Whenever I’m asked, “Where are you from?” I mutter a quick “Midwest…” and hope the conversation drifts away. Truth be told, I hail from South Dakota, a state whose vastness is rivaled only by its sparse population. Known as the ‘middest west of all,’ South Dakota is a place where half the population could vanish into mist, and our governor might not notice until the next election.
Dakota Governor
As an optimist, I strive to see the positive in situations. However, finding a bright side during a winter break back home can be challenging. My journey commenced at the airport, and in South Dakota, that’s a notable start in itself, given there are only two airports in the state.
South Dakota Airports
From my hometown, humorously referred to as ‘Almost Nowhere,’ the drive could have been an ordeal. Fortunately, it only took half an hour when my mom picked me up in our nostalgic horse-drawn wagon. She mentioned the fields were barren and the cows were sickly, leaving us in need of grocery shopping.
Upon arriving home, my father ceremoniously presented me with a deer pelt. This was to supplement the winter coat bought from Walmart last harvest — an extra layer against the notorious South Dakota chill. In celebration of my return, the family indulged in freshly churned salted butter, a true delicacy.
Within days, a great winter storm swept through South Dakota, a reminder of its harsh, unyielding winters. The storm wiped out our Wi-Fi and trapped our wagon in the snow. Despite the setbacks, my brother and I found amusement by rolling a hoop around the lawn, swatting it with sticks like children of a bygone era.
After weeks of battling boredom, I reluctantly returned to Walla Walla, the biggest city I’ve been to, bringing with me fresh memories of the place I still call home.