Red River Reunion

After flying back from Europe and picking the kids up in LA, we flew (twelve hours later) to the midwest (Fargo, ND), the hometown of my cousins Richard (my Dad's first cousin) and Amy for the wedding of their daughter Jacky (who sang at our wedding) and Kyle. 

Vanessa also flew in from D.C, although Marco couldn't make it, and the kids were ontop of her as soon as we arrived at our hotel!  My parents are in the UK and also couldn’t join us. 

While I had visited and stayed with Amy, Richard, Jacky, and Derek some while I was in medical school (Rochester is about 4.5-5 hours by car) and for some holidays as my family roots are truly in MN, Vanessa hadn't spent any time in downtown Fargo and on Saturday, we checked out the Red River Farmer's Market (the Red River separates Fargo from its "twin city" Moorhead, which is in MN). It was hot and sunny, and we enjoyed the sunshine and live music (and random objects) on the lawn by Broadway.

After lunch at a downtown noodle place, Drunken Noodle, we visited the local Red River Zoo.  It was a bit bigger than our local Sequoia Zoo and had some different animals (most better suited to the harsh winters) but (like ours) also boasted some bald eagles and even two red pandas!

Fargo is home to the NDSU "Bisons" (I had to explain to the kids that there is no actual tiger-bison hybrid animal).

Sichuan takins

Crane

Bactrian Camels do okay in sub-zero weather of the midwest (like they do in Mongolia).

Mississippi turtle

There were a pair of red pandas!

Bald eagles

Gray wolf

The prairie dogs were really cute.

Giant picnic table and farm...

... and giant Adirondack chair

As infrequently as we come to the midwest (it's been most recently my grandmother's funeral in 2018 and Derek's graduation in 2017), this area really feels so much like "home" for me, as my sister and I spent so many wonderful summers on my grandparents' farm when we were kids and with our closest (and not that big) Dad’s family.  It was so special to be reunited with both Vanessa and our Arness cousins at the wedding and beyond (post to come!).