April 30th……...”WHEN YOU MOVED TO WASHINGTON STATE IN 1967, GRANDPA, WHAT WAS ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES YOU SAW FROM THE LIFESTYLE IN MINNESOTA TO THE LIFESTYLE OF WASHINGTON STATE”?
POEM – “Food From Mid To West” by N. Elliott Noorlun
In ’67, when we sold the farm,
And moved our family west,
I learned that food, No matter how good,
Had to pass the West Coast test.
Meeting friends at this strange new school,
And tryin’ to be a winner,
I’d inquire what might be, There to see,
On the menu that day for Dinner.
“DINNER!?!?, they’d scoff!! “Heck, that’s not till tonight”!!!
“New boy on the block, Yer way out of sight”!!!
With embarrassing blush, I learned with this bunch,
That if I meant a noon meal, I’d better call it LUNCH.
In my Minnesota days, I was raised to call,
Our meals by order, Come Winter through Fall.
We’d start with farm breakfast, Dad’s favorite fare,
He’d gobble Mom’s cooking, And leave the plate bare.
And at middle of day, Our famished farm winner,
Would stop by Mom’s kitchen, For his noonday Dinner!
Come 4:30 or so, Mom always had a hunch,
That Dad would show up, At the house for his LUNCH.
Maybe coffee n cookies, Before feeding the sows,
And then on to the barn, To milk our cows.
With the sun now setting, After his farming day’s work,
Our handsome dad, Felt his tummy to quirk.
His tummy would say, It’s truly a “yupper”,
Time to wash up his hands, And come in for his supper!!
Most evenings we’d gather, At our table for prayer,
Then feast on Mom’s cooking, That in love she would share.
Of course, unless it was Saturday night,
Then with trays set up, We’d meet at new sight.
In Living Room swell, Even “Welk Show” would tell,
That Minnesota food, anytime, Is always right!!! 😉
Norwegian Farmer's Son 