Pure [Michigan] Joy.

For all of my friends who do not hail from the great state of Michigan, while yes, you are many and well loved,  watch this and you'll wish you did.

I decided to post some pure Michigan joy found in the last few days, because, well frankly my last post draft, stayed a draft because I was beginning to sound like a cry baby.  Heaven for bid I sound like a cry baby even if I am.  Sometimes you have to let crappy situations marinate and then you can pull something good out of it.  Translation: that draft will never be published because it's good to focus on the good.  See below.

First item of joy: Old man in booth.
Sporting a fancy green State Park polo, the ranger at the entrance of P.J. Hoffmaster told me I was in a grace period.  Giving me a free parking space in the park and a new life mantra.
I am in a grace period. 

Second moment: Granny Van.
I pushed my Great Grandma Van around in a wheel chair on a perfect Michigan summer afternoon.
I do love people.  Always good to be reminded of that.  [I'm not sure if the fact that the walk was around a cemetery was the most sensitive choice...but she's going home in a few weeks and it was really peaceful?]

Scene three: Avian pace setters. 
Running along the beach with an incredible sunset to my right, waves splashing over my bare feet and a little flock of sandpipers running along in front of me.  I started laughing.  Snack, run, fly, land.  Search, run, fly, land.  For some reason these little birds sparked a great memory of a week that should have been a terrible memory.  Funny how the hard parts become the best parts.

And fourth but not least: Frying things.
I find great joy in frying things.  Most recently: eggs, salt, "homemade bread mix flour", maple syrup, water, cocoa power and walnuts.  You can dump almost anything into a bowl, stir and after adding a healthy amount of olive oil into a heated skillet, come out with something delicious. 


And since this post involves Michigan I'm going to take a moment to share my surprise, maybe even disbelief at this discovery.