Pure Michigan

Saturday we packed up our things, thanked Dan for his hospitality, and headed north to visit the girls and their families.  Kara had everyone over for a tenderloin, cooked perfectly by Bill, dinner.  CeCe was a little standoffish for a bit but soon was crawling over both of us.  She has learned Lolly and Pops and who is who!  I fell asleep on the couch and she said "Lolly nite nite."

We attended Mass Sunday at our old parish that we left in 1996.  I spoke to six friends who were still there and I knew 10 people on the sick list!  Compared to the 6600 families at St. Anthony where I still know no one after 20 years, it was a delight.  I was so involved in our two churches both in Michigan and Florida, that the huge congregation here in Texas was an adjustment. I was so involved and knew everyone at both churches.

We went to Yates Cider Mill after church and bought cider and doughnuts then met up with the rest of the gang at Rochester park and 8 adults got worn out trying to keep up with a 2 year old.  

Kelly had everyone over for dinner.  They are just finishing up redecorating their LR and DR,  redid the whole kitchen and are getting ready to start on their master bath.  All the driving and visiting caught up with us so we went right to bed when we returned home.

On Monday, Ted drove me, Kara, Kelly and Cece to Frankenmuth to take some Christmas photos at Bronner’s Christmas store.  And boy was it crowded.  She wasn’t much into it though.  She wanted to run around and touch everything.  

We tried to eat at Bavarian Inn but the wait was 45 minutes and CeCe was hungry so we went to their bar called Michigan on Main and ate, but not their family style chicken dinner.  CeCe is a good eater and eats most anything you put in front of her.

We were up early Tuesday to take off in time to meet my sister’s daughter Cindy and her husband Tim.  They have the house at Elk Lake in KY that we visit and we were to meet them in Florence, KY for a late lunch.  We made it by 1:30.  They had some executor questions and I helped them by adding info where I could.  They bought lunch because we bought it last time at the Elk Creek Winery last August!  We took off for a few more hours of driving before dark and stopped in Shepherdsville, KY.  

Wednesday was brutal. We were on the road by 7:00 am and did not stop until it was dark.  We intended to stay in Texarkana and ended up in Atlanta, TX.  I drove the whole state of KY going up but just Memphis to Texarkana coming home.  I played "chicken" with a dozen semis and a guy in a black pick up the whole way!  We did find a great Italian restaurant in that small town and were asleep before 10.  

We had a much shorter day on Thursday but again started very early.  We had to make a stop in Livingston at the widow of Ted’s friend.  She had all his components and 5 reloaders she wanted to sell.  Ted had contacted his fellow shooters and bought several hundred dollars of stuff for all of them and arranged for a dealer to go there on Monday and buy everything that was left.  When we arrived home she called to say she found another tote filled with primers she had missed.  So he is going back to get some before the dealer comes.

We tried to stop at Cracker Barrel to eat breakfast though it was noon and there was a 45 minute wait.  So we drove on to IHOP where it was full but we were seated and served quickly.  On the way out 

I saw the sign about a free meal for Veterans and then realized why both restaurants were so busy.  It was Veterans Day! 

I had one more favor to do as soon as we got home.  Our neighbors are gone and the person getting their mail could not get in.  They asked me to change the battery in the garage door opener.  I did that first thing and told them it was good to go!  

It is good to be home!  Ten days and 3,000 miles!  

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