Fall is in the air

I found it strange that Wood Lake School which is used for nothing now and has not been used for so long is sided with metal siding which means it will stand for a long time.  Maybe memories are meant to be preserved in structures.

For the next few days pictures will bring me (maybe you too!) down memory lane.  There will be a quiz each day with the answers the following day.  TODAY THE QUESTION IS "Where were these pictures taken and how are they connected?" I would say MAYBE brother Dave or sister Joan would know where.  How are they connected?  If anyone knows that they know how I think and I am not even sure I know that!!!

I returned from North Dakota yesterday and was tired.  Mary, Mark, Allen and I stayed up kind of late Tuesday night talking.  We discussed much about Grandma and what might transpire over the next weeks or months.  Then yesterday morning we again talked for some time before Allen left for Fargo and I got my weathered wood.  It seems that Grandma is in the last stage of life so there is much to talk about.

I attended Danny Saunders' funeral on Tuesday.  I am guessing there were about 150+ as the Cayuga church was fairly full.  After the internment there was a lunch at the hall.  Scalloped potatoes with ham, sandwiches, dill pickles, coleslaw and dessert.  A typical and delicious meal for all.  

I turned the trip into a photo shoot of sorts.  I started in Veblen and from there it took me to Cayuga, Geneseo and Lidgerwood.  The thing that struck me was how much things have changed in rural America.  Sure, I have not lived in Sargent County since 1966 BUT still the change is startling and sad.  On my way home yesterday I decided I would literally have a slice of rural America by stopping in a small town cafe for a burger and fries.  When Joan, Dave, Helen and I were in Lidgerwood for Santa Claus Day back in the late 50s there were at least 3 cafes in town, a dime store, a variety story and much much more.  Yesterday I could not find a cafe open at 11:30! I THINK there may be ONE that is open some times but really maybe not.  I stopped in Fairmont at a Cennex gas station and filled with gas.  I went in and they did sell pizza and other things there.  I asked if there was a cafe in town and the lady pointed to her store, that was it!  After stops in Geneso, Lidgerwood, Hankinson and Fairmont I hit gold in tiny Wendell which is a blink after Fairmont.

Well I admit it was called a bar and grill but as I looked it seemed more bar than grill!  As I ate my burger and fries I chatted with a fellow.  He shared about his 6++ jobs he had over the years and about his 3 ex-wives.  He said he liked them kind of wild!  I have to say as I ate there were 5 people who came in for take outs.  It seemed to me NOBODY takes a lunch bucket to work any more!  The owners (I think) were a couple that looked to be in their "almost" retirement years.  I had to wonder what will happen when they hang it up.  I did observe that even in tiny Wendell in rural American there were plenty of tattoos even on the "mature" lady who served me my burger.  I have begun to think, if I want to fit in, I need to get some of those paper tattoos that you can wet and then put on your body.  Maybe that would make me look kind of normal for the day!!!  Then again do I really care if I appear to be normal?

I just saw a person jog past the house with a headlight on.  A few weeks ago it would have been plenty light out.

Today is the first day of the Minnesota State Fair where over the next 13 days there will most likely be 2,000,000+ people eating, enjoying and having a great time.  The weather shows ALL days in the mostly low 70s with a 69 sprinkled in.  I think that is nice fair weather.  Maybe rain just one day.  If that holds I predict a record crowd this year.  Of course it brought to mind the years I sat in the vender's parking lot from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM for 14 days.  Oh my those last several days went by slowly.

All in all my trip to ND was good.  I missed my Terry as I do not enjoy traveling alone or being alone but maybe next time we can do it together.  I say that and then I add.  Going to ND, where I grew up, is OK but I do not want to do it TOO often.  Better to live and enjoy the present and look too and plan for the future.

Enough for today.  I THINK I may get some work done today AFTER my Bentley ride.  Mary and Mark had good coffee yesterday but my FP today is "for sure" the best!