Heroes

What makes someone a hero? All too often those we think of as heroes because of their extraordinary contributions to society such as Babe Ruth, Franklin Roosevelt, and John Kennedy have rather fragile pedestals because their personal lives are fraught with lack of moral integrity. I won't even begin to list any modern day celebrities because we all know where that might lead to.

Neal Armstrong died this week. He is probably as close to a real hero as one might come and I wonder how many young people bothered to even ask who he was. Some of have a better sense of heroism when we refer to fire fighters, police officers, and, of course, our veterans as the real heroes in our society today.

I have a different kind of hero. Her name is Amy and she is fighting breast cancer as we speak. The good news is that she has as good a prognosis as can be had. The bad news is that the path she must travel to get there is riddled with road blocks and stones all along the way. First was the battle over insurance coverage, now the horrific side effects of chemo, followed by surgery and radiation.

So what defines a hero? Taking on a force seemingly greater than yourself, facing it head on and smashing it hard is a good start. Amy accepted her diagnosis and informed her friends and family with a don't worry about me. I'm going to be alright. I just have to go through a little treatment. I'll just shave my head when the hair starts to fall out and buy a few funky hats. I intend to keep my sense of humor throughout the ordeal and face it with a good laugh. And so far she has done exactly that. I am sure she has the other patients smiling with her on her chemo days.

Continuing to take care of others when you need a little care taking of yourself is another heroic trait. She has made sure not to miss a step with her children. She has been there for them cheering them on in their own activities so they don't miss a step. She even attempted to go through her portal implant alone rather than bother anyone to accompany her. Luckily, she has a true friend who did not let that happen.

Geography has precluded me from being able to be there to give her the support I would like to. If I could, I would be enveloping her in a great big bear hug right now.

Amy, the one thing I remember about you when you were two years old is your propensity for screaming. You were at our house when my twins were newborns and every few minutes you would let out these blood curdling screams for no reason at all. At the time I wanted to strangle you. I'm glad I didn't, because somehow it seems your ability to scream like that has translated into the feistiness you have shown that is getting you through all of this.

Lest we forget that there is pain, discomfort and fear always lurking behind the laughter, we will keep you in our prayers and I salute you as my new hero and role model.

The Big Adventure 2012

Our friends think we may be a little nuts voluntarily taking three grandchildren on a 10 day camping trip, but we are the real beneficiaries of time and energy spent on these children. They enjoy everything we do from a wild dune buggy ride to a formal dinner party with old friends.

Don could not get away until Friday morning so it was decided that I would drive the tow car to Green Bay to see Ella and Elise play soccer on Thursday evening. Just as we arrived at the soccer field the sky opened up and we were drowned by the biggest rain I have been in since our 2011 Fort De Soto fiasco (the day we decided to bike ride into the path of a tornado.) So, obviously there was no soccer to watch. Friday morning however our aspiring actress, Ella, was in a summer school play and I was able to see her performance. One of the worst things about being a long distance Grandparent is that it is usually not possible to be there to participate with the children in there various activities, such as sports, school events, grandparent days, and a lot of other things we see our friends talking aboutl. Therefore, I was excited to finally find myself in a position to be there for Ella and cheer her on.

Friday morning I was waiting at the curb with the children when Grandpa pulled up with Bertha to commence the 2012 big adventure. We had no trouble getting the children to do their part in getting loaded. And soon we were on our way to our first destination: Newberry, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula and Pictured Rocks National Seashore. That evening we had a talk about the rules for the week. Here are some of them:

Rule # 1  No jumping or standing on the furniture

Rule # 2  Don't tease your sisters; this one was all but ignored.
Rule # 3  Put your shoes in the shoe corner
.
Rule #  6 Have fun
.
Rule # 16 Never say "No" to grandma

Rule # 31 Don't forget the knife to make the peanut butter sandwiches on our picnics

Rule # 42 Never leave without grandma
ETC.

In the morning we started our adventure by taking a tour of the UP 30 miles away from our destination Pictured Rocks and by the time we woke up to that fact we added at least 60 extra car miles to the already 50 mile drive. The boat ride was along the shore was amazingly worth it. We happened to hit the week-end of Munising's Flannel Jack Festival so we had a Brat in the park and listened to a local band for awhile. We always like to soak up a little local culture.

We hiked to the top of one of the cliffs for the view from above before heading back to camp and a dip in the pool before dinner.

The next morning we arranged a later checkout time in order to take in Taquamenon (rhymes with phenomenon) Falls. We hiked up and down 94 steps to the upper falls, then down and up 116 steps to the gorge view. Four year old Elise was a champ. She even finished the last leg of the hike with blisters on her heels as there was no mom or dad to carry her.

After seeing the falls we headed out for Mackinaw city and the Mill Creek Campground. This campground was enormous and the RV area was disappointing as we were parked so close to our neighbors we had to be careful of our bedroom conversation since our windows were only a few feet apart. It was really immaterial however, as we spent very little time in camp. As soon as we had camp set up we walked over to a beach area in the campground on Lake Huron and went for a swim. The bottom of the lake is very rocky and very shallow which made swimming a little difficult, but nothing deters these children from using the water. When we gave up on the lake we stopped at the pool for a good dip and cooling off. After dinner we ventured into Mackinaw City for a nice dinner and some fudge. Luckily modern camping includes DVD players and movies as a campfire was out of the question in such cramped quarters.

Early in the morning we caught the ferry to Mackinac Island. We opted to leave the bikes behind for simplicity and instead took a horse carriage tour of the Island which everyone enjoyed. After the tour we had a nice lunch and then spent the rest of the afternoon at Fort Mackinaw. We enjoyed several reenactments including music, drilling, and a court martial. AND a surprise visit from the Harlem Globetrotters. The kids were thoroughly enthralled with exploring the fort. And, of course, we had to buy more fudge.

Suddenly Grandpa discovered that July has 31 days and found a bonus unplanned day to fill and fill it we did. Just down the road from our campground is the Mill Creek Historical Park. This park houses a sawmill replicated exactly from the one that existed there in the 1700s to mill wood for the building of the fort and homes on Mackinac Island. They give historical demonstrations of the way lumber was made from logs by hande and then an actual demonstration of how the mill works.



Jack and Grandpa are in the middle of the bridge


As a bonus, for an extra fee you can take the Adventure Trail. Unfortunately, Elise could not make the height requirement and Ella opted out of the Zip line ( a decision she later regretted). So only Jack and Grandpa took the experience. It took about half and hour to hike through the woods, over a plank bridge, and zip line back to the beginning then an opportunity to scale the climbing wall which was a piece of cake for Jack. The adventure was awesome for those who participated.

Next stop, Indigo Bluffs RV Resort in Empire, Michigan. This is a beautiful RV Resort with fancy patios and nice campfires. We were finally able to have a campfire for hobo dinners and s'mores. Now this is camping! After the obligatory dip in the pool we drove over to Interlochen music camp to see a play. Every trip must have a cultural experience. The play was way over everyone's head but we enjoyed it anyway. On the way out of the theater, I noticed that Elise kept looking over her shoulder. Suddenly a strange man introduced himself as Ken to Don and myself and started talking to the girls about which episode they liked best. I had to ask him if he was someone we should know and he said he plays Bertram on Jesse. I guess anyone who watches the Disney channel knows what that means but the kids knew exactly who he is and apparently they spotted him sitting a few rows behind us and he noticed them watching him so he chased us down on the way out to see them. He was so sweet with them and they were so excited.  Many people stop these little girls to comment on their red hair and it gets a little annoying sometimes to have complete strangers lean over the seat on a boat to tell them what they should do to maintain it. Ken was very different. He approached their adults and introduced himself in a very nonthreatening way.  I just thought that anyone who is familiar with his work would want to know that we found him to be a very class act. When we got back to the coach they pulled him up on You Tube to show us.

The next day was our big adventure. The whole reason we chose this journey was because Jack spotted Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes on his National Parks map last year and that's what he decided should be our trip. Well you haven't lived until you spend a day pulling yourself up and down the tallest sand dune in the country. I had to follow the kids up the dune which they ran up as if it were nothing. They were so far ahead of me they were sitting on a ledge at the very top watching me arrive to chants of "Go Grandma Go". They even had some of the other people at the top cheering me on.

The final stop on our agenda was Silver Lake Campground near Mears, Michigan. We have an old friend of ours who lives nearby who was recently married so we wanted to entertain them while we were there. Don took the kids for a swim while I prepared dinner for Dave and Mary Jo. The children were just wonderful in helping to prepare, serve, and clean up after dinner. We had another campfire and s'mores for desert. I found it incredible that it was the first time Dave ever had a s'more. I think he was quite enamoured of them.

The next day proved to be a grand finale. First we climbed to the top of Little Sable Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. After that we checked into Macs Dune Rides. I can only let the pictures speak for themselves on this one.

We had planned to spend the rest of the afternoon on the beach, but Saturday on the lake is crazy and we couldn't find a place to park anywhere with beach access. So instead we had a nice lunch and went back to camp for a nice swim before dinner. Elise is so excited because she learned to jump into the pool without her life jacket and go under water.

Dinner was at Dave and Mary Jo's home and I was so proud of the conduct of these children sitting at a formally set dinner table with no other children and people they hardly knew. They were friendly, gracious, and well behaved. They were interested in many of the antiques and of course in some of the few toys they had for their own grandchildren.

The next morning we headed for home and along the way, they started planning next year's trip. Jack wants to see the St. Louis Arch. When the three of them started chanting "Mi ser ee" I thought they were unhappy with the trip until they clarified they were saying "Missouri". Jack already has the route mapped out.

Good Ol' Summertime

The house is clean, the sheets and towels washed and put away, and the beds are ready for the next guests. It is deafeningly quiet here. The past week we have had, at last count, 28 people -  all family -  rotating through our home. What a great feeling that these individuals all care enough about each other to come together over many miles to spend time reconnecting and making sure the next generation knows each other.

The weather was sweltering here as it was over much of the country. I don't believe we had even one day where it did not soar over 100. So we put the pool up on the deck for the little ones, and kept the air going for the big ones. Most of our days were spent indoors leaving some of the planned activities undone, but we were able to find a few indoor activities to take their place. That's one thing I love about living in Woodridge.

Our niece Lindsay was here as much as possible when her job did not interfere. Mike and Elizabeth arrived from Atlanta with Drew and Ollie on Saturday. I was a little concerned about whether Drew would be happy to be here when I heard that he was disappointed to find out that Grammy and Pa had a real house and did not always live in a big brown bus near the beach. Later in the week, however, my fears were allayed when he reported that he liked the big house better. Three year olds have a remarkable ability to live in the moment.

After church on Sunday we headed downtown to explore the big buildings. We love our city, but it is even more exciting to experience it through the eyes of a three year old. Drew literally ran from Grant Park to the John Hancock past the lions of the Art Museum, Millennium Park, Michigan Avenue bridge, and the Water Tower. His favorite sight however was the Spiderman Movie advertisement on the sidewalk. Ollie's favorite thing was the elevator rides.

We were home that evening just in time for a light dinner and a visit from their cousins P.J. and Sheila and their girls who stopped by on their way to their vacation in Michigan.

On Monday morning, Don and Amy and their crew joined the fun and we all headed for our own Woodridge swimming hole, Cypress Cove. Another place that takes on new meaning when enjoyed with children.

I found myself alone with Drew for some much needed one on one. So we just chilled a little in the backyard pool. Bob and Gretchen arrived in time for dinner with the twins Robbie and Jake along with cousins Jason and Jo and their two little girls, Marin and Emily to whom I am Auntie Grama Jean. This was really home night. Most children come home to mom's cooking their favorite childhood comfort foods. For my boys and now their own children, coming home means Papa's Pizza. What can I say? It is hard to find really good pizza in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Georgia. And just and aside here, Pizza in Florida is so bad we go almost 4 months without any pizza at all.



Ollie waiting for the fireworks

 Wednesday was our personal favorite holiday, 4th of July. We have our traditional barbecue with great friends and whatever family chooses to join us. Needless to say this year that was quite a crowd. Woodridge puts on a fireworks display which can rival any metropolis in the world. Especially San Diego. The little boys were all so excited in anticipation they could hardly contain themselves. The all decided which color they liked best beforehand and jumped for joy when their colors exploded.

After the 4th we were down  to 4 adults and 4 toddlers, besides ourselves. We took the boys to a fountain park in town, Bass Pro Shop, and The All Aboard Diner. For them these were as much fun as anything could be.

 

While the week was full of hugs and kisses, requests from parents to give them often fell on deaf ears. But that's all right. For even though every hug is welcome and special, there is no better feeling than the one that comes unexpectedly from a child who just stops on his way past you for a spontaneous hug on the run.

So when the children refuse to give those good-bye kisses, that is really the biggest complement of all, because it is their way of saying, "I just don't want to leave and if I don't say good-bye it won't happen." If only life were really that simple.

Touring the Home Town

Last week we had an opportunity to do one of our favorite things. We had visitors from out of town, David and Dot from North Carolina. Their stop here was part of a greater adventure to explore the midwest; specifically, Chicago, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis.

We like enjoy showing off our beautiful city to first time visitors. We believe that of all the places we've been to there is no city more beautiful or well kept. It was especially clean as it was preparing for the NATO conference the following week-end. Perhaps that is why we were also lucky to find it basically uncrowded whereever we went. Our first order of business was an evening ride into the city to enjoy the lights and get an overview of what they would see the next day. Our favorite view at night is from the Adler Planetarium. The sky was particularly clear that evening making it a spectacular evening to view the lighted skyline.

In the morning we took the train into the city and the water taxi to Michigan Ave. The top of Dot's must see list was the observation tower at Sears (Willis) Tower. We stepped out onto the glass platform which gives the illusion of standing over the city.The water taxi is a great way to explore the canyonesque effect of the skyscrapers. We were able to skip Navy Pier in favor of some of the more obsecure hidden treasures of the city as they had explored that on their own the day before we met up with them.

We emerged from the river onto Michigan Avenue in front of the Wrigley building and Tribune Tower. I wanted them to note the various rocks imbedded into the building from exotic places arount the country and around the world. They come from such places as the Parthenon, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Berlin Wall, the Alamo and the White House to name just a few.

The focus of our tour was amblilng straight down Michigan Avenue South from there especially to explore Millenium and Grant Parks.

We detoured slightly to see the lobby of the Chicago Cultural Center which will always be the old Library to us. The mosaic and marble stair case and celing are one of thos hidden treasures we were talking about. We were fortunate that there was a concert in progress up the stairs and the acoustics of the music drifting down the stairs was amazing. The security guard on duty noticed us trying to take pictures and offered his assistance. It turns out he is the photographer who takes all of the publicity and brochure pictures for the center.

We also introduced them to the Walnut Room in Marshall Fields, oops, I mean Macy's. This is one aspect of the store which Macy's left intact with all its elegance. In the world of Hard Rock Cafes and Cheese Cake Factorys, it seems like the Walnut Room is all but forgotten. In its day, it was the place to lunch when downtown shopping. The elegance and service remains untouched and our lunch provided quite a long respite from our exhausting walk.

Returning to Michigan Avenue, we spent considerable time exploring Millenium Park. There are so many areas of the park to find peace and beauty. Of course, the most unique is Cloud Gate or, as most Chicagoans call it, "the Bean".

And, of course, no trip to Chicago is complete without viewing Buckingham Fountain.

Dot likes museums and we had to tell her that if you had to choose one among Chicago's many to invest your time, it would be the Museum of Science and Industry. I have so many fond memories of the times our mother took us there as children. It has been considerably updated even since our last visit in even more recent years. Gone is the giant walk through heart which I sorely miss, and in its place is a giant virtual reality heart. A suitable replacement I suppose for the our technology rich generation. Most of the changes are delilghtful and thanks to it being a week day and very few children were present we were able to enjoy the interactive exhibits unimpeded. It was just plain fun. We closed the place down still wanting more.

We are proud of the city we call home, even though we live in the suburbs. If you enjoy it as much as we do, I am adding the rest of our pictures just for fun.

 

 

 

Back to Basics

I'm back. After a few weeks of silence I have found my voice again. Ever since returning from Florida I have felt myself returning to the humdrum routine of everyday life in which not much different happens on a daily basis. This is not a bad thing. That routine of taking care of business is what makes life happen.

It was good to get back to our golf course and OMG what was that green stuff under my ball? and why does it stop rolling almost as soon as it hits the ground? This is real golf and my scores reflect that.

Of course, a trip to Green Bay to reunite with the children and grandchildren is,as always, the first order of business. Bob brought the boys over from Minneapolis to see us. Unfortunately Gretchen was unable to accompany them. We appreciate her willingness to share her family with us for a few days. We had the privilege of having a whole day with Robbie, Jacob and Elise. We spent a great portion of it at McDonald's play park which makes babysitting a lot easier.

The other focus of the week-end was hockey. Jack has taken his skills to a whole new level. We saw him score a goal and assist with several others.

Saturday night was Dance party time with Ella and Elise.

On sunday, after church and breakfast with Bob and the boys, we headed back to Woodridge to continue our Pinocle marathon with the Fulls.

Then we reinvolved ourselves with our social responsibilities: food pantry Thursdays, various committees for our parish 50th anniversary celebrations, transitional housing activities, and our small christian community. Making this list makes me sound so busy, but I'm not really.

These are the stuff that real life is made of. The winter in Florida, while most fun and refreshing is something of a fantasy world. The weather is always nice enough to play outside and there are minimal responsibilities to anyone but ourselves. That is pretty great for a few months, but that lack of responsibility detracts from the fullness of life after a point. It is in the everyday routine of ordinary life that we find meaning and belongingness. (is that a real word?)

Time to Smell the Roses

Spending time with two toddlers ages 3 and almost 2, is a great reminder to slow down and smell the roses. They take such joy in simple pleasures and can experience the same excitement over and over again repeating the same act.

We had a great visit this week from our daughter-in-law, Elizabeth and our grandsons Drew and Ollie. I believe a wonderful time was had by all, but Grammy was the big winner.The best advice I had all week came from a three year old who said, "Grammy you're going too fast. Slow down."

Only a three year old and the brother that follows his every move can make you forget the shops and turn a walk down St. George Street into a great adventure. First we spied a fountain that was just waiting for two little boys to wash their hands in it. Then along comes a man with a wagon full of tiny puppies just itching to be petted.

They feel the rain running off the roof onto their heads and they call it a fun shower.

And who can pass a cannon in a park and resist climbing onto it?

 There is a waterfront restaurant called Santa Maria where the waiters bring the kids baskets of bread to drop through trap doors in the window sills to feed the seagulls. Now who would say this isn't the most fun?

For a moment I was afraid they would fall through the trap door.

These children never tire of screaming as each wave of the ocean washes over them then laughing at the result. Digging in the sand to no avail is just plain fun.

Sitting around a campfire telling stories and eating smores never gets old to a seasoned camper, but to a child it doesn't even matter that the fire is mostly smoke. The St. Augustine wood historically refuses to burn and generally just smolders. It pays to invest in a few duraflame logs to get started.

Just remember the first time you saw the world through a cheap pair of binoculars. Wasn't that amazing?

I love the live oaks for their stately beauty, but they also make the most wonderful climbing trees.

A soaring swing  makes you feel like you can touch the sky.

And no matter what your age, ice cream is just plain manna from heaven.

If you want more details of our adventures in St. Augustine, visit Elizabeth's blog Embracing Chaos.

http://www.echilson.blogspot.com/