Friends that are Family, Family that are Friends

Leading up to/during our recent venture down south, we were afforded the good opportunity to spend some past due and much appreciated time with family.

Around Labor Day we were finally able to share northwest Michigan with Jim’s parents when they flew up from GA to pay us a visit. After realizing we might have a tendency to really drag our guests around a bit when we’re fortunate enough to have them, we were eager to conjure up a better mix of low-key exploration for this gathering.

All told, we ended up visiting Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Northport, Peterson Park, Grand Traverse Light House, Old Mission Peninsula and (naturally) downtown Traverse City in the four days they were here. So, yes, as I read that back to myself, it does sound like we may have (definitely) missed that ‘low-key’ mark, but I’m happy to report that everyone had a great time 🙂

And honestly? All of those beautiful (and appreciated!) places aside, my favorite part was the now-familiar walk we took around our neighborhood before heading to the airport their last day here. I love aimless meandering, so I was pleased when Jim’s mom suggested a walkabout. It was then, at the safe conclusion of a successful trip, that Jim and I loosened up enough to acknowledge the liberating power of the parental seal of approval that we’d quietly been holding out for. 😉

Just a few weeks later we were able to court the same good company (this time on their terrain) and much more when we trekked to the Atlanta office, with side ventures into LA (lower Alabama) and Middle Georgia tacked on. This trip was unique in that we honestly almost got to see everyone, with the exception of a handful of regretful missed opportunities left to be re-attempted on our next southern excursion.

Jackson got in oodles of time with his cousins – a portion of which included his first encounter with pregnancy, care of my oldest younger sister, Rebecca (due soon!), who’s baby shower was in swing the weekend we were in town. A couple of cute take-aways: 1) My son is pretty sure babies get in tummies because ladies eat them. (A concept he seemed not-at-all distressed by.) 2) There is something pretty adorable about watching a toddler ‘high-five’ and whisper to his unborn cousin (unprovoked, even). 😉

Tack onto that some witticism-infused quality time with our extended work family, a refreshing dose of Shockplate care of a well-conjured rehearsal reunion, and even more friends-that-are-family here in MI to come back to, and you've got what feels like quite the blessed circle 🙂

West Bay Kayaking, Hotlanta Hanging, and a Quiet Return

In the days leading up to the road trip home for a week of in-office work, we felt a final kayaking trip was needed as a see-you-soon goodbye to the mighty M.  We put in at a small, very new beachside park near the dock of the Tall Ship Manitou on West Bay in search of a shallow wreck that was very close to shore, but the setting of the sun prevented it from being seen, so we poked about inspecting a couple of tugboats.  I don’t know why tugboats are badass, but everyone knows that they are, and that truth is driven home upon closer inspection.

The journey to GA was thankfully uneventful, while the job/family visit itself was just the opposite: eventful and productive.  Being able to see my family members was and is good for the soul; watching Jackson and my nephew Evan playing while in the home of my loving parents remains a singular joy in my life (seeing my brothers and their significant others is okay too ;-).  A blissfully indulgent and savory potluck-style lunch welcomed us back in the office (also for b’day celebrators like John Moore – just an old bag o’ snacks, now, buddy \m/), followed thereafter by Chick-Fil-A minis/Krispy Kreme doughnut breakfasts.  But what would a Clifton visit be without a night of revelry? A Thursday night get-together at Cinco attended by friends made both inside and outside of the workplace proved full of abandon, helped along by pitchers and the musician’s renditions of personal (in this case non-metal) faves like Alabama and Hank Jr.

A safe 1000-mile highway ride bookended our little quest.  Making it home mid-day Sunday, we walked down to the Bay and felt the cooling breeze swaying the trees of the Marina whilst creating the whitecapped Lake Michigan waves.  A Harvest Moon Oatmeal Stout at the Mackinaw Brewing Company brought this last day of travel to a quiet close.

We awoke the next morning to a brisk and refreshing outside temperature that had made its way through our floor’s wooden planks, and I knew that if combined with coffee we’d welcome its arrival.  My sluggish steps down the stairwell to the kitchen awarded my ears with the sounds of church bells on the wind,  wistfully acknowledging the 8am hour, and the soothing, unassuming symphony of a small city stirring (mingled, of course, with the warm tones of Jackson’s laughter).

I am home.