Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.


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Grief gets all mixed together.

Today, in fact this entire week, has been filled with sad images on television.

Here in Detroit it’s been a week of celebrating the life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who died two weeks ago. There’s been days of public viewing, with lines of people stretching for blocks, all waiting in heat indexes over 100 degrees to pay their respect. Her funeral is tomorrow. Local news stations seem to broadcast little else.

And Senator John McCain died last Saturday and the national news has been filed with his story, work and funeral arrangements. I watched his Arizona funeral today. One of the television pundits commented, as we watched the family file in, that she couldn’t imagine how his seven children were feeling at the loss of their father.

I silently noted that she must not have lost a parent yet. Because if she had she’d know how easy it is to imagine how they feel.

“You didn’t have your dad as long as you’d like, but you got everything you need from him.”*

Watching them during the service, and especially as they followed the casket back out after I was right back at my mother’s funeral, and at my dad’s a few months later.

I know the feeling of standing, knees weak, at the pulpit and staring out over a standing-room-only crowd wondering if I could get the words out. I remember how it felt to smile after, shaking hands, accepting hugs, while all the time feeling totally numb.

“This I promise you – you know you’re going to make it when one day you see an image of your dad and a smile touches your lips before a tear fills your eye.”*

I know the feeling of disbelief. I know that it feels like you’re walking through mud, how the days each last an eternity, yet fly by too quickly. How that final goodbye shreds your insides.

And then this afternoon, on a highway out in New Mexico, a semi truck had a tire malfunction and crossed the median, striking a Greyhound bus head on. There are multiple deaths. Even more injuries. Families are even now receiving that phone call.

The cycle of loss never ends.

Today I seem to be enveloped in grief. Old grief for my family, new grief at recent national losses. Stabbing grief at the knowledge that more families are, tonight, beginning their own personal trek through darkness.

But I know what Joe Biden knows. That tomorrow will be a new day and the sun will shine again. And those of us that feel the pain this deeply are the lucky ones. Because we knew true love.

And true love never dies.

*Quotes above are paraphrased from Vice President Biden’s eulogy for John McCain today. They touched something inside of me, because he was exactly right.


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A Photo a Week Challenge: Delicate

While Katie and I were up north we happened across a wildflower garden that had attracted a lot of monarch butterflies.

You may or may not know that the monarchs are endangered and oh so delicate. It was good to see many of them enjoying the garden on the shores of Lake Michigan.

I felt privileged to have been there while they were lunching.


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It’s about time!

Katie here!

After weeks and weeks of bugging mama she finally took me on an adventure this past week. She claims we haven’t done anything fun all summer because it’s been too hot, but I think she’s just lazy.

Our campsite was nestled in between pine and oak trees.

She says it’s a lot of work to take me camping but I don’t agree. All she has to do is make sure she brings my stuff. My bed, my pillows, my leashes, my bowls, my food, my treats, my towels. You get the idea. If she brings herself a toothbrush she’s pretty much good to go.

Wednesday was a beautiful day to explore!

Anyway on Wednesday she packed the car (and me) and we headed to my favorite up north campground, Hartwick Pines. I like it because it has lots of trails through old pine forests that we can explore.

So what do we do there? Well, I ask my mama to take me on lots of walks around the campground. And each day we go out early in the morning on a longer trail through the woods.

Doesn’t this look inviting! It’s wonderful!

My favorite walk is a paved trail that cuts through huge pine trees. It has a little chapel on a hill that we visit on the way.

Do you see the chapel up there on the hill?

Mama says it’s good for a sheltie-girl to stop in at church once in awhile.

It’s a pretty chapel on the hill.

The paved walk ends at a logging museum place. Mama and I always explore around there, cause you never know what you’ll find. I was hoping for a lecture so that I could learn more about the logging camp, but we were there too early in the morning.

This looks like a good school place mama!

So we looked around on our own. This red thing was to roll over the snow so the loggers could get around in winter. Gee. I like snow, but I don’t think I’d like that much snow!

Wow, they must have had really big horses to pull this!

Mama said I looked very pretty next to the old buildings, and she asked me to sit next to a whole lot of them. I figured that was OK, it was a long walk back to the car so I was in no hurry to move along. Sitting for photos was a good way to rest cause she gives me a treat after each shot. That’s spelled out in our contract you know.

This was the laundry building. I hope they don’t wash shelties here.

We were only at the campground two nights. Mama said that was fine as she was cold both nights. She said especially the first night her nose was cold and her fingers were cold and her feet were cold. And her sleeping pad deflated and she was too tired to get up and inflate it again.

Mama, why can’t we live like this all the time?

Me? I thought everything was lovely. The low 50s is perfect for sleeping if you ask me. So when mama started packing up on Friday morning I was puzzled.

Why mama? Why are we leaving? This is all just perfect!

Cut it out mama!

Now stop that right now mama! I demand that you stop taking the tent down.

Oh. Well. If you must.

This was where I slept. Now it’s gone. It’s not right.

But I didn’t like it. Not at all.

Giving mama the stink eye after she put me in my crate in the car.

Mama says I need to wrap this up and I don’t have time to tell you all about our trip home. Mama didn’t take me home right away, so there’s more to tell. Maybe she’ll let me get on her laptop again soon.

Stay tuned. The story continues.

Love,

Katie-girl…traveler extraordinaire.

These trees are pretty big!


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Goodbye Senator

Regardless of whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent or none of the above, tonight you have to feel some sadness at the passing of Senator John McCain. A decent man who tried to solve problems through bipartisan support, he repeatedly spoke up against the inertia that is Congress. He was frustrated, as many of us are, by today’s political wheel spinning, by the lack of progress, by the rhetoric.

Maybe now we should take a moment and think about the lessons he was trying to teach us. That regardless of our own beliefs it’s always important to listen, really listen, to an opposing viewpoint. That we need to remember the art of compromise. That we can’t solve anything without support from both sides of the aisle

That not everyone across the aisle is an enemy.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, in his memory, we all try to be more open, more accepting of differences, more willing to try to understand opposing viewpoints. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, in his memory, members of Congress pull back on the rhetoric and work together to solve issues for the good of the country.

And wouldn’t it be wonderful if, in his memory, we all stepped up our attempts to be decent human beings. Regardless of political leanings.

Seems to me that would be an appropriate thank you for a life well lived.


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Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge: Sculpture

Yesterday, during our last day of adventuring, Katie and I stopped for a few minutes in Mackinaw City, located at the northern tip of the lower peninsula of Michigan. There’s a 5 mile bridge between the lower and upper peninsula of our state, built in the 50s, and in the park at the base of the bridge is a sculpture dedicated to the iron workers that worked on the bridge as it was being built.

The sculpture of the iron worker showcases many of the tools needed to do the work, the details making it particularly interesting. When we saw it we just knew it would be perfect for Cee’s challenge this week!


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How to smash a whole lot of stuff into one weekend.

I’m retired, so one day is pretty much like another. Weekends have no real significance, and Monday is now my favorite day of the week because most of you go back to work and I don’t have to.

Welcome to the 2018 Woodward Dream Cruise!

I know. That’s just cruel.

But then again sometimes weekends are filled with so many fun things that I actually am sorry to see them end. Like this past one.

It started out with me volunteering on a campaign for a woman who is running for Congress in my district. Our district has been represented in Congress by one party for as far back as I can remember. This year there’s a serious contender, a woman with military experience, who has worked for the Pentagon and was willing to sit with my husband and I for over an hour discussing truck safety issues.

It’s unique.

She’s got my vote.

So, though I am not political and have never worked on a campaign before, Saturday morning found me sitting in a small stuffy room with several other people my age, all of us peering through our bifocals at our laptops as a young campaign worker explained the data entry project we volunteered to help with.

Good to have a matching umbrella to ward off the sun.

She was so patient with us as we fumbled through connecting to their WiFi, stumbled over the password, then tried to understand the data entry program. Never once did she roll her eyes, though I have to admit I did at least once.

Lots of color and detail.

Turns out she had just graduated from high school, and was taking a gap year before she went to college just to work on this campaign. Amazing. She was nineteen and had the ability to make us not feel stupid when we asked questions as we worked through the huge pile of reports filed with information from volunteers out canvasing neighborhoods.

It wasn’t restricted to just cars.

Her enthusiasm was contagious and we willingly worked past the time we originally committed to get the job done.

And to reward myself for sitting in that small room straining my eyes for hours I took myself to the Woodward Dream Cruise that was happening in a town not so far away.

There was plenty for sale if you caught the car bug.

If you’re asking what that is, well, you’re not from around here.

In the old days, on Friday and Saturday nights the locals would drive their muscle cars up and down Woodward Avenue, through and between several towns. These days, for one weekend every August, people come from all over the country, some bringing their antique muscle cars, to do the same.

Muscle from the old days.

The streets are lined with people who enjoy watching the beautiful cars go by. Parking lots are filled with more of the vehicles.

Lots of money in this lot next door to the Porsche dealership.

They’re everywhere.

Back in the neighborhood a few blocks away from the main drag.

I fell in love with this pair of vehicles.

There’s a sort of elegance that most cars today lack. I guess we’re more functional and less stylish these days.

I enjoyed wandering around, though I walked less than one mile down Woodward Avenue, and spent maybe an hour there. I loved taking pictures of old cars, the lines so beautiful, the colors so vibrant.

Hard to miss this one!

Anyway. That was Saturday. Sunday a college friend and I went kayaking at my favorite park.

Spending Sunday morning on a lake. Perfect.

We rented kayaks there, for only $8 an hour. We told the (very) young lady there we’d be out for an hour at most, after all we were old. She smiled politely.

Pretty.

We were out for 2 hours and I’m not even sore this morning. Pretty good for a couple of old broads!

Two hours later the skies began to cloud.

And I slept out in the backyard in the tent all weekend too, getting geared up to take at least one camping trip this summer…before summer slides away!

Katie says she hasn’t gone on one camping trip all summer. She says that’s unacceptable. I have to agree.

Stay tuned.

These looked fun too, maybe next time!


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Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Mirror images or reflections

Many years ago I was visiting a friend up in Northport, Michigan. We were out taking pictures, mostly in the woods and along the lake shore. But we also stopped in town where I noticed this interesting shop window and grabbed a shot without even leaving the car.

Can you find the reflection?


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It’s too darn hot!

Katie here.

Listen people, I’m totally bored. Mama needs to find something for me to do that is inside with air conditioning! It’s just too darn hot outside for me with all my flowing fur.

Let’s take a walk.

I still like to go outside, but only in the morning, and even then only for a little bit. Sometimes I forget and take mama way up the road on my daily walk. Then, when we’re like four or five houses away I realize it’s too hot and I find some shade and lay down!

Mama usually just stands there and waits for me to rest up. So far I’ve rested up in almost every neighbor’s front yard. They’re OK with that, after all I’m the only princess they know, and so they feel it’s somewhat of an honor to have me choose their front lawn to grace.

Bits of color in the woods.

Sometimes I even make mama carry me home. She’s not so happy when that happens, and every time she reminds herself not to let me get so far from home next time. But then the next time comes and I convince her to go to “just one more mailbox mama!”

Mama is a little slow, as I’ve mentioned before.

Patterns.

So anyway, I haven’t been to any of my parks in a very long time. Even the ones with shade. Mama tried once and I only walked a few yards and then I sat down. Mama says she doesn’t want to take any chances with me overheating.

The most exciting thing I’ve done lately is go out with her when she’s weeding in the morning. I get to sit in the shade and watch her work. I think that’s pretty nice. Even then she watches me like a hawk and if I look like I’m overdoing she makes me go inside. She’s sort of a helicopter mama.

More color hiding behind a log.

Yesterday we were sitting on the deck out back. Mama was sitting in the shade reading and I was supposed to be sitting next to her, watching the birds. Well, I decided (twice) to go sit on the sunny side of the deck and go to sleep. Mama was not happy. Each time she got up and brought me back into the shade. When I went over there a third time she picked me up and put me in the house.

Mama is as stubborn as I am.

Growing into the fence.

She says she’ll make it up to me. She says that once it cools off, sometime in September or October she will take me to all my parks. She says I’ll have a good time then. (Obviously she’s never heard that song about the cat and the cradle.) She says I should be patient.

Right mama. Patient. I’m a sheltie, remember?

Bird condo with covered entry.

But she did scout out a new park for me today. She says I’ll like it. There’s lots of shade and hills and a big wide trail. Brand new sniffing places she says! All the pictures on this blog are from her walk over there.

Lots of hills just waiting for me to explore!

I’m trying very hard not to be jealous.

But it’s hard.


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Grocery rant

I’m too old for this kind of stuff.

I came back to Michigan in mid-July and went to the grocery store to stock up the pantry. What should have been a 15 minute trip turned into an hour because while I was out of town they rearranged the store. All of it.

Why are there so many kinds of tomatoes?

I used to be able to shop the produce and the organic section and pretty much scoot out of the store. Now they’ve integrated the organic stuff into the regular stuff. Which made everything have to shift, but they didn’t just shift stuff, they moved a whole lot of it clear across the store.

What the heck is ‘bronze cut?’ I never saw this before.

It’s like they deliberately moved things so that you have to go up and down every row to find anything. And you can’t mindlessly wander the aisles because you’ll miss something important. I think it’s a conspiracy to get you to buy more stuff.

Pickles….so many pickles! And when I find one I like why is it not there the next time?

It takes a lot of work to do grocery shopping now. I had to ask a clerk where the butter had gone. He laughed and pointed to the other side of the store. But the up side of all of this is that I noticed a lot of interesting stuff that I knew nothing about while I was looking for eggs.

The greeting cards were moved too, so I ran across them accidentally. It was mom’s birthday last weekend and it’s been enough years since she died now that I could look at all the pink cards without tearing up.

Happy birthday mom!

After a couple weeks of shopping I can sort of get around now. But I figure by the time I really know where things are they’ll change it again.

Change is hard.

Produce stayed in the same place. Thank goodness.