyed the museum muchly. Actually, I was quite surprised. I thought for sure once they had the hats atop their heads they?d want to bolt for the lemonade. But they didn?t want to.

They wanted to see the printing presses. They asked about a million questions about what each of the machines did and I couldn?t have been prouder. It was amazing!