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To me it is beautiful here, where I grew up, just as it is: overgrown, collapsing, old timber and stucco buildings reverting to woods. The welcome wagon meets us on the road and then we just walk around and listen to our young voices echoing through the treetops.
Marsha’s toe became calcified—or something like that. Doctor said ‘it must go.’ So it was chopped off. It’s a bit more complicated than that but there’s apparently nothing life- or even gait-threatening so we all feel free to poke fun at Marsha’s Toe Story. I thought it should enter cyberspace for the sake of posterity. Here then….
Isn’t family what it’s all about after all? But now for the ROAD TRIP. Life in Minnesota moves along just as it should. Sleeping again, visiting cousins, stocking up on moose and walleye sweatshirts and enough new shoes for all the abs classes and walking marathons of next year. And a road trip. Granted it was not of the fifteen-hundred-miles-plus kind I enjoyed so much in the past—still it did stir some… Read More
Terri and Brian’s land is probably about 2/3 open field and 1/3 fairly dense woods. Brian is with Polaris so he gets a new vehicle or two to drive and evaluate every year. This year it’s a large ATV Ranger, first time I’ve ever seen one of those noisy toys I liked! Terri took us for a ride in their woods and I wanted one…to go the three blocks to the grocery… Read More
Terri’s been a horsewoman her whole life, roping and barrel racing and like events on quarter horses and now trail riding with Dandy, her Tennessee Walker, a most gorgeous animal. Her grandchildren are eager to hang out and become the next generation of riders. It’s encouraging to see kids and horses so happy with each other. Photos aren’t great but they’ll do what photos do best…take one back to a moment in… Read More
One should only eat walleye in Minnesota at a cousin’s house. Oh sure, some number of restaurants serve walleye but, even though good-enough, it won’t taste like it does at Terri and Brian’s. Truth About Walleye And Their Taste (deepwaterfishery.com) The walleye has white flesh. It has a less murky taste than bass. Fish fillets which are fine and flaked have a sweet, thick, succulent and mild flavour. These terms basically describe… Read More
You’ve heard the story. Marsha gives me a gift certificate for Bender’s in Grand Rapids every birthday and every Christmas. So, if I miss coming home a year (four certificates!) there’s a shoe binge on the horizon and Bender’s has great shoes, kind of like a mini-Dillards. Travel is a indeed enlightening, enriching, good for one’s soul…sole…whatever. Insomnia not quite gone yet…but leaving. Up to Roseau on the border tomorrow for cousin… Read More
This was intended to be a meaningful post about the importance of home and how fortunate some of us are to return often and to celebrate safety, heritage, family, memories. I wanted to say something about the millions in the world who can never go home again…the refugees…I always think about them when I’m here. It’s late now though and there’s only time left in this day to thank Dr. Minnesota for… Read More
Remember , earlier in this ‘year of ageing dangerously,’ I outlined a series of ‘mostly’ small journeys, each with its own peculiar personal meaning. Well, Trip #2 is about to commence. While the first of this 2019 travel series was the California Black Mountain birthday climb fueled by a promise of borscht and cucumber vodka at the end, this trip is all about Home/Real Home/Me and the Real Home. The old nourish-the-inner-child… Read More