Mike and I are both from small towns. He’s from Decorah, Iowa and I grew up on the North Shore of Lake Superior. When we had kids we decided to find a place that was similar to our roots…welcome to Annandale!
There are people who don’t understand the small town life. They think we are always overly involved in each other’s lives and there is no “real” privacy…I would argue that there is a comfort in knowing your neighbors, of course I also know the names of all my neighbors’ dogs. …but seriously I tear up when I think of all the good people we have met over the last 12 years and how they have opened their arms to us. We have found friends to celebrate with, cry with and take in the ups and downs of our everyday life. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I bet I know 10 people that I could call if my car broke down on the road and Mike was out of town. I also know at least 10 people that would call me if they needed a hand. I love walking through the grocery store and “catching” up with at least four or five friends, even if it’s just a quick smile or a hello. Now that my son Jack works at Marketplace he realizes how many people in the community know him and stop by to give him words of encouragement and support. He also knows that if he ever acts recklessly, some caring friend will call me. There is a sense of responsibility that comes with small town life. Parents have eyes everywhere, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
At least once a week someone will ask me about our daughter Zoe. Even though she graduated in 2011 and has lived in Minneapolis for more than three years, there are people who want to know how she’s doing, where she’s working and many are her friends on social media. She knows that our small town is a place she can always call home.
Why all this “small town” emotional sappiness you ask? Basketball.
I happen to really enjoy the game of basketball. When I was in high school at CCHS I was a basketball statistician for the team. This meant I went to every game of the season, both home and away, so I watched a lot of games. It is fast paced, exciting and it can turn on a dime. Best of all I can watch it indoors, the ball is big enough for me to see and I don’t freeze like I do when I watch f-f-f-ootball!
My son Ben, a freshman, has played basketball for years with the same group of guys. I have watched them grow up in the sport. They know and trust each other. One of their teammates was brought up to play for the Annandale varsity game. He played really well and was an inspiring asset to the team, the fans and most of all to his freshman teammates. They celebrated with him after the game with slaps on the back and high fives. Each one had their picture taken with him in his varsity jersey.
As we left the gym that night Mike said, “This is why we moved to a small town.”
He’s right. We wouldn’t get this kind of life in the city… we might not even know the families of the other boys on the team. This is the feeling of embrace and acceptance that I wanted for my kids and I am so glad we found it here. You are giving our kids the childhood we dreamed for them! Thank you.
Well I was born in a small
town, and I can breathe
in a small town,
Gonna die in this
small town
And that’s probably where
they’ll bury me.
John Mellencamp
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.
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