truo Report - Fun In Minnesota

“Trip Report - Fun in Minnesota

Around December 4, 2011, I received a telephone call from my oldest son, who lives in Hugo, Minnesota. Hugo is about 4 to 6 miles north of White Bear Lake and Bald Eagle Lake, located just NE of St. Paul, Minnesota. It is on Highway No. 61, which continues northward to Duluth. My son inquired as to whether or not I had received his e-mail. I said no, not yet, what's happening? He announced that he was being married on Sunday, December 11^th, and I was invited to attend. He would pay for the airline and a room at the Vadnais Heights Holiday Inn Express as well as provide local transportation. Now sometimes I can see a good deal even without my glasses, so I accepted.
He continued by telling me that he hesitated asking me for a long time because of his youngest brother's anger at me for not being around while he grew up. His brother was to be one of two best men. Well, after our conversation, I thought about it for a moment and then sent him an e-mail. It said:
>>
>> I'm not too fast at thinking any more. If my
>> attending is going to

>> cause any problem between you and G., I can pass on
>> attending.
>> Prehaps I could sit in the back or in an anti-room, where I
>> might
>> listen.
>>
>> If I am there, paths may cross frequently. I hope
>> that G. is big
>> enough to just ignore my presence In this great occasion in
>> your life.
>>
>> I am very happy for you and C. It is probably
>> the grestest
>> milestone you can enjoy. I appreciate that you put a
>> lot of thought
>> into inviting me. I could never explain my full
>> appreciation and
>> happiness for your decision. I have always been proud
>> of you and now
>> I am even prouder.
>>
>> Thanks for the inviitation. It has brought me much
>> happiness.
>>blockquote>

He later expressed his appreciation for my e-mail. His initial reponse to me was:
"G. is just going to have to deal with it. It's a done deal. You're tickets have been purchased, (did you get the info in an e-mail?). We'll finalize hotel arrangements tomorrow."
So for the next few days many things seemed to go wrong for me. I became nervous and tensed. I notified a girl friend, (my old flame), that I would be back in the area. She immediately guessed that I was fishing for an invitation to stay with her. She was right, but she did not do it. I did get her address and telephone number, though. However, I have not used my laptop for a while. A new battery pack was installed. In trying to use it, many of my programs wanted to enter updates. This included my google e-mail. It now hides many e-mails and sometimes makes them difficult to locate. So I lost her address and telephone number and some other things. She does not believe me and is now mad at me. So I guess that she did want to see me and visit some. I wanted to contact her during the trip, but was unable to do so. Thanks, google! If I had a printer attached to this Laptop I would have printed the information immediately. I found the information after two hours of searching on the computer following my return home. I called her, but she did not answer or return the call.
At the Orlando Airport my daughter requested Delta Airline's Handicap Service for me. I got to ride on something that looked like a wheelchair. I was taken to the head of each line. They treated me nice all the way. Even at the security check they only rubbed part of my chest and back without touching anything other than my shirt. I did not even get an opportunity to display my new, clean underwear. And they let me take my walking stick, which is a Martial Arts weapon, all the way to my seat on the aircraft. There, I had to ask a girl to store it nearby for me and she returned it when we were debarking. This action should have been automatic. My jackknife was taken from me, but I did get to keep a four-inch long, heavy, metal flashlight with me. It is definitely a weapon as it could be used as a Kubotan, with or without keys attached. (Six years ago at the Des Moines Airport at the security office, a woman officer immediately recognized my Kubotan key chain as a weapon that could not be carried aboard an aircraft). They did offer to mail the jackknife to my home for about $12., but I could purchase a new one for about the same amount. On the return flight I kept the flashlight in my luggage. A Delta Girl put my pole, called a "Jo," in my overhead storage compartment. I'm not sure whether or not a six-foot "Jo" will fit in the compartment as easily as my five-footer did . Overall I'm not very impressed with Delta Airlines's Security or their employee security training. After all, I entered the aircraft with two weapons, three, if my hands are counted..
A chair and helper were there waiting for me at the exit door of the aircraft. So I was off on a ride to the baggage claim area. I experienced a little trouble recognizing the bag, which was furnished by my daughter. But the helper spotted it about the same time that my son and one of his best men arrived. We made it to the car and out into the twin cities. It felt like home to me immediately. After a few minutes my son received a cell-phone call from my second son. After the call terminated he told me that my second son had purchased a cell phone. He gave the number to me so that I could call him. For quite a while until now no one knew how to contact him, not even his daughter. He is a crack addict and lives in south Minneapolis, MN. With no contact he did not know about the wedding.
It was not long until we were in a sports' bar. There were about 15 giant TV screens around the room. They were almost as large as movie theater screens. A second classmate of my son arrived and we sat down for lunch and drinks. I had coffee. Both of the two friends were sharing best man at the wedding. They were all graduates of North Dakota State Univ. My son continued there and received a MS degree. I had expected my son, G., to arrive as the second best man. So I immediately grasped that something had changed. G. had pulled out of the wedding because of my presence. He, also, had spoken some harsh words about it to my first son, who is now quite mad at him. Nothing was said or explained to me about it until the last night.
We enjoyed the food, etc., and when the check came, I had $40 in my hand so I took the check. Wow, the world has sure changed. I looked around for some offers to help with the check, but none were forthcoming. The price of the drinks is enough to make almost anyone stop drinking. I realized that my son's previous classmates were good friends of his and had likely put out a number of dollars to attend this joyful occasion, so the pain eased as I reached deeper into my pocked and paid $100 including the tip.
We then went to the home of my son and his wife-to-be in Hugo. It was lovely and I got meet the bride. I had talked to her on the telephone at my son's 50^th birthday party celebration last June. He had told me that he was planning to propose that night and that he had the ring in his pocket. Now they were getting married on her birthday. My son said that I could have slept in their second bedroom, but it was full of things; while they were remodeling part of their home.
Shortly after getting settled in the Holiday Inn Express at Vadnais Heights which is located next to White Bear Lake, I called my second son. He did not answer, so I left a short message letting him know that I was in the area. My grandson soon arrived to take me out to dinner. He showed his openness about the situation between G. and me, by asking a few light questions about my past, etc. He had not been born until a number of years after my divorce. We enjoyed some good food and conversation at TGIF. He had wanted to treat me, but I picked up the check and slipped him a few dollars for gas. After dinner he took me to a place where my daughter, H., was working. I was very happy to see her and to be able to converse with her. We stayed quite a while and it was an enjoyable evening for me that ended with my grandson returning me to the motel.
My second son, T., called before 7 AM, He is homeless and stays in flop houses. He told me that he has enough money to purchase his own place, but he rather not do so. He said that he makes fairly good money shoveling snow and cutting grass. And sometimes he picks up some construction work. He is an expert on outside walls. I told him that I miss him and still love him. The conversation continue for a while until he said that he had to cut it off, but he would call me back later. He had to go to a church service after which they would give him a good breakfast.
I was nervous and tense during the entire weekend and for almost a week after returning home. Saturday I was allowed to rest most of the day. It would have been a good time to visit with my old flame. I found a telephone book in the room, but it contained mostly yellow pages and folks in Vadnais Heights. TV watching-time ended, when my son, J., came for me late in the afternoon and we went to the Washington Square Grill in downtown WBL. We were joined by the bride-to-be and one of the best men. The other best man had gone further north, but returned the next day in time for the wedding. A nice dinner for the four of us was priced more reasonably and again I slipped money in with the bill, but my son returned the tip-money to me. It had been a nice, quiet dinner and we all went to rest in preparation for the busy wedding day.
Sunday around noon my son came for me and we went directly to the United Methodist Church in White Bear Lake for the wedding at 2 PM. This gave the participates time to dress for the ceremony. A beautiful,, red rose was placed on my suit coat for the ceremony. It still appears fresh. It looks real, but it is artificial. The wedding was well planned and went beautifully. My Grandson escorted me down to the first row, ringside seat and later sat with me. I kept my Martial Arts "Jo" with me. It was made of bamboo and the color matched my suit, which no longer matched my shape. The Jo helped me as I stumbled down the isle. I felt guilty that I could not walk any better, but my stumbling was excellent and I did not "pop" any buttons.
After the wonderful wedding, greetings. were exchanged in the lobby. I was disappointed that two of my sons did not attend, especially since one did not attend because of my presence. But they each have their own paths to follow. I still love them and all of my other children.and grandchildren.
From the church there was Dinner for family and the wedding party at the Washington Square Grill in downtown WBL. I enjoyed a great, Walleye Pike Dinner and the association with the others there. I now remember that I forgot to make a toast. I would have given it to the Bride and Groom and wished them a long and happy life together. You are a wonderful couple.
Next I had an opportunity to rest a little and to change my clothes before an open house / reception at Doc's Landing Sports Bar at approximately 6:30 pm. This was attended by a very happy group fpr a number of hours. I believe some of the group became happier each hour. There was plenty of food and other refreshments. I tried to associate, mostly by chasing some of the attractive girls at the bar. At one point some of my medications urged me to use a restroom. I found one without a readily visible sign, so I entered and used the facilities. As I turned to leave, my exit was blocked by a beautiful girl entering. We ended up talking and getting acquainted. She finally told me that she had a boyfriend there. I told her that I did not worry about boyfriends. So she said that she would go with me, if I would beat up her boyfriend! Did I tell you she was a blond? I tried to explain to her that my Martial Arts was only to be used for defense, when the bride, ever watchful of her guests, arrived and pulled me out of the ladies bathroom. She was trying to explain things to me, when I told her that I had confessed to her that I was a flirt. And, besides, what better place was there than the women's bathroom for meeting girls?
The party ended and we travelled to the motel. It was decided that we would leave early in the morning as a freezing rain was predicted for the roads. My son gave me a number of hugs and called me Dad several times. I had not heard that from him for several years and it sounded good. I surmised that he was happy that I attended his wedding and I was quite happy, too.
On Monday morning four of us went to the airport. It was above freezing and no ice was on the roadways. One of the best men was with us. He was flying to Nashville, the bride and groom were going to Las Vegas and I was headed back to Florida. At the airport I made use of the Handicap Services again. Soon I was met by my daughter at the Orlando Airport and we returned to our homes in Melbourne, Florida.”

“It's nice to see that Paul the Ladies Man is still hard at work! :-)”

“You go slimmer :)”

“A truly excellent TR. I don't know what else to say.

Happy Christmas and be well.

Doug”

“Excellent trip report.”

“Thank you all.”