this morning started off with picking up a rental car at the airport. after this it was on to errand running, such as picking up orders at the post office. there were four, one of them was from amazon, a charlie brown DVD. just before midday i made it to rosedale mall in roseville as i wanted to use the photo booth there. i was inspired not only by the recent cleanup- where i had found previous strips from photo booths- but also the music video 'where i stood' by missy higgins. i held up a sign while there saying 'life during the pandemic' and under this was how it is oktoberfest weekend, my annual visit to new ulm. there was an unexpected souvenir found when claiming the 2 strips- there were 2 others of a young lady still in the slot. guess this can serve as inspiration for my writings. i still wanted godfather's pizza this weekend so it meant the next stop was the bobby and steve's in minneapolis. i figured that the lunch buffet in st. peter might not be happening, due to the times we live in. the gas station was a carnival atmosphere, likely to drum up business for the repair shop part of the establishment. i ate in the car and finished before i left the parking lot, then it was clear sailing all the way to new ulm.
i made it to town later in the day than i normally do, around 3pm. the visitor center was closed, but i still found my way around fairly well as i have been to this town many times before. there was an official guide available and i claimed a copy. i found the venue where 'music in the steps' was happening, a former school building that is now a performing arts place. it was on the same street as turner hall. the band played plenty of familiar songs, such as 'folsom prison' by johnny cash, '16 tons' by tennessee ernie ford, and '8675309' by tommy tutone. i briefly left to see the final show of the day at the glockenspiel, the clock tower. then i was back as it was time to pick up my food order, i pre-ordered it from turner hall before starting the drive there. good food, it was bratwurst and sauerkraut and spaetzle, and apple strudel. i went back inside state street theater and ate at the will call counter. i still made it to some other familiar places in town, such as german park. i mailed the order form for a brick earlier in the day. when i arrived at the park i noticed some teenage girls trying to do a video jumping together near the fountain. i also found the baseball field as the guide mentioned a renovation there. and i had some superman ice cream at 'mn eis', a place that was on TV. i told the girl serving me to hold onto her enthusiasm throughout life, as she laughed easily when i was trying to figure out what to order. then it was to the post office to mail postcards, one to myself and the other to my dad. i wanted to let dad know i finally ordered the brick, not only honoring my annual visits for oktoberfest but also his uncle. he told the story of his uncle hopping trains during the depression, including this town.
i also made it to sleepy eye, just west of there, to see the linus statue. couldn't find at first as it was dark, and the lights were off not only at the library, but also the hardee's across the street. linus had a mask on, a reminder of the times we live in. when i made it back to new ulm i figured i would just go to the bathroom and leave, but found out i could get in free to the ballroom as there was just 30 minutes left in the show. the band playing was 'church of cash' a johnny cash tribute band i had seen before. the frontman spoke of being from new ulm. i asked for the song 'hurt', and they did play it eventually. i had a schell's beer and a pretzel there. then it was on the road, and i made one stop as i was getting tired. it was at a gas station in jordan, and it was helpful to get out of the car and walk around a little and go to the bathroom. thankful i did this annual event, as so many others were canceled due to the pandemic. as usual i enjoy my time there. it might be that i am out of town and i once told myself to 'act differently, enjoy yourself'- have a different mindset. and something about festivals. i must have arrived at an understanding that it is best to celebrate who i am and stop being ashamed all the time and hiding 'behind a cloak of degradation' whatever it is, new ulm is a special place for me.
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