Finally, a full - well, up until 3 PM, anyway, but close enough - day of sunshine today. Not that it was balmy, or anything; the lows last night plunged into the mid-20s, leaving a hard coating of frost on the truck and everything else. I was glad for the Mobile Suites and its thick walls and double-paned windows, especially when Dad told me they blew a circuit at 1 AM using electric heaters in their trailer.
Dad. Here's the man who taught me how to throw a ball and broke me of the habit of one-handed catches like former Reds outfielder Dave Parker. Who took me out into the middle of nowhere in our '86 Ford F-250 with a granny gear and told me to drive us home, thereby teaching me to drive a stick. Who survived being thrown through a plate glass picture window by his twin brother when they were young and then survived my grandfather's reaction to that plate glass window being broken. Who survived six years of the seminary before (thankfully, for my brother and me) deciding he wanted a family instead. Who spent most of his life raising beagles and being a real dog guy.
Now, it's come to this.
Yes, he's walking the cat. With a pink leash.
It was then off to recap yesterday for Mom, who arrived last night. We went back to the Little Sable Point light, which photographs very well at 9 AM and 40 degrees when everyone else is smart enough to stay off the beach.
We then headed to the famous sand dunes of Silver Lake. Brighter, or, as I like to think, lazier people than I do things like rent quads or dune buggies or ride with Mac Woods on their dune trucks to traverse the dunes. Me - I climb hills like this, thinking Lake Michigan is just on the other side:
After scurrying up that hill, at one point climbing on all fours like a monkey to combat the sheer grade of it, I realized instead the dunes go on for easily another mile or so before dropping to Lake Michigan. At least the view was good.
We then headed up to Ludington and enjoyed a good lunch at House of Flavors, known more for its ice cream than its food. But my omelet - because breakfast is good any time of day - was really tasty. From there it was up to Manistee, known for its Victorian architecture. I tried to sneak into the historic Ramsdell Theater but was thwarted by a school teacher of all things. Having been raised by two school teachers, I thought I'd rely upon my tried-and-true polite/curious/academic -type approach, but it got me nowhere with this particular fellow.
Tomorrow could be interesting; clouds are already rolling in for what is predicted to be a gulley-washer of a day. My prediction - some down time in the trailer.
