Governor’s TCI party … a moment on the lipsforever on the hipsI was proud of Luverne Friday when the community rolled out the red carpet for Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Total Card Inc. executives.The governor’s opening remarks said it all. "I was told I was going to come out here and cut a ribbon, and I get here and see this," he said. "I don’t know too many communities who would shut down Main Street and put up a tent. There is obviously positive spirit in Luverne, Minnesota."The event was a celebration on two levels: oLuverne wanted to officially welcome Total Card Inc. (and its potential 300 jobs) to town, and oGov. Tim Pawlenty wanted to celebrate the state’s first out-of-state business to use JOB Zones.The two happy ingredients combined for a festive day that featured a 120-foot-long, street-wide tent, heartfelt gifts, sincere thank yous and, of course, food …… lots and lots of really good-tasting food … donated by area vendors and served up by local volunteers (see the ad on page 4B listing all the contributors).Considering lunch was free, everyone got plenty to eat. Party goers made their way back to their seats, staggering under the weight of plates loaded with pizza, burgers, chicken, bison meat and rib ticklers — in addition to beverages and ice cream.Wow.Not without a hitch …Just when I began contemplating how all this food might affect the size of our butts, I picked up the buzz about paint on butts.As the story goes, while setting up for the party, city workers discovered some tacky paint splotches on picnic tables that had been painted three weeks earlier. Horrified, they carefully gave each table the "white towel" treatment, checking for other possible tacky spots.Unfortunately, the towel check didn’t replicate what butts do on benches during an hour-long party program.Everything from faded work jeans to $1,000 suits were coming up speckled with tiny splotches of barn red paint.It sort of gave new meaning to the old adage, "Moments on the lips, forever on the hips."Party goers that day, including myself, went home with permanent memoirs of the event.Hopefully, it didn’t sour the experience for anyone. It sure didn’t for me.The overall impression I came away with was that I just experienced first-hand another pivotal moment in Luverne history.I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who could feel the energy under the tent that day as the community officially embraced these new developments that will benefit Luverne for years to come.These are good things worth celebrating in style … even if we end up wearing memoirs on our hips (and butts).
