Gatherings

We’re trying to make the most of our brief time in Minnesota. The Woman was busy scheduling a picnic to get as many of the local siblings and their young’uns together as a group. A picnic shelter was rented in Inver Grove Heights (sort of central to all) and a pot luck set up. The turnout was great. Barb and all her kids (with husbands, partners and their kids) Judy with all her kids, and Ted and Diane with all their kids (with husbands and kids). Chris and Kathy couldn’t make it, and sadly Tevin was at Tomahawk Scout Camp. But it was a rousing success!

The next gig was a gathering with the local cousins at the Olive Garden, and it was a rousing success as well! Barb came, and Chris and Kathy made it to this gathering. Diane, Mark, Craig and Mary Fran Alshouse were all in attendance so, except for Gary and Susan (in Birmingham), the whole gang was in attendance. The food was good, and the conversation better.

It was a strafing run, but we headed over to my brother Mike and his wife Bonnie’s house. My nephew Devin was going to be passing through along with his wife Liz, daughter Maia and new son Mani who we had never met before. It was a brief visit, but we actually got to spend a bunch of time with Maia and Mani (with the cutest smile ever), so it was well worth the drive across town. Mike and Bonnie looked great as well, and we’ll see them again before we go.

On our way over to Mike’s house, we stopped in the Cathedral District of St. Paul, which we have roamed many a time in the past. But somehow, we never knew that F. Scott Fitzgerald (writer of the Great Gatsby) was born in St. Paul, and lived much of his childhood on Laurel Avenue, the same street we lived on before heading out to Eagan. We managed to locate the home where he was born in on September 24, 1896 – bonus!

It’s always nice to stroll around the Twin Cities. There is a lot of bling around to remind you where you are!

Talk to you soon.