Michigan is a land of blue sky, a different shade of blue than I see elsewhere, intense, deep blue, and a land of water reflecting that blue.\u00a0 Our first visit was to friends who live on a lake. (Note for non native speakers of English: “on” here means the people own a property that extends to the edge of a lake.\u00a0 The house is on this property.) We arrived in the evening, and after supper in a restaurant, we went on a ride on our hosts’ pontoon boat to watch the sunset. When the breeze turned to wind, it was quite chilly, so we wrapped up in blankets kept on the boat for this purpose. On our third night, we had a “campfire” beside the lake.\u00a0 We talked about the days of our youth, long gone, and our host mentioned a piece of music he had performed called “Glory Water.” We spoke of the ancient system of dividing the universe into “earth, air, fire, and water.”\u00a0 These are still the elements of life itself.\u00a0 Although there are many houses on this lake, and a busy road leading to it, it is still peaceful beside the lake, with the crescent moon rising over the water, the fire glowing in the dark, and good friends talking into the night.<\/p>\n
During the days we visited our son and his family in a small town a few miles distant.\u00a0 They live in a house built in 1847!\u00a0 Their village is historic, but up to date and prosperous.\u00a0 Our new granddaughter, nine months old, is delightful.\u00a0 We went to a park where we saw farm animals, went on an old fashioned hay ride, cooked supper outdoors on a grill, and took a boat ride on the large lake.\u00a0 Each of the children on board, including our baby girl, securely carried by her father, got to steer the boat under the captain’s watchful eye. This boat could seat about 35 people, but on our tour there were only about 20 people.\u00a0 This park includes an exhibit about historic farming.\u00a0 People can touch the animals: pigs, goats, cows, and horses.\u00a0 They can see the chickens, ducks, and turkeys.\u00a0 Our hay ride wagon was drawn by horses. I felt we were going back in time, a slower pace, a quieter place.<\/p>\n
Our son lit the charcoal fire in the grill and cooked the food brought from home: beef steak, potatoes, and squash.\u00a0 We also had blueberries grown in Michigan. Our daughter-in-law had everything we needed in a small basket, well organized and ready to use.\u00a0 We had a\u00a0 blue table cloth for the picnic table, plates, steak knives, forks and spoons.\u00a0 We sat there by the lake, under the shade tree as we ate.\u00a0 Food is more delicious in such a beautiful setting. After supper, we still had a little time before the boat ride, so we flew the kite given to us in China to celebrate the birth of the little one.\u00a0 She sat on her blanket on the grass and clapped her hands while her older sister, brother, and Dad flew the kite.\u00a0 There was just enough breeze to start it flying a short time.<\/p>\n
The weekend with our family was all too short, but they must go to work, while we are free to travel on.\u00a0 We drove through miles of corn and soybean fields, marked by lines of trees, and visited our elderly friends.\u00a0 Even though 45 years have passed since this man was my teacher, we still keep in touch.\u00a0 He is 90 years old now, and slowing down somewhat.\u00a0 Still, he and his wife are truly living “happily ever after” in their new home.\u00a0 I asked what they do all day?\u00a0 They pray, read and study, walk in the mall every day, and they are involved in activities with their church.\u00a0 They still have a car which the woman drives, so they can go where they want and need to go. They are people we admire and hope to emulate.<\/p>\n
Next we drove to Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit. Detroit is more than 300 years old and is showing signs of age, losing population, and losing business.
\nDearborn is the home of Henry Ford, who figured out how to make a car almost everyone could afford.\u00a0 He was an inventor and a businessman.\u00a0\u00a0 Dearborn’s population is about 100,000 people, of whom about 50,000 are Arabs. As we drove down the street seeing signs in Arabic, we thought we might be in a foreign country.\u00a0 Our friend in Dearborn is 87.\u00a0 She lives in Henry Ford Village, a retirement community.\u00a0 She swims three times a week, and works as a volunteer daily in an organization that provides English classes and other services for new immigrants.\u00a0 She still drives her car around the local area, but has given up long trips. We met this lady through her sister, whom we met in China.<\/p>\n
Sharing a teaching experience in China created a bond with this friend and we have visited several times since 2004.\u00a0 She lives in Florida and is visiting friends and relatives with her new husband.\u00a0 We are people traveling from far distant places, meeting for a few hours in a place both of us are visiting.\u00a0 We shared a meal and much conversation.\u00a0 I mentioned that my Seattle sister had participated in a half triathlon: half mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, 3 mile run; and that she had completed this in 2 hours and 8 minutes.\u00a0 Our three friends said that they were all in training for such an event, albeit slightly shorter.\u00a0 I am amazed at their stamina and hope that as I continue to age, I’ll be stronger than I am now.<\/p>\n
We continued our journey to the area where we lived for twelve years.\u00a0 We are staying with a friend who owns acres of land and has created her own peaceful paradise.\u00a0 We can see wild turkeys and sometimes deer roaming outside her house. She has a hummingbird feeder on her porch, so as I am writing now, I can see the tiny birds feasting there.<\/p>\n
Each day we visit old friends, and family.\u00a0 We see the passage of time especially in the children who were babies when we knew them, and in the young adults who were children just a few years ago. We spent a day with two of Dear Husband’s brothers.\u00a0 We’ll see the third one on our way home.<\/p>\n
Since the village where we lived has only about 1000 people, it is quiet, and we can see the stars at night.\u00a0 My friend and I sat outdoors after sunset in her back yard, and had a campfire.\u00a0 The night was cool, the stars filled the sky, the fire warmed our hearts.\u00a0 We shared our thoughts and experiences of the years we have spent apart.\u00a0 We sang together.\u00a0 We skipped the marshmallows, a traditional campfire treat, but it was not a great loss, since neither of us needs the extra sugar.<\/p>\n
Today is a lull, a quiet time between the full days.\u00a0 We have several more gatherings to attend before we turn toward home.\u00a0 We’ll leave Michigan, the land of blue sky, blue water, green fields, and happy memories.\u00a0 We’ll hold it in our hearts as a portion of HOME.<\/p>\n
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