A Little Bit of Spontaneity Never Hurt Anyone

Labor Day weekend was always the time Vince and I took a trip. Whether it was a quickie overnighter to Hocking Hills or a week-long vacation to Hilton Head, we usually headed somewhere out of town for a little fun, relaxation and adventure. We’d celebrate our wedding anniversary and my upcoming birthday. And we’d just enjoy our time together.

 

I miss those trips. I miss the planning of those trips. And I miss Vince. But life goes on and I have to make do. Yet in the last couple of years, I haven’t gone away over Labor Day Weekend.

 

But this year, my cousin Cathy invited me to northern Michigan to visit with her and some of my other cousins at their family cottage north of Traverse City.

 

She was having a cookout on Sunday and said I should be there for that, but that I was welcome anytime during the week.

 

Since I’d just been to Ann Arbor for a visit, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go back again so soon. True, Northern Michigan is quite different from Ann Arbor. But to experience the beautiful lakes and countryside “up north,” I’d have to tack on an additional four hours of drive time, making it a 7-1/2 hour long drive.

 

I simply wasn't sure I wanted to make the long trek.

So instead of making a decision to go and start packing and getting ready, I procrastinated. I headed to the local pool and spent Saturday afternoon floating around the Lazy River with some friends. We wanted to get in that one last sunny summer day at the pool.

 

But then I got a text from Cathy telling me the offer was still good and that I really should consider it given that it was going to be unbearably hot in New Albany – but it was going to be perfect weather up north.

 

I am generally not a spontaneous person. Whenever I act spontaneously, I sort of surprise myself.

 

And, sure enough, I surprised myself this time, too.

 

I sent Cathy a text and said I was on my way.

 

I tossed some things in the suitcase, which truthfully, had been barely unpacked from my previous trip to the state Up North. I gassed up the car and was on my way.

 

But first I had to check Facebook. I saw some goofy meme and couldn’t resist sharing it on my page.

 

And then I was on my way.

 

Cathy, meanwhile, was already up north at the family cottage and was perusing FB herself. She saw my post and gave me grief about posting things on social media instead of driving.

 

 

Just a suggestion??

Nevertheless, I made good time. I donned my shades and enjoyed the beautiful sunny day. I sang along (badly) to the tunes on my playlists. And I marveled at the crazy drivers in Michigan traveling – at a minimum – 85 MPH in a 75 MPH zone.

 

As I neared my destination, I was on the lookout for one last potty break. Found a gas station, topped off one tank and drained the other. Hey, what can I tell you? As I get older, I’ve learned that the last thing I want to do is arrive at my destination, ignore every single person as I rush past their arms waiting to give me a welcome hug just to dash to the bathroom.

 

It’s embarrassing. Not to mention slightly rude.

 

So, there you go. Make one last pit stop before you arrive. Just a little Travel Tip from me to you.

 

(You’re welcome!)

 

Anyway, I was happy to see my cousins as there was a full house with everyone sitting around the table talking, catching up and noshing on some pre-meal appetizers.

 

Dinner was delicious. Spending time with my cousins was priceless.

 

But “perfect weather”? Uh. Not so much.

 

It was in the mid-80s and humid. And the cottage was built in the days before installing Central Air was a given. Besides, it’s not normally so hot and humid up there.

 

I was missing my A/C in the worst way. And Cathy was apologizing for her meteorological goof. (What? She doesn’t control the weather??)

 

The room I was staying in had a ceiling fan, which was helpful. And all the windows in the cottage had been opened to allow in whatever breeze was to be had.

 

But as we headed off to bed, I noticed an inordinate number of tiny flying bugs in the room. Whether they got in as people came in and out of the house or they were able to get in through the window screens, I have no idea. But anytime you’re in a place with water and lots of trees and vegetation, you’re bound to be in the midst of all manner of wildlife.

 

I am not a fan of bugs – but at least these were not the biting or stinging kind. They were just the annoying kind who were attracted to light.

 

Which meant I could not read to get myself settled down and ready to fall sleep. Instead, I was constantly slapping and swatting at them. Finally, I got up, found a small electric fan to aim directly on me and closed the windows to keep out any additional critters that might want to use me for dive bombing practice during the middle of the night.

 

After that, I somehow got a restful night’s sleep. And the bugs stayed away for the rest of the stay, for which I was exceedingly grateful.

 

And I had a wonderful time! We spent time on the deck looking out at Little Traverse Lake. We read a little. We all talked and laughed and reminisced. We had meals together with various groupings of cousins. We took a pontoon boat ride and let the breeze cool us down a little.

 

And Cathy and I took a drive through the state park looking at the sites and the majesty that is Lake Michigan. We drove by the sand dunes that we swore were so much bigger when we were kids. 

And Cathy would stop every so often and kick me out of the car to go take pictures.

 

I’m not the photographer Vince was. Sometimes I forget to take photos. Like we never got a group shot, which would have been so special. Instead, I’d take candid pictures that are in no way “frame-able” but will still evoke memories of the good time I had.

 

While on the pontoon, I tried to take a photo of Cathy and Mary Lou. My finger somehow got in the way and I completely blocked Mary Lou out of the frame. Uh, my only excuse is that the sun was in my eyes. (Yeah, that excuse doesn’t work in baseball, either…) But, still. The picture makes me laugh, so I keep showing it.

 

We spent a few hours on the pontoon. Some of the more daring folks jumped off the boat into the water. I hadn’t even put on a bathing suit under my clothes so that wasn’t a remote possibility. But back at the cottage, Cathy and I did wade into the lake and paddled around a bit while her dog Oliver kept a watchful eye from the dock.

 

So, all in all, it was a delightful visit and I was so glad I went. Despite the 7-1/2 hour drive-time. And despite the unrelenting heat.

 

By the way, it did cool down. The day I was leaving. As a matter of fact, the sky turned black and it absolutely poured. I later heard that the area got seven inches of rain that day, which is crazy. And during my drive home, it was a veritable deluge until I got halfway down the state. But then the sun came out and it turned hot and humid again.

 

But by this point, I did not care. My car is fully equipped with A/C – and believe you me, I had it blasting.

 

I arrived home tired but happy.

 

And so very glad I decided to be a little bit spontaneous.