Michigan
Michigan was gorgeous and heartbreaking as it always is. It is such a humble unassuming state. Boast about yourself more Michigan! I sometimes think to myself, when I compare it to the way Cape Cod and Nantucket strut around. It has amazing sand beaches, clear water, acres of cherry trees, the best corn you will ever eat, dense forests hiding ravines and trees of all sorts, and the most cheerful people.
A sweet and kind uncle of mine unexpectedly died after a bad fall and my family will be reeling from it for awhile. Because of the hubbub of flying with two kids, I didn’t make it back for the funeral. I feel lucky to hear stories from it and the nearly-all-nighter Irish wake, though it’s messy and exhausting to ask how everyone is doing and know that they are hurting. It was wonderful to see them but brought tears to my eyes to hear the edge on their voices from lots of crying and the lines on their faces.
We each brought things we loved to share. I brought coffee and homemade granola, Grace brought butternut squash soup, Jenny brought homemade salsa and gin from Traverse City, Andrea brought Amish cheddar cheese and dark chocolate cookies. We spent hours just sitting on the porch talking with the first Fall leaves blowing over our heads. That Fall wind….it’s like you feel the mass rush of birds flying south in it as it blows over your face. We walked the quiet beaches, wandered around the small town farmer’s market and gave my dollar to the high school boys belting out an awfully good guitar duet, walked along the river that cuts through town.
Oh this is the good life, I thought when I got out of the taxi back in Boston. My cozy home. My giggling toddler who can say “I. miss. yooo” when she sees me. My husband who got rid of all that pesky furniture we didn’t want any more and picked up a crib for Joan off craigslist. Weekend trips mean no vacation-hangover, just a blessedly simple pick-me-up and then back to life as I love it.
6 Comments
Anna {dear friend}
Love your writing so much. Forever. For always.
I’m sorry to hear about your uncle, but glad you got to spend time with your family. Bittersweet is how is sounds. Definitely sad, but also sweet. Also, Michigan is on my travel list for sure. These pictures are beautiful.
Emily Booth
So sorry about your uncle, what a sweet tribute to him. I agree with you about Michigan, Traverse City and Sleeping Bear have to be two of the prettiest spots in the country and hardly anyone has heard of them. Michigan is such a treasure.
Julie
These are lovely. Michigan could stand to be a bit more boastful about all it has to offer. We went to Holland (where people kept telling me that they were the second happiest in the nation after SLO!) for an amazing wedding a few years ago, and spent an afternoon on a beautiful beach by the water. I met a darling couple who lived there, and said how embarrassed I was that I didn’t know all this amazing-ness was tucked away in Michigan. They said, “Don’t tell anyone! We love it this way – it’s our best kept secret.” Ha! So maybe Michiganers actually have the right idea about keeping things quiet…
Erin
“Michigan was gorgeous and heartbreaking as it always is.” Beautiful. So sorry about your uncle—I can imagine he was filled to the brim with life and laughter, knowing the family he belongs to.
Ren
I’m sorry to read that your uncle passed away and that you couldn’t be there. I hope that your family is doing well. Your pictures are gorgeous, and makes me want to visit Michigan! There is so much traveling I want to do!
Blaze
So sorry for your loss. Beautiful pictures though. I had no idea how beautiful Michigan was until I started reading blogs awhile back, I definitely want to visit there sometime!