My twin sister and I drove highway 35 from Minneapolis to Duluth yesterday, headed to our 50th high school reunion. As we zoomed along in our rented Prius we were filled with warm toasty feelings, having just spent two days with one of our best high school buds. The Minnesota scenery rolled by. Maple, aspen, and birch trees just starting to change into their fall colors contrasted with Christmas tree shaped pines.
We have a room right next to the Aerial Bridge, a famous Duluth landmark, and last night we were treated to a spectacular view of the glowing Bridge and the city lights reflected in the water of the harbor. That of course was after we went to the funeral home. This was not part of our planned visit. We had seen in the online newspaper that a close friend of my parents had died the day we arrived in Minnesota and that a viewing with her family and friends was happening the day we would get to Duluth. How could we not go? My sister wrote a wonderful description of the experience: "I don't have a bucket list. I have more of a sandbox pail list of things I wanted to do when limited by caregiving. So this trip feels more like a mini European vacation in the USA. This is a side of Duluth we are experiencing for the first time - amazing and weird. We went to Bell Brothers (funeral home) to the viewing of the 100 year old most beautiful woman I have ever known. It was packed - but the kids of Lorna and her sister recognized us and were so happy to reconnect. It was this Lorna/Lornie, Millie/Reuben, Inez/Howard, and Jane/Bob who partied with peanut butter sandwiches, coffee and cards during the depression. It was at Lorna's, a few days before our birth, where Mom said she felt she had arms and legs all over. We went up to Lorna's every New Year's Eve and played cards. We had picnics in Jay Cook State Park. Dad still wrote to Lorna (who quit driving at 95) until his death. What are the odds of Lorna passing so we could go to Bell Brothers?" - Linda This trip is about so much more than just our high school reunion. It is a chance to go back to the land of our youth, to marvel at the way things have changed and the way they have remained the same, and to see things from a different perspective. We are keeping ourselves open to whatever the universe has in store for us and we are ready to look back with older eyes.
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Leslie Masona woman in search of her post-retirement future Guess what! By subscribing, you get notices about the latest Little Old Lady with Cats posts sent to your mailbox!
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