Finishing the Fine Occasion

Christopher took us for a ride Sunday evening to see more of Tioga and the landscape around Tioga.

There are many oil pumps at every turn, but maybe not more than 3 or 4 at a time —  on each side of the car windows as we’re driving down the road.

Many times the land is as flat as the horizon.

A monument marks the location of the first oil discovered at Tioga on the Clarence Iverson farm in 1938.

Parts of Tioga are in incredible disarray as city codes and ordinances are lax and development is occurring with little warning and with no comprehensive plan or even a plan.

Chaos is not too strong a word to describe parts of the small but growing city.  Many workers in the oil fields live in trailers and mobile homes that were moved in just for them.  These particular trailers shown above are right next door to one of the properties that Christopher owns.

Bales of cardboard for recycling are parked on Chris’ property, a lot previously owned by the City of Tioga but not yet cleared.

City equipment still isn’t vacated from Chris’ lot.  See the oil cars going past?

The tracks are adjacent to Chris’ property.  The yellow machines are railroad maintenance equipment.

Jenny and Chris have a comfortable home in Tioga.  It was the only new place for sale in 2008 and they converted it from a duplex into a single family home with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.  It’s lovely, and all the little kids in Tioga want to spend time at Addie and Gunnar’s place.

It’s kind of special to have four generations hanging out together, especially in Tioga, North Dakota!

The Norgaards at home, far from home.

But now they’re closer.

After another delicious supper by Jenny, this time featuring boneless chicken breasts and more healthy fruit and vegetables, we went out to their firepit for dessert — roasted marshmallows.

It was no longer a sunny day, but still nice enough to sit outside for a while with only a slight breeze.

Christiopher made sure he whittled enough sticks for everybody to do their own marshmallows.

Their little firepit is in their backyard, just in back of the playhouse, as you can see.

Addie is never too big for Grandma Sue’s lap.  I think she’s going to be on stage some day.

Grandma Betty was not afraid to hold a worm that was still wiggling.  Addie and Gunnar learned many other things about their Great Grandma Betty and it was all very wonderful.

Time for bed.  The kids are acting silly and they must be up early for school in the morning.

It’s already the next morning.  We all slept like logs.  Jenny made another good breakfast for Addie and Gunny and is now trying to get their library books together.

One more goodbye to Great Grandma Betty.  There’s nothing else like it in the whole wide world.

I’ve said it before, and Jenny knows it too, there’s no place like home, and there’s no place like Tioga, North Dakota.  Imagine the Lutheran pastor being the school bus driver, and imagine that Addie and Gunnar live less than two blocks from the school yet still get to ride the bus.  They love it.

A little while later, it’s time for us (me and my mom and my husband) to leave the Norgaard home and head back to Minnesota.  It’s never easy to leave.  Miss you always and love you forever.

When it rains, it pours, and that’s just how it is.  Part of the trip home back to Minnesota was a bit treacherous with bad winds and rain.  We spent an overnight in Fargo and arrived at the home place near Ghent just in time for lunch.  Dad had the table set for us.  Thank you, Dad.  We missed you.  And thank you, Mom for helping to make the  trip so memorable.  Hope we can do it again soon.

Love, Susan

Email:  Sue@PrintsPublishing.com

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