To me, “Minnesota Nice” is a great label for many Minnesotans.
One of the best examples was when two Minnesota sophomore high school students wrestled for the Minnesota 120 lb. state title. The loser was pinned by his opponent. Did the loser throw his headgear, pout and stomp off the mat? No, he went over to his opponent’s dad – who was dying of cancer – and gave him a big hug. Then it was the winner’s turn to hug his dying dad. The crowd cheered, clapped and cried while standing to show their appreciation.
Closer to home, the NRHEG school board most certainly knows the meaning of Minnesota Nice. How so? Because they closed school on Wednesday and let out school early on Friday so NRHEG-Land could take part either in person or watch the great NRHEG girls win the Minnesota Class AA State Basketball Championship the second year in a row. (For those of you with the last name of Johnson: You may have the most common last name in Minnesota; however, Wagner is the most popular last name in NRHEG-Land.)
When you’re the editor of the local NRHEG newspaper, you get to prove how great you and your staff are promoting Minnesota Nice by publishing a “State Tournament Souvenir Edition” of the NRHEG Class AA Minnesota Girls 2014 State Championship basketball team. (There are 59 photos in the edition. Thanks, Star Eagle staff!) To me, the best picture was of the Mighty Team of 12 girls.
When you’re recognized as the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Farm Family of the Year, is one of the requirements being Minnesota Nice? Most certainly, as in the example set by Paul and Linda Lynne of rural Hartland.
Even Minnesota weather can be nice, as March went out like a lamb!
A personal Minnesota Nice was shown to me. I went to Meg for teeth cleaning at the dental office of Dr. George Lundstrom in Albert Lea. When she was done, I sit up to stand up and leave. As I did so, the room was spinning and I was dizzy. I managed to leave and get to Dr. Salazar in Urgent Care at Mayo in Albert Lea the next day. My blood pressure and heartbeat were sitting up, lying down, and standing up. The readings were very different. A blood test was done, and Dr. Salazar told me my problem was easy to solve. “Drink Gatorade, on a daily basis,” was the answer. I am now drinking 12 ounces of Gatorade with no dizziness.
Where does the Minnesota Nice apply to the dizziness? Two days later, on a Saturday morning, a nurse from Urgent Care called to see if the Gatorade solved the problem. She told me she knows me from Beaver Lake, and her in-laws are Joe and Marge LaFrance, longtime cabin owners on Beaver Lake. Fellow Lion Kevin LaFrance, your wife is truly “Minnesota Nice.”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.