Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.


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Be a driver!

A long time ago in a place far far away I was once a volunteer with Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly. The nonprofit was founded in France, then came to the US and has chapters in Chicago, Minneapolis and Boston as well as a rural chapter in the Keweenaw of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They opened that chapter in the early 80s and I was a volunteer and board member until I moved back to lower Michigan in 1985.

Quincy Mine near Hancock, MI

Their mission is to provide friendship and support to isolated elderly. There are plenty of isolated elderly in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

This month I read a newsletter which focused on the need for medical transportation volunteers by telling the story of Bill who was once a volunteer and has now transitioned to being one of the organizations Forever Friends.

The lighthouse in Marquette, Michigan

Think about it. What if you lived somewhere a long way from your doctor and medical facilities, and you didn’t drive? What if you couldn’t afford a cab or an Uber? What if you were already isolated and lonely? Think how wonderful it would be to have someone come pick you up and drive you to your appointment, someone you could talk to on the ride, someone who would wait for you while you were in with the doctor and who would then cheerfully drive you home again.

What a gift.

Little Brothers provides 800 no-cost, uniquely door-through-door roundtrips rides every year. But they project the demand will increase by 43% in just two years! They are located in Hancock Michigan, up in the Keewenaw, and in Marquette, but they serve many other neighboring communities. If you live anywhere near them and have a little free time, consider driving someone to their doctor appointment.

The lift bridge from Hancock one cold winter morning.

Contact Little Brothers to find out more about the Medical Transportation Program, and all the other opportunities to bring joy into someone’s life. I guarantee you’ll feel joyful too.

And if you don’t happen to be lucky enough to live in Michigan’s UP, take a moment and look around your community. Chances are there’s an elderly person nearby that would love to become your Forever Friend. Or maybe would just appreciate a lift to the grocery store or the dentist.

Reach out, you won’t regret it.


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Tradition

Cherry picking is a long standing tradition in my family.

As far back as I can remember the six of us would drive to an orchard and pick tart pie cherries, buckets and buckets of them, then schlep them all home and sit around the kitchen table pitting them and measuring them into freezer bags for future pies.

Now that I’m the only one still living in Michigan it’s mostly my job to go get the family cherries. It’s not a bad job. Last weekend the weather was perfect and I went out early Sunday morning to the orchard we used to visit as a family more than fifty years ago.


Lots has changed since then. What was once a simple fruit orchard now has a gift store and a winery and farm animals and a wagon ride out to the picking locations.


For many years when I’d visit I’d consciously look for families that looked like mine. Sometimes I’d see someone that looked like my dad, or like the four little blond kids that used to fill their buckets with the shiny red fruit.

Sunday I was there pretty early and the picking was outstanding. I was able to pick fourteen pounds in less than an hour, so I was back in my car before things got really busy.

But I got to watch a few families as they picked. One little boy kept exclaiming how beautiful the cherries were. (He was right.)

Another child was focused on finding the perfect tree. And another child in a different family was having deep conversations about tractors and cars with his dad, all the time picking away.

These are adventures they’ll remember forever. And maybe someday when they’re senior citizens they’ll pick cherries in this orchard and watch a new crop of families and smile just like I did.


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Black and white

Margo, over at her blog, That Little Voice, posted a black and white photo for a challenge. It reminded me how much I enjoy black and white photography, and I said as much. We both mentioned that we don’t do many these days, and I suggested this week we each try to post one black and white image.

So I went out with Penny looking for an opportunity.

For me the thing about black and white is finding simplicity. I like images that aren’t busy, trending toward modern art.

I didn’t exactly find that on this search. But as soon as I took this shot I knew it could be interesting in black and white.

This is Penny exploring a boat ramp at a local lake when the lake was mirror smooth. I was letting her decide if she wanted to get her feet wet. She wasn’t excited about the chance, the only one with wet feet at the end of the day was me. She was curious about the water, hence the ripples around her nose.

I think I’ll keep an eye out for another black and white image when Penny and I are exploring. You never know when you’ll spot something cool. Thanks to Margo for inspiring me to go out and look for black and white!


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First measured mile

Well hello everybody, it’s me, Penny!

Want to come with me on a walk?

Mom says I talk too much. You should hear me talk when she’s emptying the dishwasher or opening the tinfoil drawer! But I just had to tell you about mom making me march walk down a park path for a whole mile!

This was the beginning of my 1 mile walk!

OK, maybe she chose the time and day to go to the park because she figured not many other people with dogs would be out there. We have a lot of Canadian wildfire smoke right now and mostly people are staying inside.

Ok, let’s get this party started!

We have been staying in too, but when you stay inside too long certain doggies get slightly insane impatient. At least that’s what mom says.

Look mom, I found you some flowers!

I have no idea who she is referring to.

Mom says it’s important to look both ways before you cross the road.

Mom was going to take me to a different park, but it was further away and I started complaining as soon as we were in the car. Mom and dad took me to the vet this week and I was certain she was taking me back there, so I told her I was not happy.

Ok, I’ll sit pretty mom, but don’t expect me to do it again!

She decided we’d go somewhere closer and prove to me that not all car rides end in a vet visit.

Mom’s artsy-fartsy image from this walk. Boring, mom.

This was was my very first time walking on a bike path! Good thing hardly anybody was around cause I did not stay on my side of the path. At all. But I had fun.

I am NOT sitting on this bench, mom!

We only went to the half mile mark and then turned around. Mom didn’t want to overdo, she’s old you know. Plus it was warm and smoggy.

I’m not sitting at the turn around mark either, mom!

On the way back I decided it would be fun to play with the leash and leap around a lot and generally get in trouble.

I don’t know why mom doesn’t think this is a fun game.

Cause I’m a puppy, and that’s what puppies do. So I’m told anyway.

I got all tangled up in my leash. We took a break in the shade.

We had fun, mom got some pictures and I got to see some things I’ve never seen before. The teacher in my puppy class says it’s mom and dad’s responsibility to introduce me to 3 new things a week.

There were great chewing sticks under the bench!

Let’s see. I saw a lawnmower, a guy on bike, and a bench! Not to mention the crosswalk and a lady driving a golf cart. I think mom’s homework this week is done!

What the heck is that thing, mom?

I hope next week’s homework assignment includes more wonderful treats experiences!

Not sitting near these yellow flowers either, mom!

I’m going to help mom plan more trips. I think I like checking out new places.

Well OK, if I get to eat some I’ll sit here.

But since I’m just a little puppy, I need ideas. Where do you think we should go this year?

One more artsy-fartsy image. Sigh.

I’ll get mom to make a list. I’d do it myself, but she doesn’t let me on the laptop very often. Something about getting dog hair in the keyboard.

Mom! You take so LONG to do EVERYTHING!

Whatever mom.


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The difference

I search for her outline through the foggy glass during this morning’s shower. She’s a youngster still, and she could be doing anything, most likely chewing on something. I remember how Katie used to sleep against the far wall every morning for years as I got ready for work. Penny doesn’t sleep while I shower. She investigates.

But this morning she is lying on the rug, her shape and size familiar yet different. At 7 months she’s about the same size as Katie was as an adult but Penny has a few more months of growing to go.

As I step out of the shower she licks the water from my ankles. I close my eyes and remember the delicate butterfly wing kisses Katie used to give while doing the same thing. Penny is not nearly so delicate but tickles my feet in her own unique way. I smile, in rememberance of what was before and in appreciation of what is now.

Later in the morning Penny comes to find me in the office and pokes me in the hip. She wants attention. Or a treat. I remember Katie doing the same thing when she felt ignored. I smile and take Penny outside, though clearly what she really wants to do is play.

So we come back inside and I sit on her big pillow in the middle of the living room and reach for her brush. She lays down beside me and lets me manipulate her into position for brushing. And when her tummy is done she stretches deeply and curls up against my legs, letting me brush her ears and then her long sable back, over and over, as I remember how Katie hated being brushed, how it was a chore that we both avoided.

I smile down at this little/big dog who is loving the long smooth strokes down her back, neither of us in any hurry to move. She props her nose up on the pillow, glances sideways at me and closes her eyes in happiness. I kiss her nose and silently thank her for beginning to heal my broken heart.

And then a squirrel leaps onto the deck with a thud and Penny is instantly on alert and streaks off to inspect the perimeter of her home.

Katie’s shift has ended, and Penny is more than ready to assume the responsibilities. Different girls, different silhouettes, different personalities, but the same love.


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But wait! There’s more!

Here it is the end of June and I still haven’t shown you everything we did while camping in northern Michigan in early May. I showed you the stars, and the hiking and camping.

But did I tell you about the barns?

On one of the five days I spent near Sleeping Bear my friend and I drove around the very tip of Michigan’s little finger, taking pictures of the barns and orchards.

It was so much fun. The cherry orchards were just finishing up their blooms and the apple orchard’s blossoms were in their prime.

I haven’t been lucky enough to be there in the spring very often, and each time I round a corner and see a hillside in full bloom I’m stunned.

And of course all those orchards require barns, and there are so many beautiful barns in this part of our state, it’s hard to choose just a few to share with you.

I’ve been to visit Northport many times, and every time I’m there I find another barn that I just have to stop and shoot.

Sometimes it’s a barn I’ve taken pictures of every time I’m there. It doesn’t matter, the light or the trees or the angle or even my mood will be different.

The combination of orchards in bloom and barns is always irresistible.

And while we were there we went in search of trillium, which was also in full bloom that week. The famous Trillium Hill was a must stop.

We laughed about how many pictures of trillium a person needed. I am pretty sure the number is higher than I can count.

And of course there were marsh marigolds galore too.

Northport is a place that’s always hard for me to leave.


And though I never want to leave this special part of our state, I know I’m lucky I get to visit it often.

To think I almost didn’t get these images shared! The summer is marching on and soon I’ll be off on other adventures. But I’ll always love my time in Northport!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this abbreviated version too.


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There was also me

I took puppy Penny to the farm this week because she was an integral part of my photo shoot.

I needed a ‘head shot’ for the Truck Safety Coalition’s webpage about it’s board. The Executive Director suggested I include Penny.

I was of two minds about that, but given she’s such a big part of our lives, and that she’ll probably sit through any number of meetings, I decided to provide them one image of just me, and another of the two of us.

I’d leave it up to the ED which one he used on the board page of our website.

I asked a photographer, Adrian Bradley, who I’d gotten to know through Facebook and who lived down near the farm to take the images. I think he did a great job. It took us all of about 15 minutes.

Thanks, also, to my cousin for permission to use his barns and farm as a background for our photography adventure.