January 7, 2012 - A hike at Fort Snelling State Park

Memorial to 38 Dakota hanged 1862 at Mankao

I had such grand plans for today and even recorded my "TTDT" (things to do today) list in my "stickies" file on my computer.  It is now 1:09 p.m. - I am down to #4 really working hard to finish the list I was so enthusiastic about at 7:30 this morning.

Again I find myself in that place of remembering what a Saturday was like for my Gramma Elsie.  Each week on a "set day" she went to the beauty shop to get her hair set and nails done (always bright bright bright red).  At the time that did not seem particularly amazing to me but today it borders on the astonishing!  She was a busy busy woman, farm wife, mother, daughter-in-law, grandmother, friend, neighbor and hostess; seamstress, cook, baker, gardener, harvester, care-giver of people and care taker of the root cellar and all she canned and she wrote numerous letters to her sisters and friends weekly!

How did she EVER have the energy?  She had few energy saving devices at her disposal.  The first time I wrote about my experience of her seemingly boundless energy, the article was published under the title "High-heeled on the Farm."  Yup, she did it all wearing a corset, nylon stockings and high heeled shoes (with "rubbers" to the garden)!

Today, I am aware that she 1) knew who she was 2) took very good care of herself 3) was active and an integral part of her family, neighborhood, church, school board, township board communities 4) used her voice rather than held it.

On my TTDT list is a walk in Fort Snelling State Park - at this moment i have co convince myself to get off the sofa and GO DO IT!  The picture above is what will get me moving!  This year the State of Minnesota will commemorate the 150 years since the hanging of the 38 Dakota at Fort Snelling.  I will park my car and begin my hike less than 40 feet from the memorial and consider my walk a time to take care of myself, heal my body and remember in prayer that we humans are truly mercurial, often brutal and often caring and just and loving.

I will be following activities including the opening of an exhibit at the Minnesota Historical Society that will look back "with eyes wide open" to the atrocities and shed new light on them.