Christmas on Dalton Mountain

At Christmas, my family would pack up the station wagon and head north to Grandma’s house on Dalton Mountain. As young kids, we thought it looked like a mountain, but it was only a steep hill near Dalton, MN. A forest and a lake surrounded the old farmhouse. Sometimes we would get stuck in the snow and pull us out with the tractor. Grandma would be waiting for us at the kitchen doorway.? She would have a batch of homemade dough ready to make us fry bread.? I could not wait for their first piece and then put butter and sugar on it.? My brother, Erich, and I would eat so much that our stomachs would hurt.? We thought Grandma was the best fry bread maker in the Dakotas.? The next day, all of us would go sledding with Grandpa and Tojo the dog. ??After we were all worn out, we came into the house and Grandma would take our wet clothes and mittens and put them near the kitchen wood-burning stove. ?Another adventure would be taking a walk in the woods with Grandpa. The best part of the trip was the visit to see the miniature ponies and Lita, the elephant in the historical round red barn.?

During the summer, traveling on our family carnival was full of adventures.? Sometimes, I would ride with Grandma in the yellow truck, and she would give instructions over the radio to the drivers. ?No one messed with Grandma as she was the boss of the whole outfit. ?There was no air conditioning in the truck, and I would put my feet up on the dashboard while singing country songs and eating sunflower seeds. ?These were some of the best days of my childhood…traveling with the carnival and spending time with my family.

Over the years, I called her many times for advice, and she would always respond, “Everything will work out the way it should, and it will be just fine.”? Grandma was “full of spice and vinegar” according to the nursing staff at Broen Home where she spent her final days of life.

Grandma’s last dream was for everyone to come home to Dalton Mountain to celebrate Christmas in the old farmhouse.? I hold the memories close to my heart.? Hugs to you up in heaven, Grandma.

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