Portrait by the Artist as a Young Man

Travels with Baron threatened to start inauspiciously, as mom reported both boys complaining of upset tummies on Friday evening, coupled with a preceding note from school advising parents of circulating illnesses. Turned out to be highly contagious nerves and excitement that quelled by bedtime.

Saturday final packing crept on apace, with several calls between households reassuring that we were indeed going to travel. Target departure at 2 PM, overshot by about 20 minutes, not bad. Picked up Baron, supervised goodbyes and hugs, strapped him in, and set off to the west. Chatter lasted about 30 minutes, and then the piper of missed sleep claimed his due, and Baron slept to almost Menomonie.

We checked in at the Hilton near the airport, claimed our room and repaired to the bar for a restorative. Baron claimed his seat at the bar, son of Wisconsin that he is, and we were gently reminded by a waiter that culture in Minnesota is a little different and children may not sit at the bar. Perhaps this is to assure room for more serious imbibers.

We took a table in the bar, and the server provided Baron with a children’s menu and crayons: a brand new box of 16 – count ’em, 16 – Crayolas! Wisconsin could learn something from Minnesota, not only in politics, but in customer service.

The result of our extremely satisfying dinner is the art work below, created on a tummy full of mini corn dogs and apple juice and seven olives and a few desultory french fries. This study in brown and white represents a mud-covered elephant wallowing in a mud puddle.

Early to bed (good luck wi’ dat) and an early rise tomorrow. Flying out of Humphrey terminal on a 7:15 AM flight, so you can guess rising time…