My Minnesota, Chapter one

During my life time I have been asked many times “Where you from? “Why do you live there?” “Don't you want to live anywhere else?” The words are easy. “Minnesota.” “Because.” “No.”

But in truth, the reasons are not easy. I was born to a family of farmers in west central MN. However, my mother was not from MN. In those days, wives followed the husband in his pursuit/choice of a living. So MN was where I was to be born. As were two brothers over the next eight years.

I have, for short periods in my life, lived elsewhere. Those places I found to be a very nice place's to visit but not somewhere I wanted to live for any extended period of time.

There are worst places to live based on location. Minnesota has a temperate climate in that we have a changing of the seasons. Summer, fall, winter and spring come to mind. Our summers for the most part are moderate, however it can get over a hundred degrees for short periods. Fall is the time of harvest, hunting and getting ready for winter. Winter can be mild all season (barely getting down to zero) or it can be extremely cold ( 20 below zero is not uncommon) most of the season. Which, depends on the weather in other parts of the world. We get a lot of our weather systems from our northern neighbor, Canada. Yes, we have high speed circulating winds we refer to as tornadoes (in other parts of the world they are referred to as cyclones). It is not fun to be in the path of one. If you ever have the pleasure of experimenting a MN spring, well, lets just say you will enjoy the time.

A few reasons NOT to life elsewhere:

No or very few snakes. There are rattler snakes in the south east corner of the state along the river bluffs. Most state residents go their entire lives without seeing a snake in MN. Those same residents (namely this writer) go their entire lives avoiding the river  bluffs.

Green grass. In the summer. Winter, not so much.

Flooding happens mostly along the flood plains bordering two or three major rivers. No one will force you to live along a flooding river. I have seen large, flat areas flood from huge amounts of rain fall, but again its rare. The last one I saw was forty years ago.

There are few wild bugs/insects that will do you harm. Most residents never see the harmful ones in their lifetime. Contrary to rumors, mosquito's do not get as big as pigs. As big as dragon flies, maybe.

We have great fishing lakes. Many bodies of water are actually swamps/slews unfit for the modern discriminating fish.

We have great fishing rivers. They wander wherever they please. So finding a good spot could be a challenge.

It is the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Tracing the origins of said river will give you a headache. But you can walk across the great river. Without getting wet.

Spring & summer sports. 'People watching' heads this list.

Winter & fall sports. Snowshoeing, ice fishing comes to the top of the list. Contrary to rumors we do NOT fish for ice.

All the above is just a few reasons to live here. We are located just right within the USA borders. Not too far south nor in Canada. Canada is a great neighbor but I, for one, would not want to live there. Too cold. Too much snow. Short summer. Long winter. If we were further south we would be in Iowa. Everyone knows how Iowa is. They may get a little irritated if we were to be located there. Miffed even. Annoyed for sure. Being located a tad east or west is not even an option. Too close to the oceans. We Minnesotans love our lakes. Oceans not so much.

Most visitors or new residents can find us a little on the conservative side. We are more reserved than conservative. Except when we are talking about politics. We also have “Minnesota Nice,” A state all it's own. No one else in the world has this. You have not lived until you have experienced MN nice. If you, a visitor, are lost and stop to ask directions, you may get quit a surprise. First you will get the directions you wanted, if the person you asked knows them. If not he/she will direct you to someone who does. The person will have a regional accent so bear with them. Listen closely. “Just park it over there” you are told. This person will give you the exact distance in miles, the time it will take to the very minute, accounting for driving faster than the law allows of course. Then you get advice on how to drive. The MN way. Next you may get a long version of the history of the place you are looking for. Along with some history made up on the spot. The more colorful history, the longer this takes. So a half minute you expected to be delayed has now turned into a half hour/forty five minutes. At this time you need to make excuses so you can get on your way. But wait! The person is asking “Where you from, then?” You do not want to be impolite. After all, you are representing your home town. So you say “I'm from-----------.” Big mistake. The person you are talking too has been there! Knows people there! Has a cousin, four times removed, lives there. Asks you if you know them. Describes them. One at a time. In detail or as much as they remember. Along with their own history! Another half hour is wasted. You are now invited to coffee. No matter this person is not in front of his/her own home. The coffee shop around the corner will do! Needless to say the person will not take NO NO NO for an answer. An hour later you fake an incoming emergency phone call just to get away, wishing you had thought of it some time ago. However he/she paid for the coffee, pie and donuts. The parking fee as well. That’s a plus. Made a friend for life. Agreed to meet same place next year. Bring the entire family. Pets, cousins and all. No, no need to get a hotel/motel. Wouldn't hear of it! Stay at our place! By now the place you wanted to visit has slipped your mind. Time to return to the hotel. Try again tomorrow. Now just where were we staying? Lets ask someone.

Minnesota nice. Nothing like it. And it is all our own.