Kelly Lasley was proficiently working lights when multifaceted Rachel Nelson walked onto a dark stage for her premiere performance of “Urban Hermit”. This talented poet, storyteller, musician, songwriter, actor, took us through the gritty metamorphosis of her life.

There’s no mincing around the pain of Nelson’s youth. We’re at the edge with her, looking down. How many of us thought of taking up Greyhound’s offer of 30 days for $90? Nelson took them up on it, quitting her job and traveling coast to coast, all the while hitting the bottle and sharing dope, till finally a cop gave her a get-out-of-town ticket in New Orleans.

Nelson doesn’t spare us the blackouts and her friends’ scorn. Life is dire till musicians at a women’s coffeehouse invite her to join them. The musical turn her life takes is close to miraculous. Once a wallflower, Nelson blooms as a street busker. She transforms to a jill of many instruments, playing and writing music for violin, guitar, mandolin, even homemade washboard bass. She loves her music and we do too.



If you missed this sweet, sad, rich tale, you’ll be able to enjoy it at the Minnesota Fringe Festival in August. But closer to home, Nelson presents a variety of arts endeavors in Two Harbors where she hangs her hat. There’s a ukelele group and drum circles, along with a story literacy residency within the public schools. Fridays in the Park is a series bringing talent like Claudia Schmidt and Sharon Chmielarz to Lake County.

My dad, who was born in Two Harbors, often raved about the Finn Hall with its emphasis on music , culture and fun. Rachel Nelson and her cohorts revive that incredible spirit of sizu.


MESABA PARK

And for the Finns at heart, Mesaba Co-op Park held its 83rd Midsummer Festival last weekend in Cherry, in what my son says is ‘the Commy capital of MN’. The bulk of events are held in the Finn Hall, where Jim Larson strummed dulcimer as we ate blueberry pancakes; where Vaara’s mom led us in yoga; where “The Cactus Blossoms” and the “Conga Boys” got us stomping our feet.

Women speakers told about women’s union history and about the quarter of Finns who weren’t atheists, but instead, Unitarians. There was maypole dancing, social hour, fishing, swimming and sauna. How about mojakka, a juhannus bonfire and jamming? Lots more, and we camped for $15 for the weekend. This historic place rang with camaraderie. My dad, who was blackballed as a young man from the Two Harbors railyard after he talked to the wobblies at the gate, was with me the entire visit. Everyone is welcome; everyone, including the kids, has a great time. See you in Cherry next year? (And bring your dog. They like it too!)