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<\/a>Minnesota between colors and snow<\/p><\/div>\n
The narrow, winding road through the rolling hills had two lanes, one in each direction.\u00a0 The darkening sky reached down to touch the expanse of furrowed fields, which were now brown and barren, but once were, and will be again, the verdant home to acres of corn.\u00a0 But before that, and for several months to follow, it will be covered in a blanket of snow.\u00a0 With apologies to Robert Frost<\/strong>, I noticed that in these parts, \u2018no fences make good neighbors\u2019<\/strong>, as there are no fences separating properties, whether it\u2019s forty-acre farms or tract homes, no fences, except to keep the cows in.\u00a0 And while there are no fences between properties like we\u2019d see back home, there are lots of silos, something we don\u2019t have a lot of in California. As I slowed down for a four-way stop, I noticed a middle-aged man, wearing a rust-colored, checkered flannel shirt and a worn Twins baseball cap, walking from his house, down his long, dirt driveway to his mailbox, which sat on a 4 x 4 post where the driveway met the road.\u00a0 He had his collar turned up to a slight breeze and 13-degree temperature. Hickory, Maple and Oak trees stand bare with \u00a0dark branches stretching to the gray sky; only the pines and firs still hold their leaves, waiting for a dusting of snow to put them in their\u00a0 holiday finary.\u00a0 I spotted two deer carcasses lying in a ditch on the side of the road, reminding me to drive very carefully as it gets darker.\u00a0\u00a0 It had been quite a while since I had driven on a \u2018real\u2019 country road \u2013 it was at once calming and exhilarating.<\/p>\n The People<\/u><\/p>\n Linda, Starlet, Phyllis<\/p><\/div>\n I cannot remember the last time Linda and I were not home, hosting family for Thanksgiving, but then again, I can\u2019t remember where I put my car keys this morning.\u00a0 We typically would have the whole family to our house, which, for the last several years, has also included Linda\u2019s sister, Starlet<\/strong> and husband, Donnie<\/strong>.\u00a0 But for medical reasons they were unable to \u2018snowbird\u2019<\/strong> from Minnesota to Arizona this winter, and thus were not able to drive over to California for Turkey Day.\u00a0 So, we decided to take this opportunity to go back to Rochester, Minnesota<\/strong> not only to be with Starlet and Donnie for Thanksgiving, but also to be with Linda\u2019s 97-year-old, sharp-as-can-be mother, Phyllis, who was able to break away from leading her retirement home attendees in their exercise program to join us!\u00a0 We would also get a chance to see two of Starlet\u2019s daughter\u2019s family, oldest daughter, Denise and husband, Gene and their three kids Garrett, Lindsay and Will, and middle daughter, Debbie and husband, Paul and daughter, Anna and son, Matt; youngest daughter, Ella was unable to make it.<\/p>\n In case anyone has concerns about this \u2018younger generation\u2019<\/strong>, here\u2019s a quick bio on Starlet\u2019s grandkids with whom we were able to share the holiday:<\/p>\n Lindsay, Will, Denise, Gene (Garrett had already left for girlfriend’s house)<\/p><\/div>\n Grandkids from oldest daughter, Denise and husband Gene<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Garrett<\/strong> \u2013 Graduated from U of Wisconsin<\/strong>, is now enrolled in a doctorate program at the University of Alabama, Huntsville<\/strong>, where he is studying Aerospace Engineering – it is<\/em> rocket science!<\/p>\n Lindsay<\/strong> \u2013 Graduated from U of Iowa<\/strong> in Global Health & Physiology and is now working in the health field in Washington DC<\/p>\n Will<\/strong> \u2013 A junior at U of Wisconsin<\/strong> studying Electrical Engineering<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grandkids from middle daughter, Debbie and husband, Paul<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Debbie, Anna, Matt, Starlet, Donnie, surrounding Phyllis<\/p><\/div>\n Matt<\/strong> \u2013 Graduated from St. John\u2019s, <\/strong>MN in Mathematics, and is working for Edwards Jones<\/strong> Investment Company and living in Denver<\/p>\n Anna<\/strong> \u2013 Graduated with honors (3.96 GPA – What, she got a ‘B’?!!!) in Bio-Chemistry from Sacred Heart<\/strong> in Connecticut, was captain of the women\u2019s hockey team and a candidate for NCAA female athlete of the year.\u00a0 Now in a Physician\u2019s Assistant program.<\/p>\n Ella<\/strong> \u2013 Studying Bio-Chemistry at St. Benedict\u2019s in St Joseph<\/strong>, MN and will follow her mother in becoming a Doctor of Pharmacy<\/p>\n (Not in attendanc<\/u>e) Gra<\/strong><\/span>ndkids<\/strong><\/u> from youngest daughter Melissa<\/u><\/strong>, who is an architect in Houston, and husband, Chris\u2019 two daughters,<\/p>\n Sydney<\/strong> \u2013 graduated from U of Texas<\/strong> in Finance<\/p>\n Macy<\/strong> \u2013 currently a student at U of Arkansas<\/strong> \u2013 getting a teaching degree.<\/p>\n My brain hurt just putting that all together!\u00a0 The whipped cream on top of this Thanksgiving Day punkin pie (home grown and made by Gene) is that they are all as ‘Minnesota Nice’ as they are smart \u2013 parents and kids alike.<\/p>\n Needless to say, we had a great, AND educational Thanksgiving; hope you did too!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Bob Sparrow The Road The narrow, winding road through the rolling hills had two lanes, one in each direction.\u00a0 The darkening sky reached down to touch the expanse of furrowed fields, which were now brown and barren, but once … read more![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/3-Barns-300x158.jpg\")
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