As we welcome a New Year

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day has always been one of my favorite weeks of the year.  It is full of tradition and it has always meant time spent with special people.  It has always filled my heart with joy.  Starting many years ago, when Nicol was young, it was a time when no one had school and that we could take time off from work to be together.  And that made it special.

For several years we would travel into the UP and stay at a small motel just outside of Rapid River.  We had a small room with two beds and a kitchenette.  It was the perfect little place to stay.  This was in my pre-dog days, so back then, we'd crate up the cat and head off to the great winter wonderland.  Once we were settled in, we would head to the small grocery store in Rapid River to stock up on food for our stay.  I so loved these times.  We'd watch football bowl games, we'd play games, and we'd just enjoy being together.  I loved sitting in the room and watching the snowfall...and I'd dream of the day that I could retire and move North and spend all of my Winters watching the snowfall in that beautiful place.  

At some point, we stopped making those trips North because of other commitments, but I never forgot how much I loved making them.  So I was extremely happy a few years ago to reinstate my trips North, although with a new destination-Copper Harbor- and new plans for adventures with the dogs.  So for the last three years, we've loaded ourselves up in the car and headed North.  And I have loved those trips so much.  We have spent time exploring alone and with friends; I have met new people and experienced things I could never have imagined.  I have enjoyed the peace and serenity of that beautiful place.  And I once again got to sit in my cozy room and watch the snowfall.

I was really looking forward to our trip North again this year, however, it was not to be.  With all that has been happening, I had to forgo my trip and just stay home this week.  I was disappointed, upset, angry that I wasn't going to be able to make the trip.  I am sad not to get to see my friends and not to spend time on the shore and in the woods.  On top of the disappointment I've been feeling, I've been a bit under the weather as well.  So this week was a bit of a bust for me with lots of negative feelings.  Thankfully today I started to feel a bit better and I pushed away the negativity.  

This year has been a great year.  I've had some amazing moments and some really tough ones.  I've spent the entire year fighting Imke's ear infection and I lost my grandma, but we also reached our goal of traveling to all 48 of the Capitol Buildings in the Continental US and I've seen some amazing sights.  I have been reminded how lucky I am to have such an amazing daughter and just how many amazing people are in my life.  

Tonight, as I sat down to relax for the evening, Imke snuggled up right next to me and Maddie at me feet, I began to reflect on how lucky I am.  I used to think that the changing of the year was such a big deal, but I don't believe that any more.  Any day is a great day to do amazing things with your life, to make a difference, to make a change, to embrace the moments, to learn and to love, and to live!  I realized that it doesn't matter where you go or where you are...all that matters is who is on that journey of life with you.   I am blessed and fortunate.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

When I was a kid, on Christmas Eve we would drive into town, pick up a pizza at Packy's, and drive around looking at the Christmas light displays.  We'd then come home and mom and dad would pull out the Christmas albums and we'd listen to Gene Autry, the Chipmunks, Frank and Bing, and the Ray Conniff singers.  The tree was lit and you could feel the excitement from the anticipation of what was to come.  That is one of my favorite Christmas memories.

Last night, with nothing else to do and nowhere to go, I decided to load the girls into the Jeep, grab a $5 small pizza special at Hungry Howie's and a QD fountain Mt. Dew, and head out for a drive around town to see what we could find.  With the Christmas music playing on the radio and the girls happily waiting for our next adventure, we were off!  Things started a little slow, but then we hit the jackpot.  Christmas lights galore.  Beautiful displays of thousands of sparkling lights in reds and greens, blues and clear, even multi-colored.  Manger scenes and snowmen and blow-up displays of Eeyore pulling Winnie the Pooh and Tigger and in a sleigh.  Giant Santas and reindeer, Nutcrackers and Candy canes, giant trees and tiny bushes, homes large and small, all decorated for the Holidays. 

There isn't anything I love more about the Holiday season than the beautiful, sparkling lights.  We spent a couple of hours out, driving through neighborhoods, looking at the lights,   And then the perfect ending as we headed toward home, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" on the radio.

It took longer this year for the Christmas season to really start feeling like the Christmas season.  But over the last week, it really has started to feel like Christmas for me.  Finishing my shopping and gift wrapping, sending out my Christmas cards and shipping off baking to friends near and far, and having time to relax at home with the girls and the tree glowing in the background.  I've got everything done-all of the groceries are purchased for the Christmas Eve festivities with Nicol, all of the presents are wrapped, the stockings are stuffed.  All that remains is the final prep for tomorrow. 

All week I've been finishing things a little at a time so that when I got home at 4pm on Friday, I would have no errands to run, no to-do list to complete, no rushing around, no need to leave home.  For today, it's just me and the girls together enjoying a peaceful, relaxing day at home.  I have looked forward to this day all week long.  I will be doing a little cleaning and starting to do some prep work for Christmas Eve, but there is no rush and no pressure.  I just get to spend some time doing the things I love for those I love most.  And tomorrow I get to see my kid-my two-legged girl.  Spending time with all of my girls...that's what Christmas looks like to me. 

Saying goodbye

We buried my Grandma today.   There comes a time in most of our lives when all of us will experience this kind of loss.  Today was mine.  She wasn't the first grandma I lost...that happened almost 14 years ago when I lost my Grandma Adelberg.  And before that I had the loss of three Great Grandmothers all who were alive in my life time-Grandma Hayt, Grandma Nixon, and Great Grandma Struck.  I remember them all and feel very lucky to have known them all.  But today, well, today was hardest because I had her longest...and she was the last.

Leo and Eladine Struck

It is hard to explain what grandmothers mean in our lives, but it is a special relationship, different than all others.  Maybe it's because they had been mothers first and I'm sure there is something very special about experiencing your own child bringing another life into the world.  Maybe that explains why grandmas seem to love us best; despite our many flaws and all of our wrong-doings, grandmas are there loving us no matter what.  Maybe it's because they have the benefit of time and experience and wisdom.  Maybe some day, when I am a grandmother myself, I will understand what it is that makes that relationship so extra special.  Maybe there is no real reason.

During her time here with us, my grandma gave us so many gifts.  I wish I had realized at a younger age what a treasure my time with her was. She shared stories of her childhood and family.  She shared her love of baking and hands-down she made the best molasses cookies ever made.  She shared fun and laughter and a sassy attitude.  She was quite a character.  She loved us all...and most importantly, we loved her.  It was so evident today as we gathered as a family to say goodbye to her. Through our silliness and laughter and tears, her legacy will live on.  She will live on in each and everyone one of us every day.

Leo and Eladine Struck
March 29, 1947

So after 47 years of life, a life which began with 3 sets of Great grandparents, 1 set of Grandparents, and 1 widowed Grandma, I now have one Grandparent remaining...my Grandpa Struck.  That seems unreal...unfathomable.  To see him sitting there today at the funeral without Grandma by his side was so sad.  Through 70 years of marriage, 5 Children, 9 Grandchildren, and 17 Great Grandchildren - she has been there by his side, but now she is gone.  She lived 89 years.  She suffered no prolonged illness.  She just slipped away while at home.  My grandma had a good life and I am so glad to have had her as part of mine for so long.  I was pretty lucky.  

The first paragraph

Since we returned from vacation three weeks ago, life has been consumed by car repairs and vet visits, a new foster dog, family and work commitments.  In general life has gotten in the way of doing all of the things I love to do.  But tonight, I decided it was time to sit down and write.  I've had some musings over the last week that I thought I would share.  But as I headed back to sit in bed and do a little writing, I was sidetracked with a new train of thought and a new plan for the evening.

Nelson

Earlier this week I received my copy of Postcards from Forrest in the mail.  Forrest was a German Shorthaired Pointer with Degenerative Myelopathy which caused him to lose the usage of his hind legs.  His family was not ready to give up on him though and purchased wheels to help Forrest get around.  I followed Forrest's story and that of his loving family-John and Teri- who volunteer for Shorthair rescue in California.  Forrest ultimately lost his battle and left this world for a better place.  And after he died, his parent wrote a book about his life as a way to give back.  I was excited to get my copy and start reading it.  Well, that little book inspired me to sit down and begin to work on a book of my own.

So tonight, I pulled out my tiny little hard drive full of all of the pictures from my adventures with Imke over the years, with a plan to start writing.  And I did.  I started writing and got a whole paragraph written and then I got distracted.  I figured I may find additional inspiration from the pictures, so I began to peruse.  And once I started looking through the pictures, all of our amazing memories of our times spent together came flooding back.  And I gave up on continuing to write for the night and decided instead to enjoy the journey down memory lane.

Imke, North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh

As you well know, most of my journeys don't contain memories of just Imke.  They contain many memories of my time with both Imke and Maddie.  But Maddie has never been very good at patiently sitting still while I take a picture.  Especially in the beginning!  So I have many pictures with Imke alone in front of a building while Maddie is behind the scenes trying to pull me the other way.

On this gray, cloudy, rainy day when we were driving through North Carolina, we had an especially memorable day.  It was the first time that Maddie stepped on a completely full 32 ounce Styrofoam cup of Mt. Dew...because she was so excited to be in the car and saw a squirrel...causing the side of the cup to crack and sending the top flying off.  Sticky, wet Mt. Dew went splashing across my car, filling the cup holders and covering both me and both of the front seats of the car.  As you can imagine, it was a real mess.  To make things even better, I only had two little napkins in the glove box and nothing else to help clean up the mess.  It was one of those challenging days with Maddie in the car that made me pause and wonder why I had decided to bring her along.  And then, after a few stops and a few adventures along the way, this happened.  She really knows how to melt my heart!

Maddie knows how to make herself comfy

Day two of this trip was another crazy day of the pacing, whining, and ever anxious Maddie.  But  we had plans to get out into the woods for a hike.  We hiked the Andrew Jackson State Park and saw several other sites on our way to our next Capitol stop.  After a day of traveling and sight-seeing, we finally made it to the Capitol Building in Charleston, SC. As is normal for Maddie, she was a ball of energy when we got out of the car and made our way toward the Capitol grounds.  She knows all too well that college campuses and Capitol grounds mean squirrels, and she generally cannot control her excitement.  Despite the pouring rain and the fact that I was exhausted after a long day of travel, Maddie was ready to see the world.  So off we went with me being dragged along behind as she gleefully weaved back and forth, barking into the wind to announce her presence to the world.  

S Carolina State Capitol Building, Charleston

What I discovered is that South Carolina has one of the most beautiful State Capitol Buildings and grounds that I have seen.  It was beautiful.  It is also a very historic area and I always enjoy the story that each city has to tell.  Especially if it has American Revolution or Civil War ties.  

So for the next 45 minutes we walked around this beautiful grounds in the rain, enjoying our little history lesson and the beauty around us. After a good walk, it was time to make an effort at getting a picture of the girls together at this Capitol Building.  So as the rain began to fall even harder, I crossed my fingers and hoped that by some miracle, maybe Maddie would stand long enough to be in the picture with Imke.  And that is when I captured these.

This may be my favorite of all of the pictures I've taken with Maddie in front a Capitol Building.  Maddie standing so nicely, looking off into the distance and Imke in her typical profile pose...such pretty girls.  Who would ever think that Maddie was ever crazy after seeing these!?!?  

This trip we missed out on seeing Fort Sumter due to the heavy rains which caused flooding in the downtown Charleston streets, but that's okay.  We still made the most of our trip and we have some really great memories together.  Things that were a challenge at the time now make me think back and laugh and appreciate all of the crazy, goofy, silliness these two have added to my life over the years.

Now I can't wait to continue to look through these old pictures and reflect on more of our times together as I begin to concentrate more on writing this book.  I have to decide which direction I want to take it...funny, educational, maybe a combination.  Geared toward kids or toward adults, or maybe I could do both.  I know it will be a long process and we still have some travels ahead of us before we can complete it.  I think the next two years are going to be just as much of an adventure writing as the last several have been as we traveled.  But I can at least say I've started... 11/11/2017.

Hopefully you'll stick with us as I share more bits and pieces from our journeys together.

We did it!!!

It happened today. We accomplished something that few others can say that they've done. But we did it.  Today we visited Richmond Virginia and the State Capitol Building there, and with this visit, Imke and I have now visited all 48 State Capitol Buildings in the Continental U.S.

I can honestly say that just 7 years ago, if you had told me that I would accomplish this feat, I never would have believed you.  Even when it was suggested that I should consider writing a book to share our journeys way back then, I never really thought we would ever make it to 48 States.  I figured we'd make an effort to travel to as many as possible, but no way would we travel the entire Continental U.S.  As we added a few States with each vacation and we began to make progress toward the goal; it became more and more real. The thought of putting together a book about Imke and her friends who have traveled around this country with her was the driving force that kept me going.  Well, that and the joy of a good road trip!  And today, we finally realized that goal.  Just little 'ol me and my trusty travel pal, Imke

We made it!

This is a journey that started with Jake and Imke, one picture, and one friend's suggestion.  It wasn't a great picture.  As a matter of fact, Imke didn't even look at the camera.  And those were her younger days when I didn't dare let her off leash in a place like this.  Too many people and squirrels to distract her from listening.  So there she is with leash dangling and looking backwards.   But this was the first and it includes Jake, so it's special.

Imke and Jake-Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfort KY

And today, we ended that journey with Maddie by our side.  Maddie, who has has been along for 45 of our Capitol visits and has become quite the good little State traveler in her own regard.  After years of traveling and lots of practice, I can finally trust both Maddie and Imke to stand somewhat patiently and leash-less while I take their picture.  But as you can tell from this picture, some things never change...and Imke can still be easily distracted. 

Imke and Maddie-Virginia State Capitol, Richmond VA

But she can also still be a very good and patient subject.   Of course she is sitting in her typical pose.  And once she's in this pose and knows that I want her to stay, she'll sit there for a long time while I move around trying photos at different angles and waiting for people to move out of our picture.  She's such a good girl!

Capitol #48 Richmond VA

As we stood there in front of this building, I wanted to jump up and down with excitement, but instead I just gave the girls a big hug...and then I realized I should capture a group photo to remember this moment.  Just at the right moment a group tour came along and so I told them about our accomplishment and asked if one of them would take a picture.  It was raining, I was wearing a cheap poncho I bought (because somehow I forgot to bring my jacket along on this trip), Maddie wouldn't look at the camera, and the top of the building got cut off, but here we are.  Our moment captured for eternity.  I think it's perfect!

Virginia State Capitol Building, Richmond VA October 12 2017

I couldn't be prouder of these girls and our shared success.  I have so many great memories of all of our travels and have enjoyed so many of our stops.  Someday I'll share more of those memories.  For now I will just say-It has been a great journey.  Thanks for the suggestion Janie!

**As a side note, both of the girls have been to all 48 States of the Continental US and ,very briefly, through Washington DC.  Maddie just wasn't on one of our Capitol tours so she's missing Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin.  But I bet we'll get her to those on some future travels because you know we aren't going to stop moving!

Welcome to Pennsylvania! That will be $7 please.

I am a big fan of road trips.  Not much makes me happier than getting the dogs in the car and heading out on the open road.  So I was very excited to head out on our vacation yesterday.  After 5 and 1/2 hours of driving, we reached Pennsylvania, the state that thinks it's so awesome, they charge you $7 to enter.

As a mid-westerner, I'm not really used to paying tolls, especially as a Michigander. Other than the tolls we pay when traveling around Chicago and, of course, the the small price we pay to cross the Mackinac Bridge, we don't expect to pay to drive on our expressways.  Imagine my shock when I realized that after driving a bit farther, I entered the Pennsylvania Turnpike and additional tolls.  An additional $18.25 in tolls before reaching my destination for the night, to be exact.  By the time I reached my final destination, I had paid a total of $38.75 in tolls-more than I had paid in gas money to drive from Lansing to Chambersburg.  To add to this insult, the gas prices in Pennsylvania were 50 cents more per gallon than they had been in Ohio. 

So my Michigan friends, next time you are driving down our bumpy, pot-hole filled roads, be thankful!  I know I will be. 

September 28

On this day 5 years ago, I woke up knowing that your battle was over.  We spent the morning snuggling, and we spent the rest of the early afternoon on a blanket out in the sun like we had so many other times.  And then the time came and we gathered together everyone who loved you and I carried you to the car and you took one final car ride.  You were a front seat dog, sitting on your girls lap surrounded by love. We reached the vet's office and laid you in the sun...all of us around you.  I kissed that nose one last time, told you I loved you one last time, and held your paw as you took your final breath.  It was a peaceful experience, full of love and sadness.  But you were free of your pain, and after all that you had done for me, I was glad that I could be there with you until the very end.  

The pain has lessened over the years, but I still think of you often and you are always in my heart.  On this day, I still shed a few tears, but those tears remind me what a gift your life was.  My beautiful boy. 

Message body