Soon, (THURSDAY, July 18, 2024) I’ll be setting up at the Munsinger/Clemens Gardens – for its yearly Art Fair in the Gardens. Such beautiful flowers, trees, shrubs, and many different water features are set up by the slow-moving Mississippi River, flowing south to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisianna.
I was raised near Old Man River. It has my heart and soul and is part of every book I’ve written except for “Steppes to Neu-Odessa,” about the first German Russians to come to the Midwest and settle in Yankton County, Dakota Territory. My second book was a college work, “Postcards from the Old Man,” a sort of memoir of living on Warner Lake and near the great river that I realized while I was away from my water routes, I still felt the Mississippi flowing in my veins. But I chuckle at others who read the title and snicker, thinking I am referring to my father–or worse–frown as I assume they think the title is showing disrespect to him. Of course, it isn’t. It’s more of a coming-of-age story.
“All Around Clearwater” and the Minnesota Main Street Women series, “Scruples & Drams, “Pins & Needles,” and my latest, hot off the press, “Where Two Rivers Meet,” exhibit the strength, courage, and wisdom each of my protagonists feels as they rely on the infamous river’s power to help them make life-changing decisions.
Daughter of the Middle Border – Cynthia Frank-Stupnik (cynthiafrankstupnik.com)
Don’t forget, July 18, 2024, Munsinger-The Munsinger/Clemens Gardens – The Jewel of St. Cloud, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1515 Riverside Dr SE, Saint Cloud, MN 56304
I’ll leave you with this wonderful song from “Showboat,” “Ol’ Man River” https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=old%20man%20river%20videos&FORM=VDQVAP&mid=A6DE485C76DA5D8E30E3A6DE485C76DA5D8E30E3&view=detail&ru=%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dold%20man%20river&rvsmid=E4277E4DB06BEF6014C7E4277E4DB06BEF6014C7&ajaxhist=0