Two Longs and a Short

I was not born here. Everybody has their own story on how and why they came and left 56572. Some are more compelling than others. My story goes that fifty-one years ago my parents, my two very little sisters and I were out for a drive around Lake Lida one day when the Good Lord decided to start draining the brake fluid on Dad's 1947 Frazer on to Highway 108 between Oak Lodge and Maple Beach. We were towed to George Sanstead's Brake Shop - now Weishair's - Dad and George got to talking and by the time we left for Moorhead later that afternoon, we owned three fifty foot lake lots on North Lida. One to the south for Julian and Marvel, our Moorhead neighbors on the south, one to the north for Del and Lila, our Moorhead neighbors on the north. We had spent $1500 for the three lots. Dad started building a cabin the next summer.

Being a Big City Boy from Moorhead, I thought it funny that when we got a phone in 56572, we also got a party line. Our ring was two longs and a short. Our phone number was five digits long. One could just pick up the phone and hear any of the three neighbors talking.

Last Thursday late in the evening, a large and memorable event took place in 56572. By 11:00 p.m. there were people standing 4-5 deep on the sidewalks of 56572. It reminded me of the Turkey Day Parades of yesteryear. As far as I know, planning for this started mid-morning of the same day. At 10:38 a.m. I received an email, the final sentence of which said:"PLEASE FORWARD THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS." During the day, I received email addressed to multiple recipients. There was chatter on the line. Why the message was sent was obvious. Who started it, probably only a few of us know. Young and Old, Republican and Democrat, American citizen or new arrival, hundreds stood waiting for Josh Hanson to come home to 56572. Saturday, hundreds of Patriot Guard Riders, some from the area, many from far away, stood on guard for hours outside PRHS during his funeral. How did they get the word? How did you hear? Cell phones, email, instant text messaging, weblogs, chatrooms have changed the way word gets out. Some may have seen the news on Channel 5, others heard it on KCRQ-FM. The power and speed of today's party lines is incredible. It's a new world we live in. Last week proved that to small town America.

I also received a letter in the mail last week from a County Commission Candidate telling me victory could be assured if I would simply call eight neighbors. I don't have time for that. I do not appreciate calls of that nature myself. I am still waiting for a candidate to email me with the words "PLEASE FORWARD THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS." Maybe by the General Election, November 7th?