Year One
I just noticed that today marks the anniversary of this blog’s first post: 5 days after we closed on our St. Paul house, and 16 days before we arrived in the Twin Cities, in our laden Ford C-Max, for good.
At first I wanted to record impressions while this lifelong Easterner came into resonance with the culture of the Midwest – and the Twin Cities particularly. As the adjustment process has evolved, the blog’s subject matter has expanded apace. Lately I’m writing longer-form pieces with some tie to Minnesota or Massachusetts but broader in scope.
In the last year I have foisted 52 blog posts upon you, writing about neighborhood character and streetscapes, architecture, food (Juicy Lucys, pizza, State Fair on a stick), drink (coffee, beer), Little Free Libraries, and such a deal of skimble-scamble stuff as puts me from my faith.
Thanks to all of you for reading, for participating in my acclimatization, and for contributing to the conversation, here and on Facebook and on Nextdoor.com.
I am so glad to know about your blog, albeit one year after your initiation into becoming a Midwesterner! I hail from Missouri and can’t wait to read your posts.
Hi Susan, thanks for visiting! You can start with Kinda a year ago and catch up to date. Just sayin’.
I guess Nextdoor.com is nationwide because I believe we have that in my neighborhood in Berkeley, CA. Small world and getting smaller. I love reading your blog because I get a very detailed and flavorful description of the area and, if I were ever to visit, I would want to look for certain places. Kinda like when I went all over Portland, Oregon in May of 2006 looking for all places used in the movie, What the Bleep Do We Know? Found pretty much every one except the church. Thanks again.
You’re so welcome! Yes, Nextdoor is everywhere; we participated in Groton too. Do come visit. Pretty sure the trains run here. The church in What the Bleep… could have been in Vancouver (which is the location for almost everything cinema-wise you can’t figure out the location for).
It has been wonderful to hear about your experiences. We could so easily feel your presence and hear your voice in every one of your postings. Better than if you had written letters.
Thanks Valerie! That’s what I aim for. Not trying to hide here.
Keep them coming here, Keith. We enjoy reading them. We still need to get together for stuff so we can add to your blog. Of course, people can always look at my FB timeline over the last four years to get a feel for Minnesota people, places and things. Hi to Katharyn.
I particularly like the phrase “came into resonance.” Not enough people notice that each local area has its own resonant frequencies (food, customs, etc.) and it’s wonderful that you two are sensitive to this. Two of the strengths of this blog come from your care with words, and life.
Thank you Jules! I’m a little late in replying (3 years’ worth of late), but as long as we’re having this strung out running conversation…