As Minnesotan as the Twins

I've been away from Minnesota for two years now and I have to admit that I had forgotten just what a unique place this is! There are so many things that are just so...well...Minnesotan! For instance, where else in the country do you find so many all-you-can-eat Lutefisk feeds? Or how about the good old-fashioned church basement potlucks? I know these things happen in other places, but they are ALWAYS happening here. Is there any other state that has the kind of frenzy surrounding the state fair that Minnesota has? Or what about the whole Mall of America business? Oh, and I can't forget A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Kiellor. Where else can you find so many well-informed, community- oriented people, who still sit around on Saturday nights (or Sunday afternoons) and listen to a radio show? I have never experienced any other state that has so many well-known institutions of higher education either, good social programs, a library in every neighborhood, etc., etc.

And then lastly, but not least(ly) by any means, what could be more Minnesotan than the Twins? I went to a game at the Metrodome last night with some friends from Luther and, it's true, Minnesotans have a kind of deep affinity for their baseball team. They love the Twins and they love sharing their love for the Twins with others and they REALLY love it when the Twins get so close to the playoffs! Kevin and I got in to the game for only $3 with our student IDs and even got $1 hot dogs! How do you like that? Everyone at the game seemed to be in such a good mood, even though they were behind for quite a chunk of it. There's just something so comforting about being there in a stadium full of people who wouldn't rather be anywhere else in the world than at the game, who jump up and down when their faces are on the big Twin cam screen, who valiantly attempt the wave over and over and over again. It's just good old- fashioned fun, which is something we can all use every now and then.