At the four-year mark

The first column I wrote in Montgomery was a year ago, around the three-year anniversary of moving to Minnesota.

The fourth year snuck up on me, which I suppose means I’m having a good time.

Indeed, I was unhappy a year ago. While moving to Minnesota was not a joyous occasion, moving to southern Minnesota from the West Central area was much worse. I had established a life in Benson, was putting down roots, and suddenly had to pull them up again.

The four-year anniversary feels similar to our first arrival here. It was on the cusp of a contentious presidential election, much like now.

These elections will hold a new nostalgia for me going forward, I suppose. I feel the inkling of it, and if I feel it again in 2028, I’ll know it’s for certain.

We went 1,200 miles across the country and had to sit for 10 days to quarantine before my wife could start her new job. 10 days was also the amount of time it took for us to get our furniture.

I remember watching the Presidential Election results with our TV propped against the wall of our new living room, and us sitting on the floor or stairs.

I find it weird that candidates still ask the question, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?”

Aren’t we?

We’re better off than the restrictions, masking, shutdowns, mass death and the supply chain issues which led to inflation and later supplemented by greed once production met demand. Sure, gas was cheap, but there was nowhere to go.

I do miss my home among the hills. I didn’t want to leave, but as time passes, I don’t want to go back, either.

I have a lot of regrets about what led us here, but coming here itself is not one of them. I am happy to call Minnesota home.