Place Number One

This might seem like I’m cheating a little, but I can’t ignore the fact that my first choice of destination is just too fitting and perfect to pass up. The small town of St. Francis is not far from where I live. A ten minute drive, really. But St. Francis is rather unique and pleasant when you dissect its history a little, and it has a rather surprising charm to it. And really, it truly is the place where I first found a sense of belonging to Minnesota, something I had previously thought to be unfeasible. I have many close friends that live in this little town, and every June the sum of us gather together and enjoy the festivities of St. Francis’ grand summer event known as, “Pioneer Days”. Every year I’ve attended the Saturday night doings of this festival, enjoying the company of my friends and indulging in a just so slightly reckless digestion of beverages. And every year we dance the night away to a live band that plays nothing but a usually-loathed-by-me genre of country music. I may not particularly like country, but when the band plays live, and I’m with my friends, I’d be nothing less than a snob to ignore the opportunity to shake it up and have a good time. So, I do. Previous years have become interesting tales to recollect. “Remember when I hung my camera up in the port-a-jon and someone stole it?” Or, “Remember when that storm came and our flip-flops flipped up mud all over our clothes?” Or, “Remember when that guy tried to hook up with me and he forgot his own name?” (He was a super winner. He had apparently left his brains somewhere back in infancy.) None the less, despite these things, or rather because of these things, the party has always been the big event of the year that we all look forward to. And as it may seem that I am well experienced in it, and shouldn’t have it on my number one place to visit in Minnesota to break my prejudices, it has come to my attention that Pioneer Days has so much more to offer than just one, Saturday night. There’s more to enjoy, and plenty to write about. Tractor pulls, turtle races, and food, just to name a few. There’s a parade, carnival rides, and contests. I’m proud to say that I’m entering a photo in the amateur photo contest held by the local bank. How exciting! No? Not thrilling enough for you? I believe small towns have a very important place in our country, and I’ve chosen this one to embrace with not just an interest, but with my heart. My whole heart. This is going to be home, now, and it’s only proper that it’s first on my list. Certainly I’m in no place to judge a small town. My hometown in New York was the proud host of the annual summer Dairy Parade, which essentially entailed a lot of small town businesses, cows, Girl Scouts, local churches, cows, local farmers, cows, cows, and cows, and a few horses. ‘Giant wedges of cheese sitting on the back of a tractor and that sort of thing. So, deep in my heart I have an affection for small towns with seemingly little doings. This is the sort of place you want to raise children in. This is the sort of place where friends are close, and the smell of the barbeque is only a few blocks away. This is the sort of place I can see myself being a part of for, well, at least the time fate is preparing to allow. My future, I believe, is still full of uncanny surprises. But for now, this is where I’ll be for a time. And I’m okay with that. Pioneer Days begins June 11th to June 13th. I will try to attend as many events as possible, and will hopefully have a willing companion to go with me to take pictures and video of the stories I hope to gather and share. I feel I should also warn the locals a smidge: I may have an affection for small towns, but I also have a talent for making fun of them. Comedy will be induced where need be. It’s all in good fun, folks! In the meantime, I am writing up informative essays on St. Francis and will post them prior to my Pioneer Days experience. So, to the history nerd: I shall indulge you soon enough.