By Tim Engstrom, Pothole Prairie

I thought perhaps since this is my last year younger than the age of 40 that I would answer the questions that were put to the participants in the 30 Under 40 special section that published last Thursday.
Age: 39
Family: wife, Lisa; son, Forrest, 3; dog, Alta, 6
City: Albert Lea
Livelihood: father, husband and Albert Lea Tribune managing editor
If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is one thing you would grab on the way out? Well, since my wife and kid are people and not things, I suppose my wallet. We will need money to eat somewhere and perhaps a hotel room. If I could grab another item, it would be our external hard drive. It has family photos on it. Our dog probably can manage on her own during an evacuation.
If you could have a super power, what would it be? I’d like to have the power of persuasion. People would read my stuff and have to think, “Hey, that guy is right.” It’s kind of like the Jedi mind trick but in print. Imagine this: I write a column on the foolishness of the Arabs, Persians, Jews, Turks and other people of the Middle East to fight each other so much and how they could accomplish so much good for everyone by working together. Before long, there is finally peace in the Middle East. Voila. Problem solved.
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? 1. No more wars. I was in a short one. 2. A happy, healthy and long life for my son. 3. That teachers were paid more when they taught younger kids, not older kids, so that way preschool teachers made more money than college professors.
What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you? It’s a tie: My mom gave birth to me, and my wife gave birth to my son.
If you had to pick one place in your city to bring a tourist, where would you go? Why? I would bring the tourist to Bancroft Bay Park to play disc golf with me. It’s a beautiful setting for getting healthy exercise. Or else we would ride bicycles to the Worth Brewery in Northwood, Iowa, for a pint, then bike back.
What turn of events brought you to Albert Lea? My wife and I lived in Washington state and were looking to move closer to family. The editor position at the Albert Lea Tribune was open, and I have family in Albert Lea and across much of Iowa and Minnesota. I applied. Plus, Interstate 35 goes to Minneapolis, where my folks live (though I was raised in Iowa), and Interstate 90 goes to Chicago. Lisa’s folks live in the suburbs. That’s where she grew up.
What song is your song? “Play a Train Song” by Todd Snider. In a good way, it makes me think of some longtime friends who died in 2008.
If you could move anywhere, where would you go and why? I don’t know. I like living in Albert Lea. It has a good vibe. However, I do miss the mountains and wide-open, undeveloped wilderness areas of the American West.
What is your favorite food and what food do you dislike the most? I get pretty excited over fresh, wild salmon covered with lemons and lemon pepper and cooked on a grill. I don’t like olives, even though I like olive oil.
Now, here’s Forrest Engstrom’s answers:
Age: Tree
Family: Us
City: Abbalee
Livelihood: Huh?
If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is one thing you would grab on the way out? Mommy.
If you could have a super power, what would it be? Fire hands. Pshshshshsh! (That’s the sound of fire shooting out of his hand.)
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? Candy. What else? Candy. What else? Candy. OK, besides candy? Go to simming pool.
What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you? Go to Gamma’s house.
If you had to pick one place in your city to bring a tourist, where would you go? Home. Why? ’Cause dat’s where we live.
What turn of events brought you to Albert Lea? Car. (He was born here.)
What song is your song? “Go Diego Go.”
If you could move anywhere, where would you go and why? Home. ’Cause dat’s where we live.
What is your favorite food and what food do you dislike the most? Chicken nuggets. Spicy food.

Tribune Managing Editor Tim Engstrom’s column appears every other Tuesday. He and his 3-year-old son, Forrest, host the video series “Uffda Kitchen” at AlbertLea-Tribune.com.