Again...

Neighbor Steven Mosborg captures the moment, as usual

The seasonal shift to fall up here is heralded by the start of the Minnesota State Fair. Local media set up shop on the fairgrounds with goofy contests; daughters of dairy farmers sit in a cooler to have their heads carved out of 90 pound blocks of butter; and, farm animals and crops compete for ribbons. 

This year’s launch was extra exciting because friend and scone baker extraordinaire Jenny won a blue ribbon for her entry of cinnamon swirl scones…as well as the sweepstakes award for the entire category. 

As the Fair wends on, we know we’re approaching the deadline to prepare for the school year to start. This year, I was excited for a batch of our second generation friends - the children of close friends who’ve become our friends as well - who are sending their first borns off to kindergarten. Just imagining the excitement of Alma and Ester, of Zeke and Shea, of Hadar and the younger siblings moving up in their pre-school classes was heart warming.

If you’re good at math, it’s clear these kindergartners were born during the early parts of the pandemic. Those scary times meant new moms delivered with only medical personnel and secluded from visits from close family. The grandparents of these dearly cherished babies didn’t have the opportunity to hold those brand new babies until new parents were comfortable with whatever protocols were available. Masks? Gloves? Disinfectants?  

And here we are again. These parents are sending off those cherished five year olds in another horrifyingly scary environment. 

Well documented data tells us this country of ours is the riskiest place on the globe for children attending school. And still, in this northern state of optimism despite all evidence otherwise, we persist in believing it can’t happen here. 

It can. And it did. 

And now we’re experiencing community trauma and a perpetual state of grief, on the verge of tears as we learn stories of the horror that unfolded two miles from here two days ago. 

The 23 year old murderer bragged in online postings that it was so very easy to buy any guns desired. 

We can change that. We must change that.