The pickup truck was stuck, nose-deep in the snowy ditch.

In Brainerd for the weekend, I was exploring a bit as 4-year-old Eleanor napped in the back seat. Rushing her brothers to and from the swim meet and accommodating my wife, Tara, as she volunteered at the event, meant that Ellie didn’t get her nap. She fell asleep as I dropped off her brother Tommy and I knew if I woke her up, she’d stay awake and be very cranky by dinner time.

So I drove.

I headed up Minnesota Highway 371 towards Nisswa, a tiny town where State Senate majority leader Paul Gazelka resides. From there, after a qui...