By Felicia Teiken

Special to the Forum

What better way to follow up my introduction than to talk about my biggest fan and the reason my roots in Frazee run as deep as they do—my mom, Tanya Mastin? If you don’t know her, I’d be genuinely surprised. My mom worked at the Frazee Liquor Store for what felt like a million years, and I bet she could still run that place in her sleep. She loved the mornings with her regular guys —Kevin, Al, Hank, Johnny, Calvin, and Dave — just to name a few. She always made time for her customers, knew what they liked, and if Boo Boo or Ollis needed to be spotted a dollar for their off-sale pounders, she never hesitated. That’s just the kind of person my mom is.

I could write an entire novel about her—and maybe someday I will—but for now, let me tell you about one thing that’s stuck with me all these years: her love for the Frazee-Vergas Forum. If there was one thing I could count on every Wednesday night, it was my mom at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper while my dad cooked dinner. She’d go through every section, front to back. I’d sit there, waiting my turn, but I’d jump straight to the police report (you can call me nosey – I call it being curious), the obituaries, and, of course, anything about Frazee-Vergas Schools. I loved seeing pictures of my friends and people I knew.

Growing up, it used to drive me bonkers how invested my mom was in this town and all the people in it. I actually used to think she knew every single person in Frazee. I tried to lie to her a couple of times—like saying I was going to one friend’s house when I was really going to another. Guess who found out every. single. time. She’d call me within minutes, asking, “Where are you?” I learned real quick that it was pointless to lie because, in a small town, your mom’s always going to find out.

Now that I’m older, I realize that the stories in the paper were like a window into the town she cares about, even if she doesn’t always agree with everything or everyone in it. She’s always believed in the people here, and through her, I learned that even when there are disagreements, there’s value in knowing people’s stories. Writing for this paper feels like a full-circle moment.

If you were to ask my mom what she’s most proud of, I bet you $100 she’d say, “My kids” without hesitation. — my brother and I make her proud by just existing. But if we’re being real, I think it’s her who deserves the recognition. She’s kind, thoughtful, smart, and knows how to have a conversation with anyone. She raised me to be the same way, and for that, I’ll forever be grateful.

So, Mom, this one’s for you. I’m proud of you, always. Thank you for inspiring me, for showing me how to care about others, and for being the best example of making things work, no matter what life throws at you. I’ll root for you for the rest of my life just like I know you’ll root for me. Frazee is better because you’re in it, and if it weren’t for you, well, there’d be nothing to write home about.