A sign along a city street welcomes visitors to Fargo, North Dakota, from Moorhead, Minnesota, just across the Red River. I might change that “city of parks” to “The windy city.” Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, is flat. That is a fact.
The wind blows in Fargo. A lot. That is a fact.
Therefore, one could rightly conclude that staying warm during winter in flat and windy Fargo would present a challenge, even to a hardy Minnesotan.
During a recent cold snap, with wind chill readings in the minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit in Fargo, I received this text from my son, who attends North Dakota State University:
This cheap Walmart hat stands zero chance against the Fargo wind.
OK, I am 300 miles away so it’s not like I can run out and buy my boy a new hat. I suggested he take the $20 I’d recently sent and purchase warmer head attire.
Apparently, though, my son did not need my motherly assistance. He’d already gone online the previous evening and ordered a “nice Russian military surplus hat.” Alright, that ought to work in Fargo.
But then he mentioned one minor issue, which may or may not be an issue:
Unfortunately it has the good ol’ USSR sickle and hammer on the front. I’m hoping that I will be able to remove that.
When I expressed my concern about the symbol, he fired back:
We aren’t in the cold war anymore…
Ah, yes, my son, but you are.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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