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Rick Domeier and I grew up 29 miles down the road from each other in Minnesota, but our paths didn’t knowingly cross until 20 years ago when we prepared to do our first show together at QVC. We immediately discovered we had very much in common. Was it the accent that gave it away when we began our conversation, or was it the instant brother-sister chemistry from our “Minnesota Nice” upbringing? And so the story unfolded…….

In 1985 my mom Linnea married Jack who lived in Rick’s home town of New Ulm, Minnesota, and moved there from my home town of Mankato. My step-siblings were classmates and friends of Rick’s. I personally grew to love New Ulm, and have many fond memories. Rick probably made many trips to the bigger city of Mankato for various reasons, social obviously being one. It’s hard to imagine we don’t have more in common. I thought it would be fun to continue the conversation……..

Me:Rick, doesn’t your beautiful wife Amy have relatives in Mankato?

Rick: Amy’s entire family is from New Ulm, and a sister-in-law who grew up in Mankato-- small world!!

Me:I personally NEVER imagined I would move any further from home than Minneapolis. Then I found myself transferring to LA, yikes! When you were young, did you ever want to leave Minnesota?

Rick: I did leave Minnesota--- wound up in Southern California! Like you, the West (and the sunshine) was calling!!

Me:What took you away?

Rick: Dreams of the Sun, the sand, the next chapter in Life. But as I would soon find out... there's no place like Home!

Me:I went to Minnesota State University, Mankato, we Mavericks definitely had our favorite hang-outs, where might I have run into you on a Saturday night in the “big city”?

Rick: If you're from a town of 14,000 (like I was)...cruising to Mankato with your buddies was like going to New York City! Look at all these people!

Me:I loved Heritage Fest in New Ulm. What was your favorite Mankato event?

Rick: Our Heritage Fest was great. But I was an athlete in High School, and playing football and basketball games against Mankato was a Big Deal! They were always good, and usually kicked our butt!

Me: I am a HUGE Vikings fan!  I never missed an autograph opportunity from the greats (Purple People Eaters) when they were in Mankato for training camp. Are you a Vikings or Twins fan?

Rick: Seriously?? Both! I suffered through four, yes four Super Bowl losses back in the day (but we still love you Fran Tarkington)!  I'll be a Vikings fan until the end.

 I’m right there with Rick on that one, it may take until the end to finally win a Super Bowl, but I’ll be there with him!

Me:I have wonderful “Up North” memories. My grandpa had a cabin on Gull Lake, and for some reason he liked to take the boat our after dinner. As you know, that lake is HUGE, and we would always get lost once it got dark. Why didn’t we think to put a different colored lightbulb on the dock or something?

Rick: Lake Millacs, Lake Washington, Pelican Lake... were you aware we have a lot of Lakes?? If you hate Lakes, you need to move to another State.

Me:Did you ever visit my great uncle Jimmy’s bakery in New Ulm, it was called Tillman’s?

Rick: Wow Tillman's!!!  It's still there, now called a German name, the Backerei. The ones with the thick icing and the nuts on top, to die for.  They are simply the BEST! And I have handed that tradition down to my hungry boys, who devour them each time we visit.

Again, I will have to say Rick is right! The treats he is talking about are actually called Mocho Cakes and they are unbelievable! Jimmy would make these for EVERY special family occasion!  Sometimes replacing the wedding cake! My Grandma Dooley (Jimmy’s sister) carried on the tradition, and now it is up to my sisters, aunts and cousins. I am so glad they are still available at the Backerei. I still have the recipe and I will certainly have to share it with all of you. Like anything great, they take patience to make – that is something I did not inherit from my Grandma!

Me: My step-siblings attended Cathedral High School with you. Tell me about that connection.

Rick: It has to do with dating, good friends, and lots of memories. Might have to have a couple of Schell's beers to tell the whole story.

Me: OK!  I’ll bet you were Prom King or Homecoming King. Pictures please!

Rick: We didn't have a 'King' back in the day. But I did have my Johnny Carson suit to wear, just in case!

Me: I feel so fortunate to have grown up in Minnesota, how about you?

Rick: All kidding aside, I could not have asked for a better place to grow up. We were free to ride our bikes all over the town. Everywhere!! No fear of crime, no fear of trouble. If there was any trouble, it's because we caused it ourselves!

Me: I’m sure we would have been friends in High School. I was on the gymnastics and tennis teams, so we have another thing in common, it’s called COMPETITIVE!

Rick: You’re younger than I am. But wait... there was One night in Mankato...

Me: Haha! I may have seen you at the Kato Ballroom. What was your 70’s/80’s dance style? Disco, slow-dance or polka? 

Rick: Knowing how to Polka is a Law in my hometown. I was a Rocker all the way, who still managed to slow dance to Chicago's Color my World at the Gibbon Ball room. My apologies for stepping on my dance partner's feet.

Apology accepted, I’m sure!

So there you have it! A little background to my long time friendship with Rick Domeier! I am so looking forward to catching up with him tonight at 11pm ET for 1 hour of Carolyn Pollack Jewelry. I hope you will join us for some friendly back and forth banter and something special we will have for you to wrap up the day!

Sincerely,

Carolyn