Ryan Kopperud

My love for you is permanent. Happy, happy birthday, .aron. 💜

Brutality masquerading as safety is just violence with more paperwork. Rest in peace and Minneapolis forever.

For Alex and Renée.

The cover of Charlie Hebdo in France tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s front page of The Minnesota Star Tribune.

“And remember this: the imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle.
Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that. And know this: the day will come when all of these skirmishes and battles, these moments of defiance will have flooded the banks of the Empire’s authority and then there will be one too many. One single thing will break the siege. Remember this: Try.”

When my father passed away in 2020, our family started a new tradition. Each year, during the week of his birthday and his passing (which happened to coincide), we pick a local charity or non-profit to raise money for, in his name.

We call it the Unstoppable Good Drive because he was a force of good in the world for us and for many, and doing good things when you’re sad makes you feel better. Really and actually, not just anecdotally. It’s a psychologically proven principle. Since 2020, with the help of coworkers, family, and friends, we’ve collectively raised over $20,000 for good causes. Thank you all for that.

This year, our annual effort is going toward My Very Own Bed. It’s a non-profit in the Twin Cities area that provides beds and dream kits to children in need. Donating helps take something hard and turn it into something good in the world.

There are of course many causes and dark spots in the world right now that deserve all of our attention and support, but if you few moved to contribute, the link is below or in my profile.

Thank you all for the support in this and for our family over the years we’ve spent grieving the loss of my dad. We couldn’t have done it without you all.

And dad, wherever you are, we love you fiercely, and we miss you dearly.

“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All of that unspent love gathers in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in the hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.”

- Jamie Anderson

I couldn’t imagine a better mother for our daughter and I’m so glad and grateful that I never will. I love you always.

Only smokeshows in the building.

She insisted for weeks… a blueberry. 💙

Orchard day wasn’t nearly as serious as it looks.

10 years, 5 in our rings, around the world and back again. It’s been a hell of a decade and I love you more now than even when we started. 1000 more years to come. I love you forever.