Rochester, MN

Ah yes, the Midwest! Currently -6 and we aren’t even close to done with winter. Yikes. Not the best-selling point admittedly for my hometown. Funnily enough, I wasn’t born here and haven’t spent the majority of my life here. Yet I call this my hometown because I plan to make my life here. I even encouraged my mother to move here so she could eventually be close to her grandchildren (whenever that day comes). I spent 15 years down south so moving to the Midwest was shock, especially the winters. For the first few years many made fun and poked at me for whining about how cold it is here. Of course, in the summertime I would poke fun at my Midwest friends for complaining about the heat. What I can tell you is that this place does have some friendly folks once you get to know them. Despite popular belief it does actually warm up in the spring and summer. It can actually get humidity comparable to the south and then some. Many come out to play in the summer and you will be hard pressed to find anyone really staying indoors on a Saturday night. Yes, they love their bars just as much as anyone else! We live an hour and a half away from the twin cities. You can travel to the Mall of America one weekend day and enjoy a concert at Target Field. For those who love baseball, you will find they love the Minnesota Twins.

Within a week of moving here I had 5 job offers, which was unheard of in the previous city that I lived. When my mother moved her, she had a job offer within two weeks of looking. Many are hard working individuals in this city and you rarely hear of crime being committed. The thing I love the most about my hometown is the picture I captured. I have dozens like it on my phone but this was the prettiest. Every year around the same time, I have found the most gorgeous sunset. Something so awe inspiring you have to stop what you are doing and pull over. In fact, that is what I did, 4 years in a row! Someone might say “Well who cares!” Trust me, if you ever see one this beautiful up close, along with the other beauties this town and state holds you won’t want to leave. You can travel through farmlands in the winter and you will feel like you are looking at some paintings that would be hanging on grandma’s wall. I’ve seen more rainbows up close than anywhere else that I have been. The beauty is something else and you feel as if you have been drawn into the ending of a movie.

Speaking of movies, we have plenty of those theaters in town. The ones with recliners, or an IMAX if you please. We still even have a video rental store! You know the ones that you would go with your parents to on a Friday night? You were allowed to pick out a few movies and if you were good some candy to rot your teeth out to. Mom or Dad would have their own separate movies and then there was the compromise movie that the whole family could watch. Right next door to this lovely movie rental store is a pizza shop. All the things you need for a Friday night in one place. Of course, if you are more of an outdoors person, we have lots of parks and trails a plenty. If you drive 15 minutes outside of town you can even explore some caves. While my hometown may never make it into a movie starring Brad Pitt and some beautiful actress, I still call it home.