IN THE WANING DAYS of October into the early days of November, Randy and I headed four hours northwest to Detroit Lakes, a Minnesota hotbed vacation spot in the summer and early fall. Not in late autumn. But friends offered us the opportunity to stay at a lakeside condo timeshare—something we’ve never done—and we accepted. It was exactly what we needed, to get away to a quiet spot in the off-season, to explore a place we’d never been, to take a break from the routine of life.
Despite the cold, we walked along the beach. We delighted in the water fowl, including elegant trumpeting Trumpeter Swans cavorting in the lake outside our condo. We appreciated the peace of not hearing a single emergency vehicle siren during our three-day stay.
Local shops drew us in as did the arts center. We picked up fudge and double chocolate malted milk balls at the candy store.
On three evenings we dined out, a treat for us justified by the low cost of our three-night stay.
We even participated in 1 ½ rounds of Trivia Night at a local pizza place. Randy endured an accusing glare from a local after reading a text message from our daughter during the competition. He was not cheating, proven by our mostly all incorrect answers.
We hiked in a county park and stopped at a pottery place and searched for elusive sunfish sculptures in Detroit Lakes.
Now, months out from that mini-vacation and already in the depths of a Minnesota winter, I remember those days in Detroit Lakes with fondness. And gratitude to those friends who gave us the opportunity to stay in a place on the lake where, bonus, I could even binge-watch HGTV. (By way of explanation, we get only a few TV channels at home and one is not HGTV.)
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© Copyright 2018 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Randy would probably be the last person on earth to cheat, and even then probably not – but hey, would that be a case of “distracted trivia-ing”? Certainly worth a glare. 🙂 🙂
BTW, the ultimate trivia question is: where does the word trivia come from? See here
You have Randy pegged right. He’s an honest guy.
Distracted trivia-ing, now that’s a new term. Sounds like it fits.
I could appreciate a place like this about now…..
You’re welcome to come to Minnesota anytime, Keith. I hope the pace of work and life slows for you soon to a manageable level.
I honestly think it is going to get worse! My company is not geared for the growth expected later this year!
Growth is good. So more employees are needed then?
Growth is good. Yes, more needed, but they have recently consolidated departments.
I’m so glad you have great memories of this time away in Detroit Lakes.
I love thrift shops!!!
And Northfield has some good ones.