You know you're from McIntosh County if ...

Thinking about the weekend and our little trip to Wishek and I have to chuckle, 'cause the first thing that came to mind was the posts from Facebook about  "how you know you're something or other by..." followed by a list of 10 commonalities people of a certain area or sect share. Well, when I have  my doubts about who I am and where I come from, I need look no farther than a get-together with some of my relatives.

So, I know I'm from McIntosh County, ND, when -

1. You travel to St. Luke's Cemetery in Wishek and meet your father in "his families" corner of the cemetery.
2. You find that some wonderful relative or friend removed last year's spray of flowers from Mom's tombstone and saved them until this Memorial Day weekend and put them back before we got there.
3. You call one (of many) aunts and ask if they will be home and if you can visit and of course you are invited for lunch.
4. You are treated to pigs in the blanket, homemade bread, homemade pickles, wonderful watermelon, rhubarb pie and ice cream for lunch.
5. You find your baptism record among the many other relatives you are discovering in the many old Centennial yearbooks and church records that belong to said aunt and uncle.
6. You decide to travel to your mom's family cemetery and are given directions plus a rundown of who owns what house and what land in town and out.
7. You find the cemetery easy enough and wander down the first row trying to fit the puzzle pieces together and low and behold, one of your older cousins, and his wife, show up.
8. You get a personal tour of the row of sites you just passed and a history lesson of who's who as far as your grandmother and grandfather's family were.
9. You are also treated to a firsthand account of a tragic death in the 1960s. One that you can vaguely remember anyone talking about.
10. You also get a very interesting wedding story; a chance to sign a guest book; and see the latest marker added recently for an aunt who passed earlier this year.

BONUS
10a. You meet one more distant relative who drove up to see her twin babies' graves.
10b. You receive multiple hugs and --
10c. You leave with a slight German accent, so there's no doubt about your roots.

As you honor your relatives who have gone before you to await your arrival in heaven, may the peace that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ.

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