Time for the grand summer blog post…or two. True, summer’s not officially over, but the temperature has dropped two, three degrees and I’m hopeful. Summer of 2025. Highlights. Scott visits. Steve and his dog hang out with us a lot. We visit Minnesota, Robert and friends and the Old Place. End of story. Unless something of great consequence happens between now and September 1st. No matter what anyone tells you, that is the day fall begins. Every morning after that when it’s hot and sunny and there’s not a turning leaf in sight, it’s appropriate to complain about climate change. (In New Mexico the first day of fall is officially October 1st because then it’s the balloon fiesta and there’s hope for some gray rainy days! Balloon festival aficionados pray for good weather but you know how god is, sometimes distracted and forgets to answer prayers and keep people alive and fed and safe and enjoying festivals.)
The Black Sheep: That would be son Scott. Actually, he’s quite a good guy, however he lives part of the year in the Philippines, far from his ancient mother. Therefore…black sheep, right? He really should be here all the time—painting walls, preparing salads so I eat an occasional vegetable, doing stuff for no no, I mean with me. Truth be told, he does well in that realm for a wandering-the-world dude.
Scott was here in July and will return for a short time in in the fall (…there are always more walls to paint…). He’s my biker son; I guess I mean cyclist son, since Hell’s Angels isn’t exactly his style. So, before we leave for Minnesota, here are a few heartwarming photos of a boy and his bicycle.
Minnesota: My outsize photographic obsession with Minnesota being what it is, I’ll divide Minnesota into two parts. The first will include everything except a visit out to the Old Place, which as you all know, is how Robert and I refer to the place we grew up—Home, in other words. That visit, about which I always wax most sentimental and take too many photos of the same places every year, just a little more bedraggled or overgrown each time (although always lovely to me), will be the next post.
Scott, Steven, and I flew into Minneapolis and rented a car for the roughly three-hour drive to Grand Rapids, the pleasant town where Robert and Marsha have lived or at least been based for much of their adult lives. It is famous for being the birthplace of Judy Garland…that’s it. Grand Rapids is probably as close to ideal as medium size (around 11,000) towns go: attractive and prosperous-looking, big grocers, restaurants, a good book store, an excellent clothing shop, several small breweries, coffee house or two (I think? Robert has plentiful coffee on hand so I’m not sure). Next time I’ll take town pictures. Good place to visit for a taste of life in the north woods. Best of all it’s on the Mississippi River and has a green and inviting forest trail for great year-round walking (unless you’re a southern sissy, terrified of the least bit of bad weather).
The photo album starts here:
Often, our first morning in up north, we take a walk along the Mississippi.
Hanging out at R & M’s. Friends visit. It’s as life and Minnesota and family should be.
Scott, Steve, and I took a overnight trip up to Roseau on the Canadian border so they could hang out after many years with a favorite cousin, Terri, the daughter of my much-loved cousin Audrey. Terri is one of the last of the aunts, uncles, cousins with whom I feel truly connected. This year was perhaps just a little sad since Terri is dealing with some uncomfortable health issue and Audrey is fading out of her and our lives. Nevertheless it was so fine to see Audrey, although not sure she knew me this time, and to get some Terri and Brian (best walleye fryer in the US and maybe Canada) time and a visit with her kids and some grandkids. I’m sad not to have captured pictures of a couple of her nearly grown-up grandkids with whom I had a fine conversation about their plans for life. I’m always so thrilled when people under 70 seem to enjoy even a few minutes of conversation with me!
Then it was back to Grand Rapids through the golden fields of canola and the Red Lake reservation where my sons felt compelled to stop for t-shirts and other stuff.
Finally, we had what was kind of a special treat for all of us. On our way out to the Old Place the first time, we stopped for a visit at Jack and Karen’s (Jack was Robert’s old school friends whom I’ve posted pictures of before). This time Jack had a trip planned throughout the fields and pastures of his land which is next to or almost next to our land. There were ATVs for all and we bounced over hill and dale. Jack has become a serious historian of the area and had stories of everything that’s transpired on this land in what is called Bridgie Township. A spectacular Minnesota afternoon.
Finally we stopped by to say hello to my mom and dad.
