What I Learned at the Minneapolis Airport: Plant Them Turnips!

It all happened like this. My daughter-in-law calledMy daughter-in-law always has called me by my
me and told me that my granddaughter wasfirst name. She has more control over me that
getting married in Nauvoo, Illinois on the 22 day ofway. She wouldn't treat Grandpa like that.
December.In a few minutes, I had the tickets.
I said, "A wedding in the winter? Just beforeThey were not refundable so I could not turn
Christmas? Well, have a great time and give mythem in for cash.
love."We were going to Illinois via Minneapolis and St.
She said, "You're coming!"Louis. After Christmas, we would be flying back
It was in that way of hers that said, "YOU AREto Minneapolis from Michigan and then on to Idaho.
COMING!"Well, all that my daughter-in-law said came to
I said, "The last time I was out that way atpass, at least as far as getting here to Michigan.
Christmas time in Illinois and Michigan a zillion carsWe are sitting here in this big farmhouse looking
and trucks slid off the road . I'm not going to doat ourselves because my son is in surgery, my
that again, ever. Why don't they get married nowgranddaughter went off on errands, and my
while it is still warm?"daughter-in-law has not returned from Illinois with
She said, "They're getting married in December.the rest of the heard.
You are going to fly out and you won't have toHowever, we've had nice weather, the wedding
drive."was great fun, and my granddaughter looked like
I said, "You drive about ninety miles an hour anda princess. Some folks had driven 20 hours to get
you don't care what the conditions of the roadsthere.
are. That terrifies Grandma."While dancing with my granddaughter, I thought,
She said, "We will fly you to St. Louis and BarryMaybe I shouldn't have fussed so much about
can drive you to Nauvoo. After the wedding,getting here. Especially after this spring when my
Mark will drive you to Michigan."granddaughter had driven 50 miles almost
"Michigan!"everyday to sing to me during the three weeks I
"Yes. You are coming up here after the weddingwas in the hospital.
for Christmas."Besides, I learned from an 85-year-old farmer
I said, "Maybe Barry will not be able to get offfrom Nebraska, during our five-hour layover in
work. He has sick kids to watch over. TheMinneapolis, this important tip: Plant turnips with
hospital may not let him off. Besides, airline ticketsyour corn and oats. After the harvest, when you
are expensive. I'll just send the money as aturn the cows out into the field, they will be able
wedding present."to pull up the turnips, gobble them down, and get
She said, "Mark said you would say that. I'vefat with a more nutritious diet than from corn
already talked to Barry. I'm sending you ticketsstalks or oat straw.
by email."After a grand wedding, the farm tip was all gravy.
I said, "I'm not going out in that country in theI can hardly wait to get back to Idaho to tell my
winter time."farmer friends. Think of the money they will save
She said, "Yes you are, John. You belong to usnot having to buy food supplements for their
and you've got to do what we say."cattle.