We Almost Missed Our Flight to Argentina

We almost missed our flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina. I checked the tickets before we left Sioux Falls, SD and noted that the connection was tight. It appeared that we would arrive in Dallas just as our next flight boarded. Our flight attendant mentioned that we'd have to take the sky tram to another terminal, so both of us were relieved and impressed when we deboarded in Dallas and saw a personal escort holding an orange sign labelled "Buenos Aires." Sweet. I don't remember his name, but he pretty much held our hands up the escalator, onto the sky tram, down the escalator, through the walkway leading directly to our gate. He said that we had plenty of time, so we used the restroom and shared a piece of chicken from Pop-Eyes. We watched as everyone boarded, then made our way to the gate at the back of the line. "Excellent timing," we thought to ourselves. As the attendant scanned our passport, he asked "Did you pay your reciprocity?"
Me: "No. Can we do that now?"
Attendant: "Weren't you listening? I announced it over the loud speaker. You have to purchase it at the Club."
Me: "Oh, where's the Club?"
Attendant: Pointing, "Over there."
Me: "Over where?"
Attendant: Pointing again like it was obvious, "Over there. But this flight is leaving. I don't think you're going to make it in time."
Have you ever seen the show "Amazing Race"?  It was a lot like that. Mark and I ran, full out, at the airport. We were like rats in a maze, being timed. I was stressed.  After running back and forth down the aisle, we found the Admiral's Club. The receptionist informed us that there would be a $99 fee for using the club. Fine. Charge us. Get us on that flight. The receptionist offered a discount. She charged for only one person. After the transaction was done, we were ready to race back to the gate, but she pointed us up to the 5th floor for further processing. I started to worry. We were the last ones boarding. How long would they hold the flight for us? Mark took my ticket and ran upstairs while I ran back to the gate to beg them to hold the flight. As I stood, alone, at the gate, I heard my phone ring.
"Honey, they need your passport up here on the 5th floor."
"Be right there!" I started running back to the Club.
We took the painfully slow elevator up from 3rd to 5th floor and ran up to the counter where another attendant pointed us around the corner and down the hall to a man waving at the back. We sprinted. The man told us to drop our bags and type quickly on a computer terminal. We opened an account and made another $160 visa payment (per person). This was adding up, but we wanted on that flight, so we typed as fast as we could and forked over the funds. The documents printed and we sprinted again down the hall to the elevator and out the Club door. Outside, a man from the airline gate was waiting and sprinted with us back to the gate. As the attendant scanned our boarding pass, I quipped, "Well, at least we won't destroy American Airline's record of having the least on time departures." Alas, we were the last to board, and made our flight to Argentina.

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I'm Proud to Be From A Family of Givers

As I visited my family, I was struck again my their generosity. They're a family of givers. When I was young, regardless of where we were going or how late we already were, my dad would stop the car to help people who were in need of a tow or tire change. He fed people who were hungry and picked up hot coffee for the Salvation Army bell ringers. He gave us kids (along with our bazillion cousins) cash to visit the convenience store. My mom took my teachers out to lunch on the last day of school. My folks remodeled my grandparents living room and kitchen while they were away on vacation. My parents were always givers. Thus, it comes as no surprise that my family continues to give.

This visit to Sioux Falls, SD was a regular give-fest. My sister, Stacey, and my brother, Justin, drove 2-4 hours each way to visit Mark and I in Sioux Falls- not once, but twice. For graduation, my sister gave me a signed copy of a book from the positive energy guy, along with my favorite choco love salted almond bar. My brother, Justin, gifted me in Euros along with a hand-made necklace. My little brother, Christopher, wore the cash and booze graduation leis I made for him, and took time away from his work and studies each day to hang out together and take Ruger, his dog, to the park. My Mom and Dad loaded up the fridge with fruits and veggies for our visit. They lent us their vehicle so that we could put 866 miles on it. They even filled up the gas tank and sent us off with 3 coolers full of meat for Mark's grandparents in I'Falls. While we offered, and oftentimes insisted that we pay for a meal, my family treated us to Texas Steakhouse and Olive Garden. My sister gave me starter kits for Amish Friendship bread so that I could take gifts as we visited family in MN and Canada. My mom took the week off so that we could do fun things like the downtown art walk and Mama Ladas Enchiladas. My sister and brother-in-law made sure I kept it to a max of 5 lbs of vacation weight by initiating a daily 7 minute work out. And, my mom offered free daycare if we ever have children. Sioux Falls really would be a great place to raise kids, especially around such givers.

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Catching Up with My College Roommates in Minneapolis

Back in 1997, "the 4 of us" arrived at NWC from4 different states (SD, MN, ND, and MI). We crammed into a dorm together, and like magic, this synergy developed. During our college years, we pulled all-nighters in campus center, giggled during class, ate chocolate covered Oreos from the Eagle's Nest, got tossed in the pool, played pranks, and painted the rock. Since NWC, we'd been in each other's weddings, gone camping on the Northshore, and despite the geographical distance, we still managed to visit nearly annually. While we had gotten together individually, the last time we had been able to gather as "the 4 of us," was nearly 3 years ago, which is why we were so excited to reunite at Lauren's new apartment in Down town Minneapolis.
I love having 3 incredible gals in my life who love me just as I am. We spent 6 hours catching up, and like the old days, we stayed up late into the morning, laughing, sharing, and listening. I love getting together with these gals. My heart feels at home among them. If only Minneapolis were warmer and had mountains, I could convince Mark to make this my year-round reality.

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This Canadian family is a catch!

When we visit Mark's grandparents in International Falls, MN, we like to cross the border into Canada to visit the Bjorkman family in Attikokan. They're a bunch of Christian bush hippies who love God and know how to enjoy life, and we love visiting because they roll like we do; they live in the moment and say "yes" to adventure.
Karl's family owns a mineral prospecting business, so last-minute planning is standard procedure. Calls come in for next-day service. The team packs up their gear, hops a flight the next morning, and is prospecting by the following day. So, when we call 24 hours in advance to see if anyone is around for a visit, they're cool with it. Katrina was in Australia for geology school, but Karl and Nikki were around, along with their kids: Jess, Bjorn, "Bernie", Ruth, and Carla.


We love the whole bunch. Mark and I joke that Jess is the family ambassador. She's fun-loving, up for fun, knows how to shoot a gun, and has her own truck, boat, and ATV. Bjorn is trapper (minnows and leaches), carpenter (built his log home along with a gorgeous staircase), and gun-lover (taught me how to shoot a revolver... Sorry about the hole in your tarp... I really was aiming for the juice container). Ruth and "Bernie" (Veronique) live in Thunder Bay. Ruth loves horses and is expecting 3 colts soon, and Bernie is sweet and helps her brother with his trapping business. Carla is the baby of the crew and is finishing high school in a couple of years.
When Mark and I visit, we rack our brains hoping to find a God-loving eligible bachelor or bachelorette in our rolodex of friends, because, I'm telling you, this family is a catch. For example, Jess knows how to catch, filet, and cook a fish. She has her own boat, truck and ATV, and knows how to use them. This family isn't the stuffy kind of Christians who keep to themselves. They're a welcoming bunch that drinks whiskey and samples the Bourban when company from Kentucky drops in for their 13th summer in a row. This is the kind of second generation Norwegian and Dutch family that eats lunch together on the patio (think rock and sand patch overlooking the lake). They ride Harleys, follow politics, travel to Europe, shoot guns and hike abandoned mines. And, they'll be all kinds of bothered that I'm soliciting applications for mates, but seriously, how great would it be to marry into a family like this? I got lucky; I married in through Mark who knew the family when he was a kid in Minnesota. For everyone else, there's a cabin for rent down the road... just sayin'.

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Visiting in I'Falls, MN

When I was a kid, I thought visiting relatives was boring. I played outside while the grown ups sat around and talked. But, the older I get, the more I enjoy visiting. I haven't fully developed my visiting skills, so I marvel at the ease by which experienced grown ups "visit." How'd they get so good at hanging out, sitting on a couch, drinking coffee, talking about the weather and their families and their health and local happenings? How do they come up with things to talk about? How to start a visit, or revive one when it hits the awkward lull, is a big mystery to me. I don't have that "gift of gab" that seems to come so naturally to others. But, the more I visit, the better I'm getting at this now enjoyable activity.
I'Falls is a small town, but not small enough to have the kind of newspaper that talks about so-and-so visited so-and-so. But if it did, it would say, "During Mark and Annie's visit to International Falls, they visited and...
Baked friendship bread with Sylvia Heem

Walked at Vouagers National Park with Randy and Terry Shoberg
Rode bicycles together through Shorewood, Rainy River Community College, and I'Falls high school
Went to Smokey Bear park with Catie and the extended Shoberg clan
Did Zumba with Terry Shoberg
Enjoyed a BBQ in celebration of Grandma Julia Shoberg's birthday at Ken and Mary Shoberg's place
Drove ATVs at the cabin with Don and Julie Godfroy near the Little Fork River

Had the privilege of gardening with 96 year old Grandpa Morris and 92 year old Grandma Julia Shoberg



Played Mexican train dominoes with Don and Julie Godfroy and Brenda
Had a 3 hour lunch at Gordy's in Cloquet with Ron and Pauline Oja"
The newspaper article would conclude, "The visits were enjoyed by all."

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Where'm I Gonna Live When I Get Home?

For the past two years, Mark and I have had our noses to the grad school grindstones, on an isolated rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Although our families visited for Christmas and spring break, we missed them terribly, so, before setting foot in South America, we scheduled our favorite pre-trip tour of the heartland: Colorado, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

Our first stop was Grand Junction, Colorado, where we spent 10 days with Mark's family. Mark loves the Valley, and would love to live there when he finishes his PhD. I like the Valley, too, but have my reservations about living there again. On the one hand, the active, outdoor lifestyle and affordable cost of living are very appealing. On the other hand, the career opportunities appear somewhat flat for those of us with higher education. Moreover, one of the critical factors to happiness on the job, social support, can be a real challenge for "city folk."

During this visit to GJ, my primary observation was the contrasting culture. Honolulu has a large Asian influence and tends to be more communal, whereas Grand Junction is largely "white bread" with a small Hispanic influence and tends to be more independent. Moreover, GJ is the kind of place where 90% of the population owns a gun, goes to church, and embraces the military... Disclaimer: stats may be exaggerated by personal perception, but I can provide a few supporting anecdotes: 1. The airport lobby has a stuffed grizzly bear. 2. Our friend, Eric, packed heat when we went snowmobiling on the Grand Mesa. 3. Our cousin's high school graduation kicked off with with a special tribute to honor graduates who signed up for the military. 4. The coach's graduation speech quoted scripture and talked about God. 5. There's practically a church on every corner. 6. Literally every male in Mark's family owns a pick up truck (we did, too, when we lived in GJ, though that was back when gas was less than $3/gallon).

This is not to say that the Valley inhospitable for "city folk." Sprouts (think Whole Foods) had opened up a new store with affordable organic fruits and vegetables, as well as gluten-free offerings, snack mixes, and dark-chocolate covered honeycombs. And, there are a handful of vineyards and even an annual Winefest.

There's a lot to love about the Valley.
1. There's order. I like that the whole town is laid out on a grid system of one mile increments ranging from A-G Road and 24-32 Road (I realize this lacks creativity, but after criss-crossing Honolulu's winding roads, and challenging signage, I appreciate being able to find things easily).
2. It's surrounded by mountains. There's something familiar and comforting about the Bookcliff's cascading ridges of shadows and reflected light, Grand Mesa's flat top (the largest in the world), and the Monument's rocky, orange hiking trails with bursts of sage and juniper bushes.
3. The food is exciting. Our mouths celebrated the reunion with Kannah Creek's blonde ale and Caesar salads, Ghengis Grill's Mongolian BBQ, Mexican food, Olive Garden's wine and seafood, and grilled steaks with blue cheese. Visiting GJ is like traveling to food heaven.
4. Family lives here. Mark's dad took us snowmobiling on the Grand Mesa, and I took my nephews and sister-in-law hiking alongside the big-horned sheep. The trail was loaded with lizards, and we even witnessed a bull snake taking down a mouse. We rode ATV's, BBQ'd, created pinatas with the nieces and nephews, and even adopted a siamese cat named Chester for Mark's mom. It was wonderful to have family around again.
So, while it's impossible to know for certain where we'll end up in the future, GJ is high on the list of possibilities.

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