| Tuesday, December 20, 2005 |
| Country Mouse |
So this is Minnesota. The "other" Minnesota, that is. Off the beaten path, outside of the Cities, and surrounded by acres of farm land. This is the picture in my mind when I think of my childhood home (except I usually like to remember it in the summertime, when it's warmer, sunny, and bright, and there's a bunch of corn growing in the fields.)
I grew up in an itty bitty little town in the south-central part of the state. Smaller than a one-stoplight town (we only rated a flashing yellow) and built along a single-lane highway, featuring a proportional number of bars to churches, a few ever-changing cafes, a bowling alley, a grocery store, and the best bakery ever. (It also has a reputation for being the polka capital of the world, but I've never been able to verify the authenticity of that claim despite the fact that it's proclaimed on the water tower...)
We lived (and my parents still live) about a mile from town. At the end of this road is where I waited many, many mornings for the bus to come pick me up. Or, more acurately, this is where the bus driver waited many times for his/her often very late first passenger of the morning, with backpack and snowsuit (that my mother thought I should wear for goodness sake) in tow. I cannot tell you how many times I boarded that bus with frozen hair because I didn't have enough time to dry it before running out the door. But I digress...
Returning home for a few days during vacation was a treat for me. It was fun to observe Cole and Harper partaking in those memories that are such a great part of my childhood, like helping make Christmas cookies or reclining in the big wooden rocking chair on Grandma's lap. It was the perfect excuse to feast on peanut butter bars from the bakery. It was an opportunity to photograph the landscape that was a part of my life for so long but that has now faded in memory since moving South. Unfortunately, it was not quite long enough to take in a few games at the bowling alley.
But more than anything, it was a blessing to be able to spend time together as a family. Baby-of-the-family Mark was home from school and Kristina flew in from NC the day before we did. So we were all together again, just in a new way, what with the very welcome additions of Mark (referring to my husband this time), Cole, and Harper.
And that, my friends, is also why we do such crazy things, like bundle up our two kids to catch a 5am flight, cram half of our worldy possessions into 4 big suitcases, use our credit card/debit cards to accrue frequent flier miles, and sleep on couches or floors or other fairly flat accomodations. For family: to watch the grandparents dote on their only grandchildren, to tease and laugh with younger siblings, to chat with relatives and celebrate their accomplishments, and, as always, to capture memories in photographs. The temperature may not be warm, but the company is bliss.
And besides, we can always catch up on our sleep later, right? |
posted by Joanna Bolick @ 11:24 AM  |
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| 19 Comments: |
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Wow, your post reminds me so much of my home! The small town I grew up in only has one flashing yellow light too. You took some GORGEOUS landscape photos! I'm so glad you were able to go back 'home' for a visit. Life is all about those moments and memories with family, eh?!
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OMgoodness Joanna. What beautiful photos and what equally beautiful words. Loved reading this post!
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Beautifully written and captured on camera!!!!!!!
LOL about the frozen hair.......I did that almost every day through Junior High and my first few months of 10th grade!!!!
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I can just see the haziness as you enter the smoke-filled bowling alley. I haven't been in there for years but it brought back memories. So glad you made it back home for a visit. Take Care and Merry Christmas.
Shelley H
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awwwwwwwwwww. what a fabulous entry about home and family. :D
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you catch so much through your photography, J. it's always so moving. love to see more of minnesota as i've never visited and there's a possibility i might be making a permanent visit in the near future. gorgeous. *sigh*
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Joanna I just love the photos of your sweet home. And...the journaling made me feel so warm and cozy. How fun that your parents still live in the home you grew up in. I moved almost every year of my growing up years. I couldn't even tell you the name of all my schools and homes. Thanks for sharing your memories.
maureen
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AWHHH... adorable pictures! You should do an article about "going home"... has that been done already? I wish we were going home... maybe this summer...
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Great photos! Why do they look so familiar?? ;-)
Looks like you had a fun vacation!! Glad you made it home safely!
Robin
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gorgeous! i need to get to southern mn sometime ... i love "out in the middle of nowhere" - one of my favorite places to be! i grew up in a similar-type setting, but in wisconsin. your description of waiting for the bus had my laughing ... i've SOOO been that girl!
sounds like you have a warm, wonderful family visit!
i still giggle that we both have harpers about the same age ... it's so strange to read someone else's journaling and see that name pop up!
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Your photos are GORGEOUS. The last one took my breath away! I want to eat her little cheeks off!!!
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wow. gorgeous pictures Joanna!! And so glad you got to spend this time with your family. I see a lot of your dad in you :)
R
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Oh my gosh , I am just lovin' that picture of Little Harper and her Grandpa- she makes the best faces! Yep, you gotta love Minnesota, and you paint the perfect picture of why I will be here for the rest of my life! Of course, we have a brand new bowling alley!!!
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such AMAZING photos! WOW!
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Oh gooness those shots with the grandparents are worth it all aren't they?? Fantastic! So cute the one with Harper and her grandpa- love it!
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Joanna, I so enjoyed this! The pics are wonderful (as always)! How wonderful that you were able to spend some time with your family. Oh, the snow! We don't get a lot of that around here!
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such awesome photos...sounds like a really fun time!
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Oh, my goodness....It reminds me so much of my Grandfather's farm!!!! I should send you some of the pics I have!!! The family homestead started by my great grandfather is still there and there are still distant cousins living there...how cool. Deep roots...I love that feeling!
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gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS photos!!!
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Wow, your post reminds me so much of my home! The small town I grew up in only has one flashing yellow light too. You took some GORGEOUS landscape photos! I'm so glad you were able to go back 'home' for a visit. Life is all about those moments and memories with family, eh?!