Minneapolis Institute of Art

Rocky Coulee – Wisconsin

Danny wrote some beautiful and intriguing stories about his childhood and farm life. The name of the book is “Hollyhocks". I love every one of them very much. Among them “Rocky Coolie” intrigued me the most because it reminds me of my childhood roaming in the field barefooted looking for adventures and searching mysterious places that were hidden deep in the field or behind some hills. Yes, even I was a little girl, I could go wild just like a boy, except not so brave and nimble as Danny.

The “Rocky Coulee” Danny described in his story was just like a secret garden in my dream. I love mountains especially for the valleys, brooks, streams, cliffs and waterfalls. One day after I decided to visit Bemidji, the thought of seeing the Rocky Coulee hit me. I summon up my courage to ask Danny if I could have the chance to it. He said “yes” without hesitation as if it was just right in the neighborhood and anytime would do. When he told me that it would take more than four hours’ drive, I realized how unthoughtful I was. I tried to take my words back. But Danny said it was a good idea and his brothers and cousins might be interested in joining us. That was perfect. Then it came to me that it would take him another four hours to drive back and exhaust him badly to drive so much in one day. Danny said no problem, we all could stay overnight in Minneapolis which will save his trip to drive me back to the Minneapolis airport. We might go to the theater to enjoy a wonderful play and the Art Institute of Minneapolis as well. I was touched and speechless. Am I a trouble maker? Do I deserve such a hospitality? Danny made it sound so easy and granted that I couldn’t resist such a warm invitation and sweet temptation. I secretly made a promise to myself that I would invite Danny and other T/Ms friends to Taipei to show them my warm welcome and return their hospitality, too.

So my venture to Rocky Coulee was decided!
On Thursday morning after breakfast, we began our venture to Rocky Coulee. But before seeing the Coulee, we went to the farm that Danny’s family used to own. His father sold it out long time ago after all the children grew up and moved out. The present owner doesn’t manage it anymore and leaves the farm rusted/abandoned?. Except the rebuilt house, everything else remains the way it was. He showed us around and explained how he worked on the farm and the barn, the outhouse and the fields where the stories took place.

Then we move to Rocky Coulee. After we got off the car, Danny took the chance to visit a couple of house owners there to catch up some good old times a while. Then he signed us to change on comfortable water resistant shoes. I felt extremely excited. But where is it? I looked around. On the road, in the housing area, I see no sign of woods, rocks or streams. We followed Danny walking a small trail through a lawn covered with high weeds, to a small fence gate. We climbed over it, all of a sudden we were in the shade and surrounded by woods. I asked Danny why I see no one coming to such a beautiful place? He said people living here don’t even know this place. I can’t believe what I heard. If it were in Taiwan, it would have been long invaded by everyone. But thinking that I don’t see many houses and people here, it did make sense. Why not leaving it as it is and undisturbed. After all America is a big country and there is a very small population in some remote areas.

After a few minutes I saw the brook originated a few steps away on the other side. We followed Danny walking upstream through water and mud. After a few steps, the mud became so soft that my whole feet were sunk in deep. I almost screamed. Seeing Danny walking coolly ahead, I knew how silly I would look if I showed my lnerability so easily. I held my throat and followed. I thought how lucky I got the right shoes, the Bush shoes I decided to buy when I found them in the shoe store two days before I came. They are water resistant, soft, comfortable and washable.

It was just about 10 Meters’ walk before Danny showed us the site where water surges out from the ground. I was amazed! For the very first time, I saw and realized how a river is originated and formed! It’s not just water, it’s spring right out off the ground. Danny gestured us to scoop the water with our hands to try it. I didn’t get it. Then he did it for us to follow up. Drinking water right from the stream? My first reaction was, “Will I get sick?” Before drinking it I looked at the water in my palms, so clear, clean and cool. It tasted fresh, cool, and sweet, too. Danny said, “It’s the freshest and cleanest spring.” No doubt of it! Then we walked back toward where we started and continued. The coulee was getting wider and wider, deeper and deeper, and cooler and cooler. It was so clean and clear that I could see my feet clearly, and my legs seemed shrunk completely in the water. The water bed was a big flat rock. It was so easy walking on it. All the pebbles and gravels are gathered at the coulee bank. The other side of the coulee is just a long, big, high rock stretching all the way down, steep and full of big and small holes, or caves. I stopped walking further when the water reached my thigh. I dared not to walk further as I can’t swim, and the water was freakily cold. I saw Danny picking some stones, flat, long or round ones. Curiously I asked what for? He bent his knees a little bit, threw the stones into the water. Magic! I saw three, four, even five water ripples rippling one after another continuously on the surface. How did he do it to make it happen? He illustrated and demonstrated again and again. I wanted to try, too. I looked for the flat stones and practiced and practiced. Am I kidding trying to learn the trick in a few minutes? Of course I couldn’t. But what fun it was! At that moment I totally forgot who I was except having fun like a little girl.

The sun was setting, Time to go. Though it is a very safe place according to Danny,
My worry took control. We walked out the water, went back to the entrance, and got on the car with our heart fully satisfied. We didn’t see the big cave Danny described in his story. He wasn’t sure if he could find it and it is too further down the coulee that he worried about my safety. I can picture the cave just the same. I was so thrilled and had the most wonderful time ever in the woods. Thank you, Danny and all the T/Ms friends.

Trini
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Guthrie Theater – Minneapolis

Having visited the States so many times, I hadn’t been to any theater for a play or musical before. Danny thoughtfully put a theater – Guthrie Theater, in my visiting list in Minnesota. I was so excited that my mind was all about it after the T/Ms meeting was over. http://www.guthrietheater.org/whats_happening

After saying goodbye to Mary, Danny’s dear wife, Wednesday late morning; we, Danny, two T/Ms friend Joana and Tim headed for Minneapolis, Minnesota. Danny got the ticked booked already. It didn’t take long to find the Theater. It’s in a new building with a very eye-catching sign. The play on that night was the famous “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams.

I have seen the movie three times. I have a DVD of it. The last time I saw it was on TV. Two popular movie stars Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando played Blanche Dubois and Stanley Kowalski respectively. It was a very good movie although I don’t usually fall for sad dramas. Now seeing a real stage play of such a famous movie in a modern theater further thrilled me. The stage actor and actress were from New York.

I put my mind fully focusing on the stage. The stage design, the changing scenes, the actors and actress getting around their positions, the way they projected their voice, etc, all fascinated me. The way a play presents is much more dramatic than the movie for the audience to comprehend fully. I was not experienced to tell if the stage players were doing an excellent job or not. At least I could tell they strove to give their best performance. All the audience was fully attracted by them. Because of my language barrier, I was not able to catch some lines very well. I couldn’t ask Danny, I couldn’t make any noise in the theater while everyone is enjoying the play. Nevertheless I enjoyed every moment of it.

The play presented the story a little bit different than the movie. But there is no way to compare. The only element that I like the movie more is the great interpretation of the role Blanche Dubois given by Vivien Leigh. She was a true beauty and looked exactly vulnerable and helpless for her part in the movie. There was an intermission during the play. Everyone walked out to the salon area to enjoy the artistically designed facility and interactive atmosphere.

It was almost ten when the play was over. We hungered for food. It was late and it took us quite some time to finally find the restaurants that were still open. We chose Indian food. It was really nice and I ate a lot, almost twice as others did. What can I say, my stomach has a will of its own that I often eat much more than I should.

My mind was still on the play and the theater and the impact they had brought me. My trip to the Mid West of the States created one climax after another. Tomorrow, Rocky Coulee and the Art Institute of Minneapolis are waiting for me!

Trini

My 1st T/Ms Meeting Abroad - Bemidji T/Ms Club

The 2nd day of my trip to Bemidji was not just for fun. Danny arranged my 1st T/Ms meeting abroad. Besides meeting Bemidji T/Ms, I was going to deliver a speech. My topic was Taipei T/Ms. I thought it was an excellent opportunity to bring Taipei, Taiwan to their attention by telling them how amazingly T/Ms has flourished in Taiwan in recent years from my prospective.

I woke up long before the sun rose. I tried for hours to go back to sleep in vain. Well, it was not the first time I suffered from insomnia before delivering a speech. Being excited about the trip, I was in a high spirit. Danny was going to escort me to the meeting fifteen minutes before it started.

The drive took only about two minutes. The streets were quiet, the air was fresh, the sky was clear, I thought,” Where are the people?” Then a lady coming out from her car greeted Danny. She was Kim, a T/M. We shook hands, and walked together into the venue while chatting. I felt more relieved and relaxed. The venue was just like a meeting room, perfect for T/Ms meetings.

Bemidji T/Ms came in the venue one after another. Danny introduced me to them one by one. T/Ms of the Day, Jenny, was one of the early comers. She thoughtfully set up the reception area with cakes, fruit and agenda. I was amazed seeing the cakes and agenda were designed like Chinese and American flags. How incredible, thoughtful and creative! It made the cake and fruit look especially yummy. They were all designed and made by Jenny. What a brilliant work Jenny did for the meeting! Then the news man of the public TV station walked in. After setting up the camera, he came to me saying that he’d like to interview me for about ten min. after the meeting. Feeling honored, what else I should say except “with pleasure?” The meeting began!

The meeting proceeded very smoothly yet efficiently, one session after another without stop. Jenny presented every speaker pertinently. Danny introduced me earnestly based on my T/Ms background. Two prepared speakers including me. Table topics were about promoting Bemidji, very timely and resonanced the theme of the meeting. There was quite difference I observed between theirs and our meetings. But the focus and spirit was the same. They hold the meeting at noon for only one hour long that leaves no time for intermission and joke or variety session. My speech was impressive according to Danny. They all gave me positive comments and sincerely invited me for some special activities. I felt very grateful yet sorry that I couldn’t change my schedule to prolong my trip. I was very grateful for the warm welcome I received. Jenny especially prepared a gift for me, a big bath towel with my name stitched on. I was deeply touched and speechless. I couldn’t chat with all of them as I had an interview to do with the TV news man.

After the interview Jenny came to me and invited me to her cabin at the beautiful lake of Bemidji in the evening. Wow, a night program except originally planned ones. Danny was going to take me to a ranch to ride a horse, and make a tour of the town. I knew I would stay up late again. But missing the precious chance of seeing a cabin that I had only seen in the movies and turning down Jenny’s hospitality was absolutely not going to happen.

We had to say goodbye to the rest of T/Ms and headed for the ranch. After we came back from the ranch Danny showed me the small, quiet and beautiful town full of Indian artworks. The Landmark of Bemidji “Paul and Babe” was indeed gigantic, just as huge as Danny described. I was totally relaxed after the T/Ms meeting. I felt so chipper and excited that I took a lot of pictures.

Danny arranged one more program, golfing, after touring the town and before dinner. Golf is Danny’s favorite sport. He can play it whenever his mood fits as there’s a beautiful golf court in the small Bemidji. He proposed to teach me a little bit after he knew that I had never played golf before. To help me enjoy it, he led me to the Driving Range and the Putting Green that are for novelties to have a hand-on practice. I was terrible at first, but with Danny’s instruction and after a few times try and error, I learned quite some tricks. Just when I was having fun, we had to leave. We couldn’t play long as Danny planned to make a special dinner to welcome me.

Cooking takes time and Jenny would come to pick us up at 8:00 p.m. to visit her cabin. The dinner was finger licking good. Must say Danny is truly a wonderful cook!

At Danny's home, I saw what a lovely family he has; beauiful wife Mary, two handsome and brilliant children Zach and Erain, and two lovely twin grandchildren. Both of their children are married and live in other towns.

Jenny showed up at exact 8:00 sharp. We took her car. While driving, Jenny told us how she and her husband got the cabin by chance, and what great time they have had with the cabin.

Jenny’s Cabin was classic, cozy and beautiful, better than I pictured. The duck stretched out the lake; the clean and clear water allured people to bath in; the balcony, the warm and cute bathrooms, and the wooden house were all very comfy. What a perfect place for the owner to get away from pressure, work, and the city. After seeing the cabin, Jenny wanted to drive us to other side of the town that we didn’t have time to see. Then a sudden thunderstorm made it impossible. Besides, it was late.

I must thank all the T/Ms in Bemidji, Danny, and Jenny again for the very delightful and fulfilling day.

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Trini

A journey incorporated with a T/Ms mission

It’s been fifteen years since I took my 1st trip to Minnesota. It was a business trip, a short visit to Saint Paul. For this 2nd trip to Minnesota, I visited Minneapolis instead. Actually a small town named Bemidji in Minnesota was my destination. My very best T/Ms friend Danny from Bemidji drove all the way to Minneapolis to meet me at the airport. He said I could enjoy some sightseeing on the way to Bemidji from the airport and see more Minneapolis. I was so lucky being in a good hand and had a ‘Couldn’t Be Better’ five days there.

One of the most important activities of mine during the five days trip there was to attend the Bemidji T/Ms meeting on Tuesday. It may be hard for others to believe that after joining T/Ms for almost fifteen years, this was the first time I visited a T/Ms club abroad. I thought about it and talked about it several times, yet hadn’t been sincere in executing it. I am too passive or lazy often times. Danny was the reason that I finally walked the talk. He talked so much about the town, how friendly the people are, how incredibly beautiful the lake and the woods is, how enchanting life is there in winter. He successfully captured my attention and aroused my curiosity half by his serious introduction with photos and half by his humorous tone with some hilariously exaggerated jokes. He asked me to deliver a speech after I finally decided to visit Bemidji.

Danny and I have been writing each other for sometime. I was deeply impressed by his love and passion toward everything; nature, animals, outer space, writing and people. Actually it was his writings that amazed me most at the beginning. The intriguing stories he wrote have an indescribable appeal to me like a magic that I always hungered for more. And he never hesitated in sharing those wonderful stories with me. When I finally met him at the airport, I was attracted immediately by his big handsome smile. He looked very amicable and approachable. I had to be careful not to fall for his charm.

The first scenic site was Munsinger & Clemens Gardens. After a little bit more than one hour’s drive, we were suddenly surrounded by several breathtaking gardens. It was like entering a wonderland. Munsinger Gardens are situated below Clemens Gardens along the Mississippi River, and six gardens make up Clemens Gardens. The abundance of Color of flowers, incredible variety of flowers, lovely wedding pavilion, wooden gazebo, and the beautiful river opened my eyes. Am I in heaven or on cloud nine?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munsinger_Gardens_and_Clemens_Gardens

When Danny told me that Mississippi River originates near Bemidji, I was further amazed. How did it make it all the way to the sea down in Louisiana? The power of nature!

We couldn’t stay long in the gardens as we had to arrive Bemidji before sunset. After finishing walking through the gardens, we got in the car and headed for Bemidji. The rest few hours’ drive couldn’t have be more pleasant and chipper. Danny was an excellent driver and best companion. We chatted and laughed. Before I realized, we were in Bemidji. Hunger crept in. It was time for dinner. What a lovely first day. All my nervousness and anxiety before I flew to Minneapolis was long gone probably right after I arrived at the Airport. Next was the T/Ms meeting tomorrow noon. I was assured that it would be alright, too. Danny is a wonderful host and he’s the President of Bemidji T/Ms club. What I needed was a good night sleep, hopefully, and a few rehearsals of my speech tomorrow morning.

Danny told me his club members were anxious to meet me. They even passed the news to the local TV station – Lakeland Public Television who sent a news person (journalist) to video the meeting. Wow! What an honor! I was nervous, still I said to myself. “I can do it.” It’s time to prove to myself that all these years T/Ms training should be effective.

Time for bed, yet I was a little bit restless. It was not because of the T/Ms meeting, but because of the excitement that I was finally here. Everything seemed so impressive and so much better than I expected. Tomorrow is another chapter.

Trini
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A wedding Ceremony and Banquet

Biking and Hiking in Seattle

Between visiting all the different places, we did bike three times and went hiking one time. Seattle is full of biking trails much nicer than here in Taipei. The view is much nicer and air is also so much cleaner. But the biking is very exhausting with constant cycling up and down hills. It was depressing realizing that my sister is twice as strong as me, and more athletic. Blackberry trees are everywhere along most of the biking trails. But my sister didn't allow me to stop to pick those big yummy berries.

So, I did my best to pick blackberries as many blackberries as I could, almost every other day in the morning or late evening before the sun went down in the vicinity of my sister’s home. When I went to Costco, I saw a small box of blackberries cost around $6.-. Of course they are bigger and maybe sweeter, but not free. Every day I ate twice that box size, see how much money I saved! We also planned to pick blueberries at a farm, yet it was closed on Monday when we got there. It was pity that we couldn't find time to go again the next few days.

The mountain we hiked was called Little Tiger Mountain. It was a cloudy day, even drizzling a little bit in the morning when we arrived. It was Thursday, still we saw a lot of hikers before and after us. We hiked for about seven Kilometers back and forth. It was not far, yet the steep road made the hike quite an exercise. We picnicked at the peak, then walk down the mountain. I won’t say the trail or mountain is beautiful, because there were neither flowers nor man made things like gazebos as we have here in Taiwan. Nevertheless, it was same enjoyable.

Except fun, hiking and biking also helped me consume a lot of calories, otherwise I would have gained more than five pounds instead of just the three pounds that I came home with.

Trini
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