This weekend presented two different views on Minneapolis for me, Saturday was gray, cold and crappy, Sunday was sunny, warm and pleasant. On Saturday I went shooting with Bob Kupbens in North East Minneapolis. We also went to the Mpls Library Downtown. Sunday was a nice day for a walk around Lake of the Isles. The two days and pictures were a great contrast of the big city.

Minneapolis was built by the railroads. The odd layout of the town and the crooked streets make much more sense if you look at an old map of The Cites from the first part of the 20th century. The railroads all follow smooth and straight lines through the area and around the rivers. The city grew around them. But before the railroads, there were the lakes. Interstate 394 and Lake Street are the only ways though the chain of lakes for miles. The two forces of rail and lake have constricted the city and yet created it at the same time.

A gnarled tree growing on a rocky cliff is challenged by it’s environment, but it derives its character from this challenge. How have your challenges made you a better person? Take time on this veteran’s day to reflect on the challenges and be grateful for how they shape our character and make us stronger.