At the campus of Cornell College, an Ivy League school in Ithaca, N.Y., a yearly event is held for the high school graduates and staff to meet each other. Following is the conversation at last year’s event:
“Hi, my name is Paige, I’m on the staff. Hi, my name is Anna, I’m an alumnus. Where are you from?”
“I’m from Minnesota. How about you?”
“I’m from Minnesota too.”
“What part of Minnesota?”
“Albert Lea.”
“Wow, me too.”
“I rode the bus to school in Albert Lea.”
“Unbelievable, me too.”
“Where did you live?”
“Clarks Grove.”
“You’re kidding, me too.”
“What street did you live on?”
“I lived on Independence St.”
“This is too much. So did I.”
“My mom was the Lutheran pastor for Central and North Freeborn Lutheran Church. Her name is Reverend Linda Gunderson.”
“My dad was the pastor for Central and North Freeborn Lutheran Church. His name is Reverend Timothy Bauer.”
About this time, not a word was spoken by either as this was just too much to digest. Suddenly, at the same time, both said, “We’ve lived in the same house. You’ve slept in my bedroom!”
And now, readers, you know the updated version of “The Tale of Two Cities.” It is called, “The Tale of Two Ladies.”
Paige was in Minnesota for a few days. Genie and I met her at Slippery’s in Wabasha for lunch and then on to Lark Toys in Kellogg.
For the younger movie-goers, Wabasha was where the movies of “Grumpy Old Men” were filmed. The movies, plus the National Eagle Center, have made Wabasha a destination on a lot of bucket lists. The town was packed. We waited about 45 minutes to get a seat by the Mississippi River to eat lunch. Since the year 2000, Slippery’s has had to close three times because of high water on the Mississippi, flooding the lower-level eating area.
As usual on a fall-colored pretty leaves day, Lark Toys was humming. They served about 150 ice cream cones at $3 minimum on the day we were there. Did all of us have an ice cream cone? Do you have any other stupid questions?
P.S. Regarding the conversation between Paige and Anna, when it happens, the day of staff meeting alumnus, this column will be all fact. In other words, the rest is “true.”
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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.