By Daniel McGonigle
Argus Managing Editor
I'm used to my city celebrations taking place during the summer. Western Fest, Fiesta Days, Coming Home Days, they all happen from a stretch from the second week in June until the week after July 4. I prefer being warm to being cold. That being said, I am looking forward to the Winter Wonderland Celebration this weekend, you could say "I'm warming up to the idea." Or am I? (Foreshadowing).

The way my mind works, I am glad that we got all the snow we did this past weekend. I just can't see calling something "Winter Anything" without the benefit of a nice layer of the white stuff to make sure we remember yes it is winter, and yes it is Minnesota. So now I feel like all of the preparations are in place and my first official city celebration can begin. Or can it?

While doing a story on the Historical Society's preparations for the Winter Wonderland celebrationÖI met some very nice ladies. They barely looked up from their various tasks to acknowledge me as "the new guy at the paper." Except to simply say: "oh, you're the new guy at the ArgusÖgood luck with that."

What did that mean, I thought to myself? Is there some ritual that I am going to be a part of that I wasn't expecting? I mean, I attended a rotary club meeting this past week and each member of that organization puts in one dollar each time he or she has their picture in the paper (the money goes towards a good local cause). I have already thought to myself that at least one of my children won't be able to attend college since my picture is in the paper every week and I'll be on the hook every meeting, but "good luck with that?"

The donation can't be why.

They call it "foreshadowing," where I come from and it is a powerful tool in the moving along of a plot. However, when it is your character (or in this case me) who is the one being warned, it is a bit daunting when you consider.

The Historical Society foreshadowing of what could be lying around that dark, spooky corner, or in that package that I surprising got in the mail could only mean that being the new guy at the Argus is sure to spell my doom. I suspect it will start out innocent enough. "Oh, you're the NEW guy at the Argus. Here, hop in this balloon." I'll climb in, unsuspecting of what is to follow. Successful use of foreshadowing is for the person to totally disregard any warning he or she might have been given and walk blindly into the situation that only the reader or viewer can realize. In my story you might even cut to the devious plan by the balloon guy, who is surely missing his front teeth, and show his escape route from said balloon. We'll go up, me unsuspecting of anything, he waiting for the one way rope out of the balloon destined to ride to nowhere. I'll ask "so how high can these things go"Ö or some such balloon related question, and I'll look over my shoulder only to see him sliding down the rope. When he lands he'll shout back "welcome to the Argus, this is part of your initiation." And, standing by his side, will be the nice little lady from the Houston County Historical Society, shaking her head and under her breath she will say: "I told him, good luck with that. He doesn't belong in this business anyway, he doesn't even understand foreshadowing."

No, seriously, I am looking forward to all the celebration has to offer, especially the nice work the historical society volunteers have done decorating the various buildings on the fairgrounds. Hope your Winter Wonderland Celebration is a fun one.

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Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475

E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com