LOVELY LINDA LOVAS HOESCHLER BLYBERG: A Toast on her 80th Birthday

By Kristen Hoeschler O’Brien, July 19, 2024

L-I-N-D-A

L-Lovely Linda Lovas Hoeschler Blyberg: A Toast on her 80th Birthday

I-NSPIRATIONAL – I am forever proud to have you as a mother and positive example. In the beginning of your career, you attended evening concerts and wrote reviews in the newsroom before the paper went to print, while Dad worked or slept under a desk. You were the first female VP at Dayton Hudson, now Target Corporation, and you worked exceedingly hard to support the family and encourage countless others to rise. I even dressed as you, a female business executive, for Halloween!

N-ONNA – There are few grandmothers who have taken to the role like my Mom. She and Dad kept Jack overnight at about 2 weeks, with all the changes and feedings, so I could have a night off. She took the boys, starting at 18 months, on train trips to Chicago and Glacier Park. She taught them how to read, how to dance, and supervised countless violin lessons. She helped them develop their very adventuresome appetites (tofu for toddlers and escargot for 8-year-olds). She loves the boys so hard and would lie down and die for them.

D-ANCER – My parents loved to dance. They met at a tea dance in DC and danced their whole marriage. Most of their parties had live music and my mom was happiest dancing with Dad because otherwise he wasn’t overly affectionate (thankfully affection is a skill at which Peter excels). I have countless happy memories watching her dance.

A-DVENTURER – My folks believed in “a small house and big vacation” and brought along their children and grandchildren as frequently as possible. Few people would have organized a 6-month trip around the world in the mid-80s. Mom’s passports look like she works for the State Department. And having paid for a few of my own trips, I greatly appreciate what it took to give us that worldly education.

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L-OVE of family and time together – Even before the four of us traveled around the world for 6 months, there was never any doubt that to you, family was #1. Though we suffered without a TV most of our childhoods, Friday night at the movies was sacrosanct. Granted, in the 80’s there were fewer choices, and not every foreign film was child appropriate, but movies, bike rides, and travel were always done as a family. And rather than throw a party, you and Dad took us sailing around Sweden for your 50th and we will travel to Paris for your 80th. We are very, very fortunate.

O-PEN to new things – Linda didn’t know how to downhill or cross-country ski until she met my father. Her family didn’t have the money to travel when she was young, but she embraced international travel like few others, having been to most of the world, including the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, and North Korea when it was very difficult to actually visit those countries. And then there was the less popular hobby of supporting new music commissions – an interest that turned into a career and national recognition.

Which brings me to

V-ISONARY – Between commissioning more than 100 musical pieces as a couple and founder of the Minnesota Commissioning Club, and expanding the MN Composers Forum to National, you (and Dad, and now Peter) have championed an arts underdog, new music. It’s not common to champion new compositions but as you have said, “all music was once new”, and future generations will benefit from your creative foresight.

A-SSEMBLER of data – What started as my 7th grade family history project, became your lifelong passion, genealogy. Who could forget spending your birthday, complete with our own photocopier, traveling across Iowa and Wisconsin, from library to church basement? Your frankly magical ability to track down data about our poor or working-class ancestors back to the 1600’s has given all of our families a much better appreciation about the struggles of our ancestors o arrive and survive here.

S-UPPORTIVE – While we don’t always see eye to eye, I have always known that my mother is proud of me and loves me. You are willing to talk things through and certainly full of suggestions and notes of improvement ;-). But when giving advice as the grandmother to my children, you are especially supportive and always chill in a crisis, which is GREATLY appreciated.

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H-EIWANA – Japanese for peaceful, this is the feeling you’ve successfully created in your home and Japanese garden. I know you’ve loved living there and moving will be difficult. Hopefully the memories of envisioning, building, and realizing the dream will always be a blessing.

O-RGANIZATIONAL skills – If you have an emergency, talk to Linda. Need to plan a funeral or party in a week? Talk to Linda. She would have made an excellent general and the military is missing out on her executive skills. Plus she is magic at remembering names and connections, and if you need to network, she’ll get you there!

E-NTERTAINER – my folks have hosted many a small and large party. As a child, they would have the guest performer plus friends and fans over for dinner AFTER the concert and then go to work the next day. Musicians were invited to practice at the house, so doing homework came with musical accompaniment.  With help from Peter, the gatherings, such as this one, have happily continued.

S-MART and STRATEGIC– My mother is exceedingly smart. I am always proud to share she was a business turnaround specialist, first female VP at Target Corporation, continues to serve on corporate boards, and has strategized businesses out of conflicts and stagnation. She’s a hard act to follow!

C-OMFORTABLE in her own skin – Mom likes to look good, and she does. But she’s not focused on it. She doesn’t get facials or treatments, and the one time she accepted a facial as a Christmas gift, the esthetician was horrified when mom said her face routine involved “letting the shampoo run down my face.” But despite cancer, broken back and sternum, and surgical menopause, she motors on, exercises, eats well, and has a very positive attitude about life.

H-ELPER - You have counseled hundreds, if not thousands of people on personal and business problems alike. Sometimes folks weren’t always ready to be helped “Linda style”, but you are more often right on the money. As we know, and the Beatles sing, “your mother should know.”

L-EGUMINOSAE (bean family) – Linda loves her beans. There was the year of the lentil where it felt like all we ate was lentil spaghetti sauce. And there is the entire cabinet filled with dried beans. Come to visit? Prepare to consume beans. Fun fact: If you don’t ck them in the soaking water, you won’t have gas.

E-LOQUENT – You are an excellent public speaker, even off the cuff. Lately I’ve really been appreciating the letters you have been writing to dying friends, letting them know how much they mean to you. I endeavor to be as talented.

R-ESPONSIBLE – In my family both my parents worked full time outside of the home, but mom also had her second full time job managing the home and family. She is the reason we were clothed, fed, trained, and made it to school. It’s hard being the “heavy” parent and as a mother myself, I am so impressed with all that she created and grown.

And now with her new marriage to a really great guy, Peter, I give you her last, last name, Blyberg.

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B-LUEBIRD mother – Back in 1986 Linda decided to repopulate Minnesota bluebirds by creating a bluebird trail across our and (willing) neighboring properties. Why have one house when you can have 25? And to woo them she ordered live mealworms. Grubco thought we were eating them and sent a recipe book. At least once a week we’d walk the path - notebook, cleaning spatula and mite-be-gone spray in hand. She’d tap the houses singing “hello my babies” and check the babies and complement the parents. It was endearing and a little crazy. And guess who is doing the work now?

L-ADY – Linda is a big fan of Emily Post and good etiquette. The rest of us don’t always live up to her definition of appropriate behavior, but she continues to try with little nudges and subtle throat clearings. I was going buy you birthday décor but even Jack said you hate that stuff. For you, classic and tasteful is the name of the game.

Y-OUTHFUL – I mentioned this previously, but not every 80-year-old looks as good as and has as much energy as you do. As Peter is learning, we must all stay on our toes to keep up with you. You are a prime example of the benefit of maintaining good health despite crazy setbacks.

B-EAUTIFUL – Everyone says how much I look like my mom and that makes me very happy! You are a beautiful woman and always have been.

E-NERGETIC – You know a lot of people and like staying involved. The house is often a-bustle with new and old friends and I think Peter is a little stunned by the revolving door. You celebrate others’ important events by rewriting lyrics to songs and then, eventually, coaching your grandsons to sing them, from memory, complete with choreography. Sitting and watching the world go by is not your thing.

R-EBORN - With her second marriage to Peter, she has a new lease on life. Peter, you have brought a new level of joy and contentedness to my mom and I’m very happy to have you in our family. Not everyone can handle her energy, drive, and interest in others. But I know you are up to the task and we are all glad you are around to give her the affection and love she definitely deserves.

And finally, Linda is very

G-ENEROUS – This is an easy one to know. You worked exceedingly hard to give your children and grandchildren the very best education and some really cool experiences and opportunities. You have been generous with your time and resources to thousands of others, sponsoring the education of girls in Latin Americana and Africa, mentoring church members, putting rowers in boats, employing immigrants and their families, and feeding anyone who walks through the door. We are exceedingly fortunate to have you as ours and appreciate the sacrifices you have made to make our lives easier and more interesting. Thank you so being who you are and helping all of us become better versions of ourselves.

And with that, happy, happy 80th birthday!!

Love your daughter, Rabbit

July 19, 2024

PS I went into more detail so Peter’s family can know you better and appreciate all the energy and love that you offer to him.