Walking the Talk: Virtual {Iced} Tea

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There you are.

I thought that was

your sweet face,

next to the trail, where 

we agreed to meet.

I'm a few minutes

late, with Elizabeth,

William and Gracie in

 tow.  {Sorry for the delay!}

I brought us some

iced tea to sip as

we walk....and talk....

William is going to

ride ahead on his

bicycle.  He's all

about his bike these

days, finding walking

to be so boring.

See ya, son.

Anyway, Elizabeth

and Gracie are going to

blaze the trail ahead

of us, so we can chat by 

ourselves.  Before we

start out, though, she

wants to thank you for

your kind thoughts and

wishes when she was

in Italy!  {GRATZIE!}

As I was driving my

brood over here, 75

degrees, dry and 

sunny.....Blue skies

with puffy white clouds

like the sort that is often

drawn by a child....And

the lake, sparkling and

flags fluttering....I had

an Oh my! moment.

I was blooming where

I was planted.

Yes, you've heard me

bandy that phrase around

here, before.  Growing up, it

was my family's motto; another

 brood that moved around.

A lot.

And I'd convinced myself

with each move as a grown up,

that I was doing exactly that.  But

I realized just.this.week that I

was finally walking the talk.

Because in the past ten years

that we have been planted

here in Minnesota, I had staked

 a big BUT next to my blooms.

I am blooming where I'm

planted.....but I'd rather live

near my parents.

I am blooming where I'm

planted.....but we won't be

here that long.

I am blooming where I'm

planted, but I'd rather be

closer to the ocean.

But....this week ~

THIS week ~

As I passed gorgeous old

farms when we drove out

into the country to pick

strawberries.....

THIS week ~

As I walked this very beautiful

paved trail that parallels 

the lake.....

A peacefulness settled on

my heart and I realized it.

Yep.

That stake.....that but....

has been plucked and 

chucked.

I AM blooming where I'm planted.

I am home, for as long as this

patch of earth keeps us here.

And why not?

Minnesotans enjoy the second

longest life expectancy in the 

U.S., behind Hawaii.  {!}

Minnesota is known for its

great schools; in the most

recent ranking, our students

scored third highest on SATs.

According to Statemaster.com,

their latest liveability index

ranked Minnesota as the second 

best place to live in the U.S., 

behind New Hampshire.

Minnesotans grab each

season by the lapel and shake

out every.last.bit.  Our lake

is dotted with ice houses and

skiers all winter long, but as

soon as those paved trails

are clear, you will see the first

 bicyclists out for a spin....

even if there are still snow banks.

And, docks go into lakes as soon

as the edges have melted, even

if the middle is still frozen solid!

That my friends, is blooming.

I know.  Heavy stuff, eh?

{See, that Minnesota-speak

has rubbed off on me after

all of these years!}

Ooh, I see the bridge,

up ahead.  One of my favorite

resting vistas, with water on

both sides.  I see that my girl

has stopped to take it in.  Even

Gracie likes to stop and look.

Here, I've brought a few

raw energy bars, home made

by my friend Emily, for us

to nibble on as we enjoy

 the view.

Do you think that sense that

one is truly at home, deep in

the bones, transcends a roof

over our heads and family 

around the table?

I just finished a memoir written

by an Alaskan author.  She wrote

about a close friend who arrived

in Alaska at age 19 and confided that

for the first time in his young life,

I finally feel like I'm home.

Is it DNA or simply how we are

wired, that makes a specific geography

 seem to fit better than another?

Hey, there goes William, whizzing 

past us on his bicycle.  Break's over....

Let's turn back.  I want to hear all 

about the place that makes you feel most 

at home.  Are you living there now or 

are you hoping to live there in the future? 

Are you blooming 

where you are planted....

EH?

xx

Suzanne

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