I am incredibly excited for my upcoming Thanksgiving trip to Minnesota. Tonight I began filling my suitcase even though I don’t fly out until Wednesday, which means my level of anticipation has somehow overcome my intense hatred for packing.
Two of my coworkers took trips to the Midwest within the past few weeks, and they made me jealous with tales from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota. It’s always hilarious to hear a Southerner recount experiences from up north. My coworker Travis attempted to test the authenticity of my Minnesotan farm girl-ness by texting me a photo of a calf from Wisconsin and asking, “What kind of cow is this?”
It was a Dutch Belted. He really should have chosen a more difficult breed.
Travis also did some philosophizing while he sat in his hotel room trying to escape the temperatures that seemed frigid to a South Carolinian but undoubtedly mild to everyone else in Wisconsin, I’m sure. He said:
The people of the Midwest are too d@mn nice. I think it’s the cold. I think their preservation instinct compels them to work as a unit because they know that’s the only way they’ll make it.
I don’t care what causes the “Minnesota nice,” but I feel long overdue for a giant dose of it. Also, I just might freeze my buns off this week.
The Petersons were on TV, dontcha know!
Every once in a while my hometown of Cannon Falls makes the local news, and I was happy to see WCCO’s coverage of Turkey Day incorporated Ferndale Market, which is quite an asset to our little community.
During my brief days in television reporting, I learned that the news industry is rarely inclined to share stories about genuinely nice, genuinely hardworking people. In television, producers frequently follow the phrase, “if it bleeds, it leads.” Unfortunately, this does not allow for many charming features, like this one about the Petersons. Let me tell you, they are genuinely nice, genuinely hardworking individuals. They are kind of Midwesterners I brag about down South.
And the Minnesotan accent? That’s authentic, too.
Tonight I baked pumpkin bars. You know, the really delicious kind with the cream cheese frosting? Yeah, those.
This afternoon it donned on me that I haven’t reached my pumpkin-flavored quota for the season and there are only TWO DAYS until Thanksgiving. You see, on Friday I will inevitably switch from the wholesome spiciness of pumpkin lattes and muffins to sweet chocolate-peppermint Christmas concoctions.
I’m very excited to share my pan o’ pumpkin at the office tomorrow. I’m surely not the only person who is needs a little fall flavor and an extra dose of sugar to get through the agonizing day before vacation.
Giving Thanks
I’m thankful for my amazing parents who support all of my adventures even when it means on days like today we cannot be together.
