Where it all began

Odometer: 67,211
Price of gas: $3.73
Stillwater, MN to Steven’s Point, WI

My family has a curious tradition that is well-established by now, though goodness knows how it got started. We have this thing called The Miller Rock. My grandparents were named Miller, and they had 4 children, my mother, her two sisters Kathy and Janie, and one brother, Jim, the oldest. Somewhere after the children had houses of their own, a rock began showing up odd places. The rock is decently sized, maybe 8 inches long, about 3 inches wide and tall, and says, “The Miller Rock” on it. The purpose of the rock is to be unloaded, secretly, on one another when visiting houses. The advantage always lies with the person visiting, as only having their car, it is much easier to control access. The best situations are when months go by before someone unwittingly discovers the rock in some out-of-the-way place and is horrified to realize they have it. Finding out where the rock is can be a challenge. The best sources say it is currently with Aunt Kathy. Bernie (my uncle Jim’s wife) came in not long after I arrived and made me swear I was not bringing the rock. I’m not aware if I have it, but the back of my car is a mess and it could be hiding. I’m truthfully able to say at this point in time I don’t think I have it. Kathy was most disappointed with how tightly I’ve been keeping my car locked.



In addition to The Miller Rock, we also have Aunt Verna specials. God bless Aunt Verna, she was a lovely woman, and my grandfather’s sister. She lived in a nursing home for 20 years, and when we visited her, she gave us all manner of crocheted doilies and other odds and ends that were quite frightening. The tradition of hiding junk on each other has also become good sport. I have some, umm, surprises in my car at the moment. When will they be left behind, and with whom? Mmm, good question. I’ll keep you posted, once I’m safely out of the area.

This morning as I was getting ready to go, I did leave the backend of my car open. I’ve acquired some various bottles this past week (vinegars and oils, mostly) and as I was unloading them into my food box, this furry thing lands beside me. After the initial jump, I realize it’s the neighbors cat, Zoey. He likes to ride on shoulders, so he promptly climbs up on mine. Friendly, fuzzy, wonderful cat. I suppose I should check the backend during this week however: if Kathy did hide some surprises, I’d like the opportunity to plant them back before I leave. Friday night could get interesting.

About 10 a.m. I’m on the road, as planned, and headed for Steven’s Point. Steven’s Point, you might say, is where it all began. My grandparents lived here and raised their children here. Uncle Jim now lives in their house, Janie about a half-hour away, Kathy about 3 hours. Mom’s the maverick who lives in Washington. Uncle Jim & Aunt Bernie have 4 kids, (1 girl/3 boys) and Kathy & John have 3 boys, mom had 3 girls, and we were all within an 8-year age range. I’m the baby. We would come back every-other year to Steven’s Point and stay for 2 weeks. Grandpa & Grandma have quite an amazing house on the Wisconsin river.





It is old, but with an elegance that is timeless, and so beautifully built. I find myself here tonight stunned at the architecture and the design. Aunt Bernie has updated it very successfully, but much of the original work remains too, and I’m envious at the space and the livability of it all.

While I’m not from here, and I didn’t grow up here, this house and this town have an incredible pull for me – one that says, “roots.” These are my roots. These are my peeps, this is where I come from. I talked to cousin Ed last night (Aunt Kathy’s son) and he talked about bringing his bride of 4 years here this summer for the first time, how he had to show her the homestead. Ed didn’t grow up in this town either, but I think it has the same call for him. It’s a good feeling to be here. This is a place that goes back to somewhere very early in my life and takes me there with it.

It’s nice too, to know that while 2 weeks are gone, nearly 2 weeks remain. Unwinding, is that what I’m doing? Aaaahhhhh.

It should take about 3 hours to get here, but it takes me about 4. I have to take a detour, as a bridge is out on my route, and I stop for lunch for a bit, and then run into the Wisconsin Dairy State Cheese Company. Yeah!! While Washington has plenty of good cheese, so does Wisconsin. And this is dirt cheap! I get a bunch of it and figure now I really have to pay attention to ice in the cooler on the way home. Because of the detour, my GPS is taking me an interesting way, so rather than coming down Hwy 10, I approach via County Road E. Normally, the instructions from town to get to my Grandparent’s are, “Pass 3 bars and turn right at the 4th.” Seriously. It’s that kind of town, though potentially there are as many churches, too.

My Aunt Bernie is home when I get here, and Uncle Jim rolls in a short time later. We chat a while, and then Bernie and I run a couple errands where I get to see my cousin Sue, the only female cousin I have. When we get home, we have another homemade dinner – I’m getting spoiled – of stew and crusty bread and homemade angel food cake. So good.

The Packers are playing the Vikings tonight in Monday Night Football. In case you don’t live in the land of Lambeau, Brett Favre is God and has been with the Green Bay Packers forever. Brett Favre retired last year, then unretired, then sorta thought about staying retired, and finally wound up with the NY Jets. Into this maelstrom steps Aaron Rodgers, the poor schmo who has to follow in Favre’s, I mean God’s, footsteps. And the Pack is playing the hated Vikings at Lambeau field, on Monday Night Football, week 1 of the NFL. If you’re from anywhere around here, it doesn’t get much better than this. My uncle & I settle in to watch the game – I manage to read a book at the same time – and blessedly, Aaron Rodgers very capably guides the Pack to a 24-19 win. When he calls the quarterback sneak and scores the touchdown to make it 24-12 with 6 minutes to go (effectively sealing the win), he does a “Lambeau Leap” up into the stands in the end zone, into the arms of fans. It’s a good moment. Undoubtedly there will be games that look a lot worse than this one, and undoubtedly there are those who will curse his name and wish for the Return of Favre. But for tonight, at least, all is well in Green Bay, and in Steven’s Point.