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Braham, day 34
Braham, where Lauren spent most of his growing up years, is a
dairy farming community.
We visited Braham twice while we were in Oak Grove, and ate at
the Park Cafe both times -- a journey to nostalgia land.
Not only does Lauren have childhood memories from Braham, but we
have many memories from our earlier married years when we would
come, as a family, to visit the grandparents. I haven't been here
since 1986, when Lauren's mother died. Around me, the echoes of
the past are thick.
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The family picnics:
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Les, Marge, Scott, Steve, and Kim
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Lauren, me, Donna, and Denny
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Jean and Dick (Ryan, Leah, and Marea came later)
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Butch, MaryEllen, Lisa, Lori, and Paul
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Afternoon snacks when friends came in from the farm work and we
had a snack bigger than most lunches
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A visit to the Dahlquist milking barn
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Grandma's apple crisp and cinnamon rolls
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Playing games in the big room in the basement
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Sleeping with windows open and doors unlocked, covered in
wonderful quilts
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The tractor in the yard, Grandma's new garage, the stories of
the old house before it burned and the kindness of neighbors
who replaced lost pictures and memorabilia ...
At first, the voices of who we were drown out the present and I
weep for our losses. But soon the richness of having had so much to
lose consoles me and brings me back to the present.
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