What’s Your Story?
Have you ever met someone for the first time and, after chatting with them, thought to yourself: that person’s really interesting! I enjoyed the conversation!
I’ve now lived in the country for seven years. I’ve met a lot of nice people. Most of them ask: “aren’t you glad you got out of the city?” I always answer honestly. There are some things I don’t miss, but overall, I loved my time as a Minneapolis resident. The vibrancy and diversity of experience living in an urban environment stimulated me and made me feel good about my community.
But I digress.
A couple weeks ago, I met Mark (not his real name) when he came over to give me a quote to refresh my gravel driveway, which is almost a quarter mile long and full of potholes. I’d guess Mark’s in his early sixties. He grew up on a farm near Sartell and was one of eight children. Or maybe it was ten, I don’t remember. His was a Catholic family and his father seemed harsh, and probably abusive. Their living conditions stunned me. When Mark graduated from high school and asked if he’d have a place on the farm, his dad pointed him down the driveway and told him to take a right or a left.
Mark’s done a lot of interesting things in his life, but he eventually came back to farming. He’s also responsible for the maintenance of a township’s road system. Out here, many township roads are gravel. Unlike Minneapolis, there are no bike lanes and no parking issues.
It’s hard for me to understand why anyone would voluntarily return to the farming life. These days, smaller farmers are struggling with catastrophic losses and profound depression (see my nonfiction book pick below). However, Mark would not be one of them. He was gregarious and cheerful. As our conversation stretched on, he teased me by calling me a “tree-hugger,” a label I readily accepted without taking offense. In that moment, I’m sure we both understood that we are not at all aligned politically. He probably voted for Trump.
I’m sorry, I can’t hate him and I really enjoyed our conversation. Sometime, if I get the chance, I’ll ask him if he believes the 2020 election was stolen. And I still won’t hate him if he says yes. Instead, I’ll take the opportunity to find out why he thinks that.
It’s the absolute least I can do.
To quote George W. Bush: “Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples - while judging ourselves by our best intentions…To renew our unity, we only need to remember our values. We have never been held together by blood or background. We are bound by things of the spirit – by shared commitments to common ideals.”
We can easily unearth those “things of the spirit” simply by getting out of our bubbles and asking others about themselves. It’s also the art of a good conversation!
If you haven’t yet downloaded the workbook I created to encourage meaningful conversations, you can get it right here!
In other news, Crossing Fifty-One is the little book that keeps on chugging along - closing in on 100 Amazon ratings and 60 Goodreads Ratings! I’m so grateful! If you haven’t yet rated it, you can do so right here!
THIS WRITER’S LIFE
As far as the new project goes, I’m getting close to finishing the first chapter for my agent to provide feedback. I’ve set a goal for myself to finish a first draft by March, 2026. I’ll be looking for beta readers, so if you’re interested, leave a comment or reply to this email!
Until next month,
~ Debbie
AUGUST BOOK RECOMMENDATIONSFICTION: Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Meyes
During a rough summer (weather and otherwise), books can provide a wonderful escape and I’ve decided that Jojo Meyes has become one of my go-to authors. This is a fun read with a lot of action and humor that kept me turning the pages. It’s like an ice cream cone - devoured quickly!
NONFICTION: Dodge County, Incorporated: Big Ag and the Undoing of Rural America by Trom Eayrs
This book is on hold at the library, but in light of my story about Mark, I wanted to recommend it this month, even though I haven’t yet read it. It was a 2025 Midwest Book Award winner and 2025 Minnesota Book Award finalist, so I think those are good endorsements.
From Bookshop: “In a compelling firsthand account of one family’s efforts to stand against corporate takeover, Dodge County, Incorporated tells a story of corporate malfeasance. Starting with the late 1800s, when her Norwegian great-grandfather immigrated to Dodge County, Trom Eayrs tracks the changes to farming over the years that ultimately gave rise to the disembodied corporate control of today’s food system. Trom Eayrs argues that far from being an essential or inextricable part of American life, corporatism can and should be fought and curbed, not only for the sake of land, labor, and water but for democracy itself.”
