Duluth!

Quite awhile ago, Pete, Andy, Candace and I went to Duluth for a day trip and see what we could see. We of course started our day at the famous tourist site of the Graffiti Graveyard. Candace, Pete and Andy hadn't seen it yet, and I thought they might enjoy it; and they did! We saw some HUGS and gave some hugs as well.

HUGS lives on!

Andy and I in a typical tourist pose at a typical tourist attraction.

Then we went on a cruise around the harbor and out onto the lake. It was really fun to be on the lake. I don't think I have been on Lake Superior ever, so it was really cool to see Duluth from afar. In the harbor there is also an area for wind turbines to be delivered. I was really excited to see that and took many pictures. The tour guides on the boat kept referring to the turbines and "wind mills" and I wanted to correct them, but I held my tongue.

On the boat.

A view of Duluth from the water.

A big boat!

Wind turbine blades in the harbor.

On the rocks.

Pete looking statuesque in front of the lift bridge.

After our boat tour we dined at the Anchor Bar in Superior, which is a fine establishment. It reminds me of the Saloon in Rockville with a nautical theme. I had a delicious olive burger and a beer and it was a reasonable price too! If you're ever in the area, I suggest trying out the Anchor Bar. It's delicious!

With our tummies full we headed up to Enger Tower to see Duluth from above. It was starting to get windier and was quite exciting to climb to the top of the tower. The clouds started to roll in and began to rain. That was our cue then that it was time to head home. Duluth is a fun city and it was a fun day!

Pete climbing the hill to Enger Tower.

Ringing my bell.

View of Duluth from Enger Park.

Relay for Life

Last night was the University of Minnesota's Relay for Life, a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. SANE got a team together and I participated. The whole point is to have a member of your team walking around the track at all times (the event took place in the field house) for 12 hours. That's a long time.
At any rate, these events tend to be a bit hard for me to get through and I've been thinking about my grandma a lot. She died of breast cancer when I was eight. Seeing the survivors walk the first lap was difficult because I wish that my grandma could have been walking with them. I pictured her trailing behind with a smile on her face. This whole idea of people surviving cancer is amazing to me. Growing up, I didn't really understand what was wrong with my grandma, just that she was sick and had something called cancer. For the longest time, I think until just last year, I didn't think of cancer as anything you could survive. Once you had it, that was the end and it was going to be horrible.
My greatest regret is that I didn't get to know my grandma that well. I was young, when we'd go to Indiana she would always have sacks of goodies for us. I remember her being a good person, always thinking of others. One time when she was in Minnesota, she noticed that I had two very nice combs, and my mom had one come which was missing a lot of teeth. She taught me to share and not be selfish with my things, and encouraged me to give one of my nice combs to my mom. I don't have many memories of my grandma, and the ones I do have are fading. I never really understood why my grandma wore wigs, but I remember them on little stands in her bedroom. One time she took her wig off for me to show me her hair that was growing back. There was just a little bit, and it was as soft as baby's hair. I couldn't understand why she didn't have hair, and I didn't know the significance of it growing back.
I wish I knew her better. I wish I knew all of my family better, we seem to take each other for granted at times. And so with Uncle Ron's death this morning, I really wish I could have gotten to know him better. He was so funny and full of life. But that's all I really know, and I wish I knew more. I'm mostly sad about the things I missed out on in life.
At times I feel like I don't value the relationships I do have with people. It has been very easy for me to write off people in my life. Though now I do really enjoy the people I have become friends with, they are much more caring, intelligent, and interesting people than who I hung out with in high school. I don't want to lose the people I have become close with, and I don't want to lose the family that I have before I get to know them better. Sometimes I wish I was a better communicator and not so awkward so that this would be easier.