Duluth

Years ago I spent a lot of time on Lake Michigan in little beach towns.  Never during the summer and the sunshine but usually during Christmas break from college with friends, girl friends, school buddies, whatever.  During that time we often ventured north but you had to be careful because you could get stuck in one of those places and have to wait until the spring thaw.  These were hardy folks and resilient little places. A fierce pride in their simple and meaningful celebrations was well deserved as there was a genuine good spirit which flowed as thoroughly as the cold wind off the lake.

Laura, a sales representative at one point for the Economist magazine was from Duluth. She was very much Scandinavian stock and a fine friend, often telling Paul Bunyan yarns about the north and the wonders of her town at Christmas.  Actually, I have been there at Christmas, with a college choir and we did get stuck in the snow. We saw all of that town for a couple days and I felt right at home with her stories.

Christmas tree lightings and decorations in the churches and church yards are not to be missed and I remember the church by the lake in Duluth like it was yesterday.

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