What I remember most about that late August trip with my family was that my Dad had my grandmother along for the trip. It was pure Chevy Chase. However, I remember him hitting a racoon and what a mess it made of the car. I also remember that my mother was not prepared for the sudden change of weather in late August. My grandmother was an Opelika girl and cold is not something she could take.....well a cold front came through and there were snow flurries in late August and my mother had not packed warm clothes for the family. In those days it was not like you could pull into a Walmart and get what you wanted. It was a Saturday and Sunday and we froze our butts off because everything was closed. The warmest place we found was going down into the copper mines. They had just finished the bridge and it was at that time I think the longest bridge in the world. Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel....spectacular. My wife and I a year after we were married stopped there on our way to Montreal and Toronto....two beautiful cities. No, I hope I have the strength and time to do it again, but in the summer I am up to my neck with work responsibilities and it makes it very difficult to do a North trip. In the winter, I have crossed country skied in Michigan, but I am simply not able to do that anymore, and really do not like Michigan, Mn, or Wi in the winter.
The Eagles are spectacular. We have three eagles on our islands located on a river in the midwest, and that is where I have been spending most of my time since finding out the cancer has spread to the liver. I am only about a few hours from Chicago, and it is really not like roughing it at all.....very comfortable. The Herons, Turkey Vultures, Hawks, Eagles, and Cranes are simply amazing. I can sit and watch them forever, and I sometimes wonder why I waited so long to appreciate what is around us in nature. I have the best view in the midwest in my mind when I am on the islands......and after I pass I will have my wife give an open invite for people to see paradise and stop by....but for now I need to stay a ghost. If we go back to Montreal, I will see if we go over the bridge. There is nothing better than going to the fancy pants restaurants in the Old City for lunch on a Saturday when the entrees are half price and the food is spectacular, or going to the museums in Toronto or the Island Park.....So much to do and see....so little time.
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