Roseau Times-Region - Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper

Some of us can barely master the English language. Try doing that with two languages, which is impressive.

We met for the first time last summer in the Twin Cities. She is a native of Italy, who is married to my nephew and speaks with an enchanting accent.

Claudia (née Lachin) Thode, 39, came to America in November 2001, and she is spunky, delightful, and dauntless.

If she barely breaks the scales at 110 pounds, she can go 10 rounds intellectually with anyone.

I finally caught up with her by phone last week. Immediately, she recalled meeting Michael Thode on an Italian beach in June 1999....