Ross through coordinating work with the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village, said Ross is a sincere woman who is full of life with a sparkle in her eyes. “She’s always positive, and she’s a good listener as well as an actress,” Mulso said. Growing up helped her gradually knock those negative thoughts and feelings out of her head, Ross said. She became a mother, and the culture changed some. More than 30 years later, Ross is recognized for other roles that kept her career relevant across decades. “A little, little kid who doesn’t pay any attention to me and then I say to him, ‘You know, I’m SpongeBob Squarepants’ grandma and I gave
Patrick the cookies,’” Ross said. She gasps. “Well, (he’s) shaking all over, so pulls down (his waistband), shows me his Spongebob underwear, you know, and I think this is wonderful to cover all these generations.” But through it all, Ross said she has treasured her Minnesota background. “Albert Lea means so much to me because I — what I was raised to be here is really what I am,” she said. And now, she gets to live into that. “Now that I’m proud of myself and not thinking that I’m, you know, not going to get anywhere, that this is the way to be,” Ross said. “And I see — that’s the wonderful thing about growing up is you look at what you left behind and say, ‘I am that, and I want to be that, and I don’t want to be somebody else anymore.’” AL
Ross visits with fans during a book signing in September at Albert Lea Public Library.
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