Letter of Love

Dear Minnesota,
This is a love letter. I know that's a bold statement to start with, but guess what? I'm a bold gal. I have been not so patiently anticipating my move to your lush and vibrant landscape for months now, and let me tell you, absence does make the heart grow fonder. So I don't want to beat around the bush any longer, I'm going to get right to the point and lay it all on the line. I'm ready to really fall in love with you, hard and fast, and I hope you are prepared to love me back because at this point in my life I just don't think I could handle that kind of rejection.

I may be sarcastic and bitingly witty, sometimes judgmental, and joke that I'm a real meanie, but in all honesty I'm a pretty nice lady. I like to think that I will be able to embrace the "Minnesota Nice" and give off the same warmth I've always felt from your people before. I can honestly say I've never met a Minnesotan I didn't like, and that's certainly something to aspire to. I can be generous with time and treasure, am a fantastic listener, have a great shoulder to cry on, and genuinely love to hug, all traits I think will help in my pursuit to fit in among the ranks of the sweetest people in America. Let's be real, there are too many entitled, self-absorbed and selfish people in this world and I don't need to be another, especially if being nice will get me in your good graces.

Hot dish is one of the greatest food concepts I've encountered in my 23 years as an eater. I can't wait to forget about the word casserole entirely and jump on the hot dish train to a satisfied stomach. I love saying my "oh's" like a real "o", and vow to embrace the "ay" in bag, dragon, flag, and diagonal like I was born doing so. I'll even do it without mockery or mimicry. I promise to visit the boundary waters at least once during my tenure as a Minnesotan, if only just to say I've been and lived to tell the tale. I doubt I'll participate in any daring outdoor adventures while I'm there, but it's enough to just have been, right? Not only are the boundary waters on my list of places to visit, but I can't wait to tour every corner of the little man's hat, taking in your best sights.

I may have never been much of a state sports super fan before, but Minnesota, you are one of the few places I think I can really root for. Whether I'm clearing for the Twins, Timberwolves, Wild, Vikings, or my new school team the Gophers, you can bet I'll be one of the loudest in the bunch. Lord knows I love me a good live sporting event, and even more an underdog comeback kid. I won't be a fair-weather fan and desert you when times get tough. Once I've got a Minnesota address to call home I'm all yours - win or lose, rain or shine, sweltering summer or bone-chilling winter I'll be your girl. Wearing your colors and cheering your names.

I'm going to be calling you home for the next two years at the very least, and I'm hoping, if all goes well and we get along as swimmingly as I've planned, it will be for much longer than that. This is a long-term relationship we are starting here, and as Luke told Lorelai "I'm all in." I'll give you my heart if you give me yours, and we can share all of the wonders and secrets I bet you have hidden in your borders. We've got memories to make, my friend. Let's get started!

xoxo - your new lady love,
Claire