Advertisement
Published: August 26th 2022
Edit Blog Post
My birthplace; May 10th, 1971, The Dells, Wisconsin. I have been told the story many times in varies forms and truth versions about my Father and Mother marrying and moving to WI where my dad helped build a building for the World Wide Church of God, the Feast of Tabernacle building in The Dells. My parents divorced when I was very young and I don't remember them ever so much as being in a same room together. In the years I have idolized a time in WI when they were young, in love and I was a newborn...everything was perfect. In reality, if it were perfect, they wouldn't have divorced so soon. It was emotional for me to enter the state that has always been a word I fill out on a document or see on my identification or hear stories about. On this day, I final get to experience it. Transitioning from South Dakota into Wisconsin the terrain instantly changed. No longer am I viewing thousands upon thousands of acres of soy bean and corn. Now the ground has taken on a small mounds and trees are becoming more and more populated. The highway takes me along the boarder of
the two states which is the Mississippi River. Actually crossing into WI, I teared up. Why?
My first stop is The Dells, where my parents lived when I was born. I don't know the address, neighborhood, or which side of town they were in. So finding the actual house from 51 years ago is not going to happen. I do however search out the building that my dad was working on, which was the whole reason of being in this area at that time. The internet was of no help, which only means the church is no longer an active church. This could be a good thing. The World Wide Church of God founded by Hubert Armstrong was described as a cult with very ill vibes from most people who are able to speak of it today. After an hour an a half driving in every direction I reached out to the Visitors Center and asked for help in locating the church. A young helpful man was able to provide an address for me. Now known as Holiday Wholesale Warehouse. The church is full of old storage items for the company with overgrown shrubs and trees. The outdoor bulbous
World Wide Church of God, Feast of Tabernacle building
I took a bunch of pictures of the church only to find out from my dad that he didn't have much to do with the church, just the warehouse in the back field. lights that show their age by design now also show their age by neglect and layers of black organic coating on them. I imaged my dad as a young man in his early 20's driving this same road to go to work everyday, while my mom was at home with me and life was good, for that tiny moment.
I called my dad at the memory care facility that he now resides in and shared with him my visit to The Dells. He remembered the area, that he helped build the large warehouse in the back of the church, shared some stories about how cold and frozen it would get there and caring for the machinery was difficult. Then he went off about something else non related. I called my mom to tell her where I was and she fondly shared a story about Maple fudge from The Dells. It's the best she's ever had. Apparently this nostalgic feeling of my birthplace is a solitude reflection that is only for me to have. Now you have heard my version of the story.
Vulnerability is the birthplace of connection and the path to the feeling of worthiness. If it
doesn't feel vulnerable, the sharing is probably not constructive.
Michelle
Advertisement
Tot: 0.07s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 13; qc: 38; dbt: 0.0378s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
bain
don bain
Very moving entry
So glad you got to visit your birthplace. I was born in Yuba City California but don’t recall ever going back there. Reading your entry makes me think I should go visit. Thank you for sharing.