Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Denise Rosenau Column, 7/30/2001



I can’t believe that it’s happening already, but we are
getting close to the end of the summer of 2001. What happened to the time?

I hadn’t really thought much about it until I saw some
back-to-school ads in the Sunday edition of the Star Tribune newspaper.

It always seems to make me nostalgic. The back-to-school
ads are the turning point, forcing me into realizing that we will soon be
wearing coats and mittens, scraping car windows, and becoming increasingly
cold in general.

I try to look at the positive aspects of living in Minnesota.
I am originally from Cokato, and for me, the most important aspect of being
a Minnesotan is that this area west of the Twin Cities is where my family
and friends are. That, of course, includes the Lester Prairie/Winsted area
where I reside with my family now.

I lived in Orlando, Fla., for a short time after I graduated
from high school, and being away from just about everyone I had ever known
just about killed me. I didn’t even make it a year, even though I loved
the weather in Florida.

In Minnesota, one can’t forget how beautiful the fluffy
snow is when it is gracefully falling, or the frost on the trees, which
always seems to happen on Christmas morning.

And who can forget the smells of wood-burning stoves in
the beginning of fall, or recently passed snowmobiles in the middle of winter?
Those smells make this area feel like home to me. There certainly was none
of that in Florida.

In fact, what I found most funny about the south eastern
corner of the US, was that Floridians are absolutely freezing when the temperature
drops below 40 degrees, which, mind you, rarely happens.

There they are, sporting the one sweatshirt that they own
under their heavy jacket, and, believe it or not, they are actually wearing
socks with their sandals

For Florida natives, 40 degrees means that it’s time to
lock themselves in their house and watch MTV spring break re-runs under
blankets on the couch.

At 40 degrees, only being in Florida for a few months with
my still-thick Minnesota blood, I was still wandering around wearing shorts
and a spring jacket.

And all I could say to the people that I came across was,
“Wimps, wimps, wimps. . .”

After spending a short time away from Minnesota, I was
finally able to realize (in the infinite wisdom that only an 18-year old
can possess) that my home is a good place, filled with good people, and
high values, and even if it is a bit cold, it is where I want to be.

I often wondered while living in Orlando, that if an accident
would happen, how many passersby would stop to help? Here in Minnesota,
the answer is simple – everyone within a two-block radius, and several others
once the word spread.

What a wonderful feeling, knowing that there are so many
kind and helpful people living among us in our smaller communities.

I also like the idea of being able to leave our grill and
swimming pool outside without worrying if it will be there in the morning,
and love having built-in babysitters close by, so that my husband and I
can have a night to ourselves (thank you, parents!).

And how could you forget how warm and comfortable the sun
feels in April, when we haven’t seen it for a while? Or how bright the stars
shine at night when you are looking over the “back forty” at night?
These are the things that keep me here, and that make me happy to raise
my children here.

I wish I could go back in time, to see what I see now.
When I was 18, moving to Florida was an adventure. I had no idea what a
shock I was in for, when I couldn’t just stop by to see my parents, or go
shopping with my girlfriends.

I would have had to incur a pretty big expense to spend
the afternoon chit-chatting with my mom in her living room.

Little did I know how difficult it would be to be away,
how much I would miss everyone, and that I would actually prefer to live
in the cold, tundra of Minnesota over the fast pace of exciting Orlando,
Florida.

So, looking at the Sunday ads, I have to think to myself,
our seasons are about to change and I’m genuinely comfortable with this.

Of course, my son going back to school seems to help some,
too.

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