On a crisp, sometimes rainy weekend in September, member Paula Schwartz and her husband Thomas hosted the fourth annual Global Travelers Fall Social in Merrifield, MN. This year, Paula fully embraced what Minnesotan’s call “Up North,” encouraging attendees to dress in flannel. Member Mark Lewis delivered a rousing and hilarious welcome, complete with Ole and Lena stories scripted by Paula.
Members Cindy Huber, Debbie Kornhauser, Amy Denison, and Kathy Densmore came to Merrifield early to help Paula prepare food for the weekend, starting with a traditional “Up North” dinner on Friday night. Others helped in the kitchen during the event. We sampled walleye bites, jello salad, several casseroles, hearty soup, and more. And then of course, lots of dessert.
On Saturday, members pursued a variety of activities: a hike, relaxing by the fire (tended by member Mike Philson), exploring Paula’s garden and tasting her honey varieties, enjoying the tranquil lake, and discussing future trips (of course!).
Saturday evening featured another tradition — make-your-own wood-fired pizzas. Plus samples of Paula and Thomas’ famous pickle pizza. The week-end featured lots of eating!
We laughed. We shared stories of travel and service. We made plans for future adventures together. We made new friends and deepened old friendships. We renewed our commitment to Global Travelers and everything we stand for. What a great week-end!
