Jack of Harts

One of the things to keep in mind about the Northern Minnesota I grew up in is that we weren’t really a wilderness. We billed ourselves as one, and we went to great efforts to keep our lands looking like one. It was the best way to entice city folk to come visit. But we also spent a lot of time and effort keeping the most dangerous animals at bay. It was the best way to make the city folk want to come back. Most city folk want the illusion of wilderness you see. They want to look out on thick forests or beautiful lakes. They want to see deer and birds eating in the fields around them. They want to walk through the woods on carefully groomed paths with local guides who thrill them with danger while protecting them with an openly-carried firearm. And they want to retire to secure cabins with all the comforts of home to sleep through the night. We provided all of that. It was the grandest of illusions, and I loved growing up in it.