Heading back to Michigan, My Michigan.
I hitched up and figured, “I don’t need no stinking maps!” Well, sure, I had driven home from Chicago hundreds of times – dozens of times, at least. But, maybe I should have consulted the all-knowing apps in my phone.
The traffic was horrendous!
About the only thing good about stop-and-go traffic is that you can safely take photos along the way.
I’ll admit it, I’d just as soon forgo the photos for a little faster trip. I was up by the Wisconsin state line, but still, I was astounded that it took me more than six hours to get to the Kalamazoo. I usually allowed two and half or three hours to make the trip from Chicago to Kalamazoo.
I pulled into the rest stop once I hit Michigan. How cool to see another Airstream in the parking lot!
I returned annually to Kalamazoo. There were doctor appointments to be attended to and friends to see.
Friends like Leigh. We met in the early ’80s in Guatemala. We’re friends of “long standing” as I like to put it. At this point, it sounds better than “old friends.”
Of course, we generally go out to eat, as you can tell by the restroom sign in the background. Neither one of us are what you would call “culinary divas”.
I do have “fancy food friends,” though. Ruth made her famous cream puffs.
We were celebrating LaRue’s birthday. I think cream puffs make a lovely alternative birthday cake. LaRue prefers watermelon for her birthday cake, although I don’t see her refusing the cream puff.
Ruth, LaRue, Stu, Paul and me. Who’s missing?
Oh, yeah. Cindy!
Diane is another of my “fancy food friends.” She had a little gathering for me.
Jan, the art teacher, Dawn, Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire, and Deb, the fantastic dance teacher, all from my days at Woods Lake.
Here’s a group shot. Diane, Linda, Deb, Jan, me and Dawn.
Who’s missing?
Oh, yeah. Diane! Diane on the right is the only one without a Woods Lake connection. Diane on the left and I went to Africa with her on a Fullbright trip back in 2003. Time sure flies!
I also went to a high school graduation party for Heaven, a former student. All grown up!
I even managed to catch up with some friends from out of town who were just passing through.
I saw Jim and Bill the last time I was in Vegas. Vegas, Baby! Jim is another “friend of long standing” from my days in Guatemala.
It wasn’t all visits with friends, though.
I managed to get a ticket for some sort of historical tour of Kalamazoo. Unfortunately, I got there a little late, so I kind of missed the tour. I did see this sweet Airstream bar in the garden of HopCat.
Kalamazoo is just a wonderful place to be! So wonderful, in fact, that I decided to get serious about settling down.
I drew up a list of what I was looking for in a house,
I visited my bank to get pre-approved for a mortgage, and…
I found a house!
I even measured the driveway to make sure that Flo the Airstream would fit. I still wasn’t sure how to go about selling her. I needn’t have worried.
Airstream Addicts is a group I belong to on Facebook. In fact, I am one of the administrators of the group. I had mentioned that I was starting to get ready to sell my Airstream and I had been in communication with Joyce who was looking for her Airstream. It turns out that she and Jeff were driving to Grand Rapids from Philadelphia to see an Airstream in Grand Rapids.
They camped next to me at Markin Glen in their tent. They went up to Grand Rapids to look at a trailer and when they got back, they also looked at Flo. It was hot-hot-hot that day. And humid. Wouldn’t you know it that Flo’s AC took advantage of that time to go out?
Anyway, they took some time and went over Flo. In the morning, Joyce came over and offered to buy her.
Holy moly! From rolling stock to a homeowner in two days!
I really didn’t expect it to all happen so fast! I still had some things to take care of, so we made arrangements for me to take care of the things I had planned and then to drop it off at her house.
It was rather bittersweet when I left Markin Glen for the last time. It was my first campground and my home-away-from-home every time I’d pass through Kalamazoo.
Next stop: Western New York