Barb:  You really should be working for the Minnesota Department of Tourism;
you're a true lover of the North Country like I am, about that there is no
doubt.   In fact, although I'm partial to the Upper Peninsula, I have great
affection for both of our other two northern neighbors--MN and WI. (Of course,
never one to make a total committment,  I must admit to a deep affection for
South Florida and Spain--oley!)   Not only do you deserve to be an honorary
citizen of the great Northern mid-west, especially MN, you also deserve to be an
honorary citizen of Parkinsaw---and I'm going to personally speak to Mayor
Svensen about it this morning as soon as my drugs kick in.  (Only a half-hour to
go before cocktail #1).

John Bjork
A View from the Lighter Side
PD Humor from Parkinsaw, MI
(An Imaginary Place for PWP)

Barb_MSN wrote:

> John.....
>
> As the daughter of a Minnesotan mother who STILL refers to that state as
> "home," even tho she's lived in Los Angeles for almost 60 years, I'm well
> aware of the virtues and superiority of all persons and things born in and
> derived from the state of Minnesota, and it's neighboring states..
> <grinning>
>
> I was nurtured on tales Lake Woebegone throughout my childhood and youth, as
> well as having all the verses of Wordsworth's "Hiawatha" ..... "By the
> shores of Gitshegume, by the deep sea's running water, lived Nakomas and his
> daughter" ...... and on and on and on.... drummed into my wee little
> California-born-brain by mom, who figured that made her two daughters ALMOST
> Minnasotans!
>
> I've been dragged to see Minnehaha Falls more times than I could count by
> mom's brother, Uncle Ray, and have heard many other uncle's endless stories
> about their ice fishing adventures.  I've fished for sunfish from a pontoon
> boats on what seemed at the time to have been on at LEAST 9 thousand of
> Minnesota's 10 thousand lakes (and never caught a thing!) <LOL>, and always
> returned home after my summer vacations in the Twin Cities (actually, in
> St.. Paul) saying   "Yaaaaaah" just like my cousins and mom.
>
> At the very least, I'd say I deserve to be an honorary citizen of the great
> Northwest, yaaaaaah? <giggle>
>
> Barb Mallut (honorary Minnesotan)
> [log in to unmask]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: john bjork <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sunday, March 14, 1999 1:57 PM
> Subject: Re: Re NON-PD. Parkinsaw MI, St Olaf, MN & Lake Woebegone, MN
>
> >Hi Barb (s):  Well, you're speaking of the citadel of imaginary places in
> the
> >world, the wonderful and very much loved Lake Wobegone.  I grew up
> listening to
> >Garrison Keeler (sp) in a small town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  We
> always
> >thought he was talking about us, as did a thousand other towns, which
> reflected the
> >genius of the author.  No doubt that Lake Wobegone provided some grist for
> the
> >mills of Parkinsaw, MI.  In spite of that influence, I'd like to think
> Parkinsaw is
> >a special and unique place, especially given the reality that 80% of the
> residents
> >there are PWP, and have a lot more problems to comfront than other, more
> >conventional communities.  But it is the commonality with Lake Wobegone
> residents
> >that is important:  they're good people from a strong and proud heritage.
> Fiercely
> >independent, they'll fight PD until the last Sinemet tablet.  They make
> wonderful
> >neighbors, and are great fun to enjoy a brew with over at the Northern
> Lights.
> >They're Lake Woebegone (and St. Olaf) kind of people.
> >
> >John Bjork
> >
> >[log in to unmask] wrote:
> >
> >> Hi John and Barb,
> >>         Not to  worry John, Rose Nyland who's from St. Olaf doesn't have
> a clue
> >> either!  But what about that other great Minnesota town, Lake Woebegone.
> which
> >> Garrison Keeler (sp?) reports on every Saturday night on public radio,
> where
> >> the women are strong, the men are good looking and the children are all
> above
> >> average!
> >>
> >>         Barb B-K
> >>         a former Minnesotan
> >>
> >> In a message dated 3/14/99 2:11:46 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
> >>
> >> <<Barb:   Never have seen the Golden Girls sitcom, except for some brief
> >> glances; and
> >> know not a clue about St Olaf.  However, seeing as though St Olaf, MN
> >> and Parkinsaw, MI are both in the north country, we share the same
> >> Scandavian heritage, deep blue
> >> lakes, love of nature and the outdoors, brats and cold beer.  We've been
> >>
> >> looking for a sister city to get together with, so maybe we'll check
> >> this out.  Of course, Parkinsaw is about 80% PWP, so I don't know how
> >> that would work out. We take a little getting used to if you know what I
> >> mean.   I bet they'd love our "promote the pig" program, our Palmetto
> >> Bug research (they have similar problems with Zebra Mussels), and our
> >> emerging nightlife with the Dopaminos and Carl and Porcine, though, so
> >> stay tuned sports fans, we may just have a joint venture celebration.
> >> In the final analysis, however, any resemblance bewteen Parkinsaw, MI
> >> and  St Olaf is, as they say, purely coincidental.
> >>
> >> John Bjork
> >> >>
> >