Sunrise on Lake Huron

On Saturday, June 28th, we biked out to our State Recreation Area and enjoyed the outdoor concert by Dan Hazlett, titled Michigan Home Street Music. Dan is a very talented musician and songwriter. It was a quiet, relaxing evening on the shaded lawn of the park.

Troubadour Dan Hazlett

On Saturday, July 5th, we had a picnic in the back yard of my oldest son, Derick. Derick, Krista, and their boys: Andrew, Tristan, and DJ, plus my youngest son; Luke, his sons Tyler and Quinten, plus his daughter, Kaitlin, got together for our annual 4th of July celebration. My daughter Marcy and her family could not make the trip from Chicago to join us. After eating a traditional meal of  hot dogs and hamburger, all 11 of us packed a small wagon with lawn chairs, and walked to the middle grounds from Derick's home on Farragut.

It was a grand night. We tossed the firsbee and set up our chairs directly behind the Boys and Girls Club. We bought glow sticks for the young ones. The fireworks show was all that we expected. By the time that we walked back to the house that evening, the kids were worn out. I would like to thank those responsible for the fabulous fireworks for their efforts.

Stories from the lives of Norman and BJ.  Baby-boomers contending with life in a fast-changing world.

Morning Ride on an Old Bike
Fiction by D.A. Boggdweller

They moved about without hurry or concern, with the kind of comfortable familiarity that comes with close to a half-century of living together. BJ was up earlier than Norman and fixed them a hot, satisfying breakfast of Irish oatmeal with melted butter, dried tart cherries and brown sugar. They drank their coffee in silence as BJ worked the giant crossword puzzle in the Sunday Times and Norman listened to All Things Considered, on NPR.

BJ prettied herself for church, while Norman showered and rubbed on some SPF #45 sunscreen. They both headed out the door as if summoned by some silent signal. She climbed into the VW Golf, and he wheeled out his ancient, J.C. Higgins coaster bike from the garage.

By the time Norman had reached the quiet country road, BJ had disappeared in the distance. He pedaled slowly down the chip-and-seal road where wild iris poked purple heads up from the ditch to catch the first rays of the morning sun.

The Erikson's old fieldstone house was yet in the morning shade of a giant weeping willow, while a chestnut mare chewed on the grasses of a sun-drenched, field of dandelion.

Taking a right turn, then dismounting, Norman walked the thigh-high grasses of the elementary school playground. The field was wet from the pre-dawn rains and left water stains on his khaki pants and canvas shoes.

Another right turn brought him to the bike path at the side of the road that leads to the lake shore. It was early enough that there was little traffic except the few that went to early church services. Norman passed beneath several towering maples and caught some of the rain drops that had remained on the leaves. The air was washed clean of dust and a bright, new sun cast cool, blue shadows across the road. A cardinal sang out a contented song. Norman picked up speed and enjoyed the rush of cool air.

The road rounded to the left and headed into the state park, where the great lake appeared in differing hues of blue across its vast, windless expanse. Moving slowly onto the lake shore bike path, he entered an area of lush greenery, where the gravel crunching under the thick tires had the resonance of an enclosed room.

A young woman in stylish exercise apparel appeared on the path, power walking in the opposite direction and talking intensely on her Bluetooth. Norman looked for a sign that she might speak, but she continued on her way in deep concentration, the blue light on her phone, blinking in her ear, and her arms and legs in exaggerated motion.

The narrow path curved to the right and opened into a sunlit panorama of marshland. A snowy egret – golden in the morning sun, flapped his wings in cadence to a common heartbeat. The curved path became a straight-away as the path entered the rail trail. Swans dove for morsels, orioles trilled in the expanse of the marsh pond. Then, closely-spaced houses allowed only tiny glimpses of the Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. Manicured lawns and well-kept gardens where rabbits fed at leisure on the newly-planted annuals. A young couple pushing two baby carriages, with a toddler in tow, a jogger, an older woman tending her vegetable garden, passed in and out of view. Norman nodded a hello several times. but was unnoticed.

On his return trip, Norman chose an alternate route. The lagoon trail was narrow and took a tight turn to the left and was soon engulfed in heavy, fragrant vegetation. He turned a tight curve a little too fast and was surprised by the sudden nearness of a neatly dressed man who looked to be his own age, leading a small, fluffy, black dog.

“Grand morning,” he said. “Magnificent,” Norman replied.

An old man shouldn't feel this good, he thought to himself.

The dirt track turned into a wooden bridge, crossing a gurgling stream that emptied the lagoon into the Saginaw Bay. A great blue heron stood motionless in the shallows- blending in well with the reeds along the shoreline.

Norman stopped at the Bay Cafe' on State Park Drive for a cup of coffee- parking his old bike in the bike rack. Sherry was a friendly, familiar face. “The usual?” she asked.

 “No. Just coffee for now, Sherry.” Norman enjoyed her sense of humor and her youthful perkiness. He seated himself facing the front bay window and the morning sun. He greeted familiar faces and chit-chatted about boats, gardens and the Red Wings.

Norman actually enjoyed being a “senior citizen.” All of the game-playing and the pretense of youthful days was gone. The friends that he now had, were older folks like himself, who had survived into retirement and were enjoying a new sense of freedom that had previously been impossible. He had noticed a slowing in his movements, and it was also true that he didn't have the stamina that once kept him going. But, it was good to be alive this morning. He would continue to ride his old J.C. Higgins bicycle as long as he was able.
 
The early lunch crowd began to arrive and Norman felt the need to move on home.

He had timed it so that he would ride into the yard about the same time that B.J. got there.

The silver VW Golf pulled into the drive just as he was getting off his bike. BJ stepped out of the car looking fresh and alive and pretty in her summer dress and cheerful smile.

“You look wonderful,” Norman said.

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods. Two of the frogs fell into a very deep pit. All of the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they all agreed that the two frogs were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried with all of their might to jump out of the pit. The group of frogs yelled that they should save their energy, they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the group was saying and gave up. He then fell down and died. The second frog continued to jump as high as he could. The more the other frogs yelled for him to give up and die, the more and harder he jumped, and he finally made it out. You see the frog was deaf. He thought the other frogs were yelling encouragement.

Notable Quotes

I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve it through not dying.
- Woody Allen

If there is a sin against life, it lies perhaps less in despairing of it than hoping for another and evading the implacable grandeur of the one we have.  - Albert Camus

To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness. - Bertrand Russell

Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell. -Edward Abbey

When one may pay out over two million dollars to presidential and Congressional campaigns, the U.S. Government is virtually up for sale. - John Gardner

Principles have no real force except when one is well fed. - Mark Twain

But if a man happens to find himself...he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life. - James Michener

When I came back to Dublin I was courtmartialed in my absence and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence. - Brendan Behan

From the Galley

The following recipe is one of my personal favorites.
Source: Betty Crocker's Soups and Stews.

Vegetable-Cheese Soup

Ingredients
½ cup finely chopped carrots
½ cup finely chopped celery
2 large potatoes, finely chopped
2 large onions, finely chopped
2 cans (24 ounces) of beer or 3 cups of water
4 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules, (I used 2 teaspoons to cut down on sodium)
2 cups shredded Cheddar, (I used sharp Cheddar)
1 cup half-and-half
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
6 drops red pepper sauce
¼ cup chopped parsley

Method
Heat vegetables, beer and bouillon granules to boiling in 3 quart saucepan; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients except parsley; heat through. Sprinkle with parsley. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Enjoy your summer. Happy trails.