For anyone who cares, we’ve survived (I think) our first month of weekly 125-mile commutes between Monroe and Kingston. (Only three more months to go.)
Last weekend, Margaret’s church had its annual Harvest dinner and auction, offering a hefty quantity of calories, carbs, cholesterol, protein, vitamins, minerals and fun. In addition to the traditional craft items, needlework pieces, household helps, and jewelry was a unique item: a well-built outhouse. (Actually it was a cleverly designed storage shed, a far cry from the barn types we see dotting the landscape. On the other hand, it could also serve as a shelter for eager youngsters awaiting their school bus on a wintry morning.)
Originally I had planned to devote this week’s prose to delving into the marvelous weather we’ve enjoyed on our month of commuting.
But a week or so ago, Mary Drier offered her view of Michigan’s ever-changeable climate, concluding with the observation that you have to expect tough winters if your state is shaped like a mitten.
And then last weekend editor Bill Petzold added his two cents’ worth with an ode to awesome autumn.
So much for my weather analysis (though I shudder to think what the commute could become with the arrival of November and December winter).
However, never one to be diverted from my original plans, it occurred to me, as we were heading back south Monday afternoon, how strikingly beautiful the brilliant patches of red were as they sprouted among the green backgrounds. The coloration hasn’t spread yet, and when it does it’ll be spectacular. But there was something awesome about those isolated patches.
An enterprising photographer should be able to put together a Thumb calendar highlighting the area’s seasonal variety – spring planting, the road takeover by the beet trucks, gorgeous pristine uncluttered and untarnished snowscapes, the aforementioned arrival of fall colors, basking in the summer sun, splashing in a pool or taking advantage of some of the Thumb’s waterfront beaches, candid shots of some of the area’s wildlife. The list goes on and on.
Every year I receive the Union Pacific Railroad wall calendar – a dozen marvelous photos (all Union Pacific trains, of course) in settings ranging from Wisconsin to the West Coast.
Why not something similar for the Thumb?
The calendars could be sold as fund-raisers for schools or charities or community service projects. And with the proliferation and ease of digital printing, they could be individualized or personalized – no two calendars the same, making them true collectibles.
Okay, photographers, there’s your challenge. Any royalties you send my way will be donated to worthy charities.
Oh, by the way, when we got back to Monroe Monday afternoon, there was a call waiting for me from my friendly refrigerator repairman. Our trusty old Admiral had forgotten how to refrigerate.
The repairman stopped by, groaned about having to climb a flight of stairs to get to the kitchen, pulled out a fistful of meters, got down on his hands and knees, pronounced all the fans working.
He checked the watt meter.
Our compressor had died.
Tuesday was refrigerator shopping day.
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Today’s trivia tidbit from mental_floss magazine: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is listed among the top 12 sites worldwide for fall color tours.
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Quips ‘n’ Quotes: Baseball great Bill Veeck observed, “There are only two seasons: winter and baseball.”
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Henry Passenger’s column appears each Wednesday in the Tuscola County Advertiser. He can be reached at hbp350@gmail.com