How Fargo of You

"How Fargo of You" is the name of a book I just finished reading.  Written by Marc de Celle, it lives up to its subtitle of "Stories from the northern prairie that people who haven't been here will never believe."  It revealed to me why it always irritates me when I drive through Chicago and reach road construction where lanes are merging together.  Being sensible and polite, I merge early because it disrupts traffic when you don't.  The people who go flying by in the empty lane that is ending and then cut in at the last minute always hack me off.  Not only are they contributing to the slow traffic problem, but it's not like they're going to get anywhere all that much faster.  As the book explains, where I come from, it's considered extremely rude to do that.  I would recommend this book to others.  For those of you who grew up on the northern prairie or live there now, you can nod right along with all the stories.  If you aren't familiar with it, then you'll learn something new.  It's a quick, easy, and enjoyable read.

My favorite quote from the book is as follows.  "Living here has convinced me that climate and character, in a free society, are inextricably linked.  To be arrogant, aloof or careless around here, you'd have to be dumber than a skydiver in a snowstorm - and if you're that dumb around here, you're not around here long.  You'll leave one way or another - train, plane, or hearse."  It also helps me like the book when it gives kudos to my former high school and I know some of the characters in real life.  If you want to borrow my valuable autographed-by-the-author copy, let me know and I might loan it to you if I think you'll take care of this collector's item.