One of the traditions that I didn't get a chance to talk about as much is going to St. Agnes with my friend Molly for midnight mass the last couple of years since we were introduced via our mutual friendship with Adam. Anyhow, this year we were lucky to not have one, not two, but three guests for the occaision. Molly's sister Emily along with Randy, and my Grandma Anne came with us and it was a beautiful service as always. While I have always refrained from approching the alter at St. Agnes (due to being raised Lutheran a respect for the concept of transubstatiation, and my lack of current denominational direction) I felt inclined to go to the alter with my Grandma, and I can honestly say that all dogma or religious uncertainty aside, being able to spend that moment with my her was one of the best gifts I have ever recieved.
Well, as every season has an end, and my Grandma lives about three and a half hours north in Aurora, MN it falls at the end of the season to make the trek. I really enjoy being able to make the drive with her on the way up, but with my brother usually at school, or having to work, the return ride is usually quite a boring one by oneself. Fortunately, Randy decided that a trip to the frozen north would be quite an adventure for one day. Plus, we had a get together that evening at Nye's and what else was he going to do all day?
Anyhow, in order to facilitate 7 hours of drive-time, a stop over to help with shoveling the walks and warming up we left fairly early. The roads were in great condition and we made it up to Hinckley before stopping for some breakfast and then getting back on the road. Nan and I had a great conversation while Randall caught some Z's in the backseat but he rocked out helping get my Grandma's bags in and shovel a path to the garage when we got there while I knocked out the front and back porches and salted them down. We visited for a while and Randy got a chance to see the birthplace of "Momma Wheeler" as he said before we headed back down south.
Here is where the real hilarity started. On the way up I remarked that Eveleth was home to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, but also the World's Largest Hockey Stick and Puck. Of course, in the gentle coloquial nature of the Iron Range this led to the easily snickerable "Big Stick" signs up all over towns regailing its direction in the company of "Town Hall" and "Business District". Anyhow, a few pictures, a ride of the giant puck for the both of us, and the obligatory picture of using the Big Stick sign in order to reinforce the public's perception of one's manhood, we hopped back on the road.
We continued without event until reaching Cloquet, where we had planned to stop for lunch. Deciding on Arbys, we pulled into the lot and toward the drivethru when I saw their sign and stopped on a dime... "Try our new Meatball Sub...It's Awesome". Randy questioned my abrupt halt, but when I pointed out the sign, we both burst out in laughter. Maybe you had to be there but the idea of someone out there putting up the sign and then deciding to tack on... It's Awesome... was just too funny to handle. Add that to the fact that their manager was manning the microphone in the drive thru and was just about the most pleasant and cheerful guy to ever work at a fast food establishment and the Arbys stop was probably the best choice we could have made for lunch. Just to make sure that our documentation was fool-proof we both snapped a couple more pictures of the hilarity on the way out.
Approximately 8.5 hours after our journey began we returned to Tonkatown to get in some quick grub before heading out to meet with a number of my other friends at Nye's Polonaise Room, one of my favorite spots in town (and not just for their photo booth, although as you can see, we did use the heck out of it, once again). In addition to getting to see Biloxi ex-patriots like Shana, Sam, and Michelle again, I also got a chance to see Anderson and hang out with Sarah while we were both at home. Long story short, drinks were had, friends connected, and photos were taken. Try Nye's photo booth if you get a chance. It's Awesome.
