Minnesota Twins games are a long running tradition. I’ve seen them playing through the years at the old Met Stadium, the Metrodome, and for the past few years out at Target Field. This place is by far the best of the bunch. We were all bummed by the forecast for game day, but it proved to be 100% wrong, and instead we ended up with perfect weather for watching a game.
At the baseball game they were playing a local news weather segment up on the scoreboard. The forecast was for Sunny & Calm. Lowe saw that and asked, in all sincerity, “Why do they care if it’s calm? It’s not like they live on a boat.”
Forget Cracker Jacks, after the kids spotted Mike and Ikes there was no doubt. There was a small Chinese grocery we would go to in Aruba that had tiny bags of these for an obscene price. Over a few weeks the kids had bought the store out and they never put out more. So the prospect of getting grandpa to buy two huge boxes was exciting stuff.
During the game I was walking through the concourse when a woman looked closely at me, then did a double-take, then screamed, then all in the course of a few seconds laughed and grabbed my arm. She said, “Oh my god, I thought you were Aaron Rodgers.” I’ve gotten this one a couple of times recently. I decided next time I see someone doing this I’m going to very slowly put my finger to my lips and say, “Shhhhhhh.”
With a few weeks in Minnesota Lowe was able to get back to martial arts classes again. In addition to the regular twice weekly classes he was able to catch their June camp, which was four hours a day all week long. I love how much kids learn there. Everything from how to defend themselves, to how to punch properly, to how to be kind to one another, to how to show respect for others. Lots and lots of good lessons, and it’s fun, too. Lowe really looks forward to it.
We’ve been on a passport renewal binge. First up was the kids’ US passports. We hand over the expiring passports and are basically told, “You might see the new ones in 8 weeks. The again, you might not.” Next up was their Mexican passports. We’re lucky to have an embassy just a short drive away. We make an appointment, make sure to bring all our paperwork, get pics (parents info and pics are in the kids’ passports too), and have a seat. Twenty minutes later they hand us the brand new passports and we’re on our way.
The reason we’re in Minnesota this long this time around is because the kids both wanted to go to camp this year. Like, a proper sleepaway camp. Ouest has a friend in Puerto Rico that goes to camp each year for a month and first got her interested in the idea. This year we told her we’d make it happen. We found a great one in northern Minnesota for both her and Lowe. Ouest will be gone for a month at the girls’ camp, and Lowe will go two weeks later for a two-week stay at the boys’ camp across the lake from her.
It took Ali two weeks of daily work just to get the seemingly endless checklist of supplies for them. I’m pretty sure the kids’ wardrobes have quadrupled in size in order to meet all the requirements.
It was a few hours’ drive so Lowe and Ali said goodbye to Ouest and the two of us made the trip together. Ali’s parents owned a business in a small town a couple of hours north of where we grew up. Her dad would drive up on Sunday night, spend the week sleeping in the office, and drive home on Friday. He did this for years while her mom stayed home, did all the office work, and took care of the girls. They built the company up from nothing into the biggest employer this town has ever seen. They sold it and retired years ago now, but I thought it would be fun for Ouest to see the business, so we swung through town, grabbed lunch at the little cafe’ and then drove over to have a look before we continued our trip north.
I was definitely a worse ball of nerves than Ouest was when we arrived. I was super proud to see her confidence, though, as this was definitely a big step for her. While she would have counselors and new friends, she wouldn’t have us to rely on, and she was ready for the challenge. Cool as a cucumber. It’s exciting to see her go off on her own for the first time, but at the same time it breaks my heart. She is definitely my little girl, and even writing this days later I could still become a blubbery mess if I didn’t stop to take deep breaths.
We hit up the Back to the 50’s car show at the State Fairgrounds. My brother-in-law Mike shows a couple cars out there every year with his dad, so it’s always fun to go out and see him and walk around the show.
Our only child for two weeks.
Ali’s sister, niece, and nephew were full-on representing this day.
I’m not a huge 50s fan myself, preferring the 60s, but there was plenty of cool stuff around. I’m a total sucker for Travelalls of every vintage.
Mike’s dad’s rides. Corvettes have never been my thing, but I dig his flawless Nova wagon.
We had a great day. Beautiful weather and good family fun.
15 Comments on “Off to Camp”
Hope you got a piece of pie at the diner. It’s the only criterion on which to base Northern Minnesota diners. 🙂
We were at Back to the 50’s Saturday and Sunday. Go every year. Would have been so surprised if we had run into you. Fun but tiring.
Hope the heat isn’t spoiling your Minnesota stay. Quest will love camp in the north woods. So will Lowe.. Haven’t talked to your Dad in some time. Hope he and Kathy are doing well.
The bittersweet heartbreak of parenting. Welcome to the club.
As I told my son (about your age) “Your success in life is my reward.” Ouest is giving you a reward.
My first thought was this was a long time for Ouest and Lowe to be apart. This will be a new experience for the whole family.
Yes, he is missing her and their normal routine together. Cannot wait for them to see each other at camp next week!
I was at all 3 of the Twins games that weekend! Sorry I missed you! Been following for years. Thanks for all that you do and good luck in your upcoming adventures. I’m looking forward to it, vicariously.
Memories of the start of Great Race from a few years ago…All of the vehicles took the green flag at “Back To the 50s” !
I can’t wait to read about the camp experience and the personal growth as reported by Ouest and Lowe, and how the parents handled two weeks without the kids!
Hi MotorMouth! I’ve been following the latest Great Race posts and missing all the fun we had. I think we are going to take Lowe to one of the lunch stops this week as the route is in our neck of the woods this year.
Haha you said it, not sure what we will do with ourselves for 2 weeks kids free!
“Ali’s parents”: the reason we have to follow the Bum’s. “They built the company up from nothing” and at the beginning only three people believed it would survive. Her mother (and later her sister) did all the books and payroll until
company was sold. My favorite sucess story.
I get it! Father of two girls…I get IT in spades! Marrying the oldest off this year!
Sigh* natural order of the universe…still don’t like it! Ha
What amazing parents you two are. Well done!
Camp is the best!! What an awesome experience for both kids. What camp is it? Are they doing some canoe trips?
4-H camp was the best part of the summer for me. Make sure that you write to them. They’ll have mail call every day and it’s tough to see everyone but you get a letter from home. Also, an unsolicited geezer observation: I’ve dropped them off at camp and dropped them off at college. College is worse, because suddenly realize you have no control over whether they come back and you don’t know if they heard any of the pearls of wisdom you’ve tried to instill. You are EXCELLENT parents. I envy your children. What great stories they’ll have to tell!
My oldest, that was in the oven when we met you guys as you came through Chattanooga in the Great Race, started his first job a few weeks ago.
My 10 year old is off at camp this week and I miss him.
Have been enjoying your writing and photos for awhile now, thanks.