I recently returned from a delightful trip to
Grand Forks, ND and need to document the extra special events around my
birthday.
The
date is June 7 and I am on my way to Fargo, ND. The flight is uneventful,
having a 10 a.m. departure time, so much more pleasant than those 6 a.m.
starts; no drama or interesting people
to converse with and I am happy to be greeted by my two lovely friends, Nialani
and Ruth. Fargo is a charming, pleasant
and small airport which I would
recommended to anyone. Robert,
Ruth’s husband retrieves the car and we are away. It is still daylight so I can
see the countryside. We pass long flat terrain comprising of mainly farmland. All
four of us are happy to be together again.
Nialani, me & Ruth |
With Isabel & Robert |
The “working
girls” come home and we decide to have a potluck meal at home at Isabel’s house that
evening with everyone contributing something. Nialani wants to show me the town
and so we set of for a tour of Grand Forks. We pass gracious tree lined streets;
the whole place seems to be one beautiful suburb. We reach the 4th,
2nd Streets and are downtown. Many of the large elegant houses belong to
members of the medical profession now. We drive past the elegant University of
North Dakota buildings. Nialani had completed her Masters in Speech Therapy there
and her husband, Bobby, is finishing his Ph.D. in Micro Biology. Suddenly
Nialani says mischiefly, “Would you
like to cross State lines and go into Minnesota?” I’m always up for any
adventure and so we drove across the bridge between the two States. “My Goodness,”
I exclaim, “ It is really quite different.” It appears much more relaxed and colorful.
There had once been a speakeasy there, now a restaurant called Whitey’s. In
comparison, North Dakota seems was more sedate and conservative. Nialani said she had to take me
to a particularly exciting store called Widman’s where all they sell is chocolates,
Nialabi in Widman's |
Bobby and choc.covered crisps |
I had first met
Nialani when she was about fourteen years old, in my son, Adrian’s, band room
at Dixon High School. We shared a love of jazz, particularly the girl jazz
singers, Nialani sang, as did Ruth, and when she and Bobby moved to Grand Forks,
I introduced them, thinking they had the jazz in common also their work with handicapped
children.
Nialani became a
part of my son’s family babysitting the boys and we became good friends, but I
really did not know Bobby well, just seeing him in passing. One thing I learned is
that he is a good cook, what an asset in a husband!
After our tour,
we went to their home
and met their cat, named Mixie, part Siamese and very
chatty cat drinking out of a people’s glass, quite elegant.Bobby comes home and barbecues chicken and hamburgers. We pack the car up and go over to Isabel’s house and I finally get to meet the head of the family, Carrol, who is actually older than I am, which is saying something, and still runs a business selling and delivering grain and is gone by 6 a.m. driving his Volvo semi-truck 16 wheeler. Their son is working their farm now.
Nialani, Ruth, Isabel with Roberts & Carrol |
Isabel and I are having so much
fun chatting about life and about families that we tell Ruth that I will stay
with her until after we return from Grand Rapids.
Tuesday
Ruth has arranged for me to do a
book signing at the University of North Dakota bookstore and we three spent a
lovely afternoon chatting to people who stops by, including Bobby and two of
his colleagues. One man tells me a long saga about his fight with city hall about the use
of a road in front of his house and wants me to ghost write his story.
Bobby,Nialani,me,Isabel,Angie,Ruth,Robert&Barry |
In the evening, Bobby and Nialani
invited everyone to dinner at the Toasted
Frog, what a marvelous name! We get to meet Ruth & Robert’s dear friends,
Barry Bjorgaard, a cardiologist and his wife, Angie.
Wednesday
Robert drives Ruth and I into Grand Rapids to
the Judy Garland Museum (see Grand Rapids blog) and I learn so much about his early life
and philosophy of bringing up their three children
Friday
After John Fricke’s presentation, Bobby,
Nialani, Ruth and I drive back to Grand Forks stopping on the way for a meal at
an Italian Restaurant, Tutte Benne in Bemidji, where the waiter charmed us with
a five minute explanation of one dish.
I am supposed to be writing a review on Trip Adviser, but don’t hold your breath! As soon as we arrive at Ruth’s house, I have a quick tour of her beautifully decorated house and am deposited in the guest bedroom.It is a very comfortable home with cushions everywhere including the kitchen nook. Ruth’s house and garden are a reflection of her personality and beauty. The walls and every surface adorned with many photographs taken of her family.and why she has not been written up in Homes & Gardens magazine, is beyond me. Her soul equally fine and beautiful; she teaches handicapped children at the local school and in the afternoons, she runs around helping families in need through the Easter Seals programs. I am quite in awe of her contributions to society.
Saturday I go with Bobby and Nialani
to street fair, ArtFest in town. We
enjoy all the stalls and I am excited to find a stall run by Peru-Ecuadorians, and
I buy some head bands for my granddaughter. The stall owner tells us his band
will be playing very shortly and so we buy some snacks for lunch, go over to
watch, and spend a delightful hour enjoying their music.
Bobby points out the flood lines
where the Red River of the North has overflowed in previous years. This river runs north up into Canada and
empties into Lake Winnipeg where it joins the Nelson River and ultimately flows
into the Hudson Bay passing through Grand Forks and Fargo. He is a very
knowledgeable young man, bright, funny and attentive – I decide to add him to
my collection of “honorable nephews”.
We go back to their house and
while Bobby prepares a salad, while I show Nialani how to play Clash of Clans. Bobby calls out to us, “Don’t teach her any more computer
games!” However, a few minutes later he comes over and becomes just as
enthralled as we are.
Time to return to Ruth’s house
where I know she has arranged a surprise birthday party for me! (As if
the events in Grand Rapids weren’t exciting
enough! ) The first event is a ride for Isabel and me in a 1934 Buick. This
car runs well, lovingly restored by Tom Zimney and his wife Claudette. Just
Imagine this car is 2 years younger, I am, and still going well, perhaps
there is hope for me.
We go out and sit in the
beautiful garden.
Ruth had prepared a
magnificent dinner and kindly invited many of her friends to meet me.
And then came the cake! I believe Bobby sent a digital photo of my
book cover to the bakery and they made this beautiful cake using the cover of
my book, Always for Judy.
I am overwhelmed by all the attention and kindness I received this day. I am lucky to
have such wonderful friends. Of course I
didn’t want to cut into Judy’s face and would have taken the cake home uneaten
if possible. Hopefully Ruth and her
family finished it off and enjoyed it.
Thank
you Bobby and Nialani for the beautiful necklace, I will treasure it and the
watch with turquoise bracelet from Ruth, Robert, Isabel and Carrol, very
thoughtful. This was the most spectacular birthday party I had ever had.
Nialani, Isabel, Ruth & Robert Bobby & me |
Sunday
arrives and it is time to ride to Fargo ago.
The whole crew comes and I begin to feel like a celebrity, rather like
Sinatra surrounded by ‘his people’. In
Grand Rapids Ruth, Nialani and Bobby were with me constantly helping me and by
the time we got to the airport I really began to LIKE it. It really didn’t take
long to get used to being spoiled. Robert
decided he was my security man.
So
sad to leave these wonderful
people.
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