Al Franken and Garrison Keillor have Endorsed this Blog Post

My friend Aaron lives and eats in Keep Co-op, and I see him usually a grand total of an hour a week when OCircus shares Hales Gym with Oberlin's Flaming Blades fencing team. A few weeks ago, our friendly interchange included inviting each other to our special meals. Mine is going to be Japanese themed, on April 18th (you should drop by and learn to roll sushi! I'm a great teacher!). His was today, and he and a crew of Keepers were serving up a Taste of Minnasooota.

I got a text at 11.30am telling me that, more than anything, I needed to be outside right now. I glanced out the window and saw SUNSHINE. My computer said it was 49 degrees. That's glorious weather for this time of year. That's it. I'm outside.

I got to Keep, and I was greeted by the drifting sounds of live bluegrass by the Black River Belles (Helena Thompson on guitar, Erin Lobb on standup bass, and Sara Sasaki on fiddle) playing My Old Kentucky Home as I walked up the steps.

Inside, podcasts of A Prairie Home Companion ushered Keepers and visitors into the dining room where we filled our plates and other eating receptacles with hamburger noodle hotdish, green bean casserole, wild rice, powdermilk biscuits, and jello with Swedish fish before heading outside to the sunshine.

I had already parked myself on the porch when my friend Sean told me of the fresh-baked strawberry rhubarb pie that had just come out of the oven. He offered to get me some, but I had to make room on my plate first. Not that that would be difficult, but it took some time since I was talking to all the other folks piled on the steps with plates of food soaking in the sun.

The Belles continued to supply us with music and Minnesota continued to supply us with delicious food. My full tummy and I decided to bask in the sun briefly before I headed off to the rest of my day. Ah, springtime. I'm glad you've arrived.