is on track. Polo, her mom and her sister left for Springfield, Minnesota this morning around 9:30. If all goes well they’ll visit the Black Hills, Mt Rushmore, New Ulm [stopping for the Oktoberfest] and the Mall of America on the way out and Wall, home of the block long Walldrug on the way back.

I tried, tried, tried to steer them away from Nebraska (the most mind numbing state I’ve ever driven through—8 million acres of cornfields, woo hoo!) but alas I do believe, they’ve decided to go that way. Of course they also decided to only drive as far as Reno the first night out, so you go figure those three.

The car is packed with 6 dozen granola bars, 17 lbs of dried fruits and nuts (not counting the occupants :)), 9 lunches in a can made by Norwegian Jake, plenty of water, wasabi peas and turkey jerky from Trader Joe’s, AAA maps and guidebooks, cameras and binoculars. I think they’re set. I hope they have fun. I figure they’re gambling about now.

On October 2nd, Lani, Marge and Mom will be leaving for Minnesota.

This is the first family venture in over probably 40 years, oops that
is not true, we did have the move to Texas which I almost forgot. I
(Marge) wanted to see the land of my childhood for many reasons.

I still remember the cold winters and hot summers but I also remember the crispness of winter and the morning sun glistening on fresh snow.

I am looking forward to Octoberfest in New Ulm. I remember June Jordan saying that we should discover our own roots, and my family roots are in the soil of Minnesota and Germany. I have expectations for this trip—allow mom to see and remember where she spent much of her life and for Lani and myself to come together as sisters, something we haven’t done alot of. Anyway, we will keep you posted as we cross the country.

Gary, Gloria, Danny and Denise, Greg, Mom. Send content to C.L.