ONCE AGAIN MINNESOTA WINS (Hopefully)

By Bringing a Little Bit O’ Happiness Back

Minnesota.

I’ve never been to Minnesota but I might want to end my days there.

That’s because – in addition to many other wonderful, amazing and terrifying things that are happening and already happened there – it looks as though happy hour, and therefore wine, may live as long as Minnesota’s grandparents.

You may have heard of Minnesota’s bill 2993 or Grandparent’s Happy Hour, which aims to amend state law that would allow nursing homes and assisted living facilities to serve alcohol without a liquor license. The proposal “aims to boost social engagement and improve quality of life.”

Precisely!

Quality of life. That’s what wine can do – help make one’s life a little bit better, a little bit joyous. And in these times, bring a small amount of happiness. Hopefully, the real good folks of Minnesota – and not those dolts, who if they had their way, are trying to resurrect Prohibition, if we allow them to have the chance.

We all know what Minnesotans went through in the last few months. And they came out triumphantly. They paid the price alright. They lost two of their sistren and brethren in the Battle of Minneapolis when masked thugs tried to kristallnacht their city like the brown shirted gestapo that they are. But Minnesotans gallantly stood up to the fascists and ran them outta town.

Here’s what else Minnesota did for our country:

· It has given us Al Franken and Thomas Friedman, people whom I admire greatly

· It’s where George Mikan and Whitey Skoog brought championships with the Minneapolis Lakers. Yes, the Lakers. Who eventually abandoned the burghers of Minnesota – in the Land o’ 10K Lakes -- and absconded to L.A. where there aren’t any lakes, unless you count Silver, what with its iconic, ready-for-tv procedurals’ spewing fountain.

· And speaking of Land O’ Lakes: Minnesota is like buttda.

· Oh, and did I mention Robert Zimmerman? Zimmy – the kid from the Iron Range —knew which way the wind was blowin’ (which led him to get the hell out of there. Oh well.)

· Then there’s Eddie Cochran and Prince, and the Andrew Sisters (look ‘em up) and Charles Schulz and Sinclair Lewis and F. Scott. Oh, Lindsay Vonn and Vince Vaughn. Roger Maris. Hubert Humphrey, Paul Whetsone and Walter Mondale. And Jessica Lange, the Coen Bros and Frances McDormand.

Keep on Loving You

And then there’s the latest Minnesota star: Anita LeBrun. Never heard of Ms. LeBrun? She’s the grandma who testified that, “just because we’re older... doesn’t mean we should have fewer freedoms,” emphasizing the importance of socializing in a home setting.

And more specifically, The Good Anita (again, look it up) was testifyin’ that the still vibrant and alive habitues of assisted living residences won’t become habitudes if they are allowed to drink booze in what she called, “our homes”.

You go Sister LeBrun! Long may you and your fellow grandmimas and grandpops live. I raise a glass to all of you. And in the immortal words of Prince: Keep on Loving You.