We drove an hour today, one hour to go back fifty years in my history, 130 years in America’s history.
We traveled from our camp to the town of Elk Rapids, one hour away.
Many of the storefronts and homes bore oval markers dating them from the late 19th Century.
We love it.
One home was dated 1876, the year of the Custer wipeout at Little Big Horn.
Other dates, 1883 and 1871, I could couple with an event if I did a little work.
And this town was close to a bay front cabin I used to visit half a century ago.
We went in search of that cabin, the past.
And we got close.
Sophie was along.
We left her in the car when we ate lunch, lunch in what had been reincarnated from 1920’s repair garage to antique emporium to its present incarnation as that of upscale restaurant.
Food was superb. Wait staff knowledgeable, efficient, and beautiful.
Hostess knew of certain clues to the property we wanted to visit and gave us directions.
But before the setting out, there was Sophie to walk.
She wanted to go into every open door, to sniff every post and wall and bit of grass.
The fudge shop invited us all in, Sophie included.
Same for the post office as we bought stamps.
It is hard to like folks who do not like your dog.
We liked these folks.
And the postmistress gave us additional directions regarding our quest.
Anyway, back to the car and off we went.
We followed the advice of the postmistress first.
It was close to town, did not seem likely, but was so close.
Did not feel right. Was not right.
It was time to try the advice of the hostess.
The only name I remembered from the early days was that of a cluster of tourist cabins, Kay and Ray’s Cabins. The hostess remembered them, or thought she did.
She made her guess and now we took her directions. She said look for a road named Yuba.
Two roads ahead, and the first was named Kay Ray Road.
How about that? It was too good not to give it a looksee.
We were close. The water was on the left and the driveways and geography looked right…but not quite.
But we were close.
Back to the main highway, and past the other road named…Yuba, the name she had actually said to look for.
We drove past it. It was late. We had an hour drive ahead of us. We drove and then began to have second thoughts.
We now believe that was the one.
Hostess had said she thought the Kay Ray cabins had been razed and replaced by a park.
And Mary Kay had seen a park sign pointing up this little road.
We were by than half way back home.
And the plan to follow if the park was the site of the Cabins occurred to me only then.
If I had had the idea just a bit sooner we might have spent the additional time required.
Next time we try to find our place, we will drive up, or down this road to the park.
We will walk into the park and look to see if the Bay is in front of us.
If it is, we will walk down to the water and turn right, walking along the shore. Private property or not, in Michigan, along Great Lakes water, the part of the beach at the water is public land.
Anyway, the plan is to walk for about 20 minutes or so until something looks familiar.
Even if the cabin is gone, I should be able to recognize the lay of the land.
If nothing works, we will have tried.
We will have been close.
We will have touched a little part of my, even our, past.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
THY WILL BE DONE
The Kayla Elise sailed her inland sea today.
We slipped our cables and headed out to the Narrows with the three of us aboard – Mary Kay, Sophie, and Himself.
Few vessels were encountered, but one with neighbors aboard and others with fisherman trying their luck and/or skill.
Many docks were boatless – the craft pulled rather than operating.
The season is advanced.
We anticipate one more cruise before withdrawing ourselves.
Two swan families still with nearly fully-grown signets warmed our passage thru the Narrows.
As we have noted before, the seasons change, the cycles turn.
Such is life.
The bell tolls for us all.
God willing, the cycle will turn again for all of us and the Kayla Elise will launch again.
God willing.
Thy Will be done.
We slipped our cables and headed out to the Narrows with the three of us aboard – Mary Kay, Sophie, and Himself.
Few vessels were encountered, but one with neighbors aboard and others with fisherman trying their luck and/or skill.
Many docks were boatless – the craft pulled rather than operating.
The season is advanced.
We anticipate one more cruise before withdrawing ourselves.
Two swan families still with nearly fully-grown signets warmed our passage thru the Narrows.
As we have noted before, the seasons change, the cycles turn.
Such is life.
The bell tolls for us all.
God willing, the cycle will turn again for all of us and the Kayla Elise will launch again.
God willing.
Thy Will be done.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
THE TIMES ARE A’CHANGIN’- LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Two friends and I were at dinner Monday night.
The three of us are retired, but, as the saying goes, “Not expired.”
We talked of this and that. The food and drink were most pleasant, the wait staff pleasant and attractive, and conversation ebbed and flowed in the nicest manner.
At a quiet moment, I ventured to comment on the difficulties currently being faced by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, one of the cultural entities which has survived from the golden days of yore down to these difficult times.
I opined that it was interesting, a sign of the times, that Detroit funds the implausible, fantastic expense of no less than four professional sports teams, franchise which play children’s’ games, while at the same time finds it impossible to pay the expenses of one high quality cultural entity, an entity which would cost a fraction of what possibly a few players of these children’s Games make in a year or two.
This was not my way to argue for any form of tax support for the arts.
What it was was instead a commentary on the changing tastes of our people, tastes which prefer ball games to classical music.
We do not pretend to know what this apparent change of values really means, just that it seems to exist.
The classical arts in this part of our world are in trouble.
Children’s games are thriving.
And the public is happy.
The three of us are retired, but, as the saying goes, “Not expired.”
We talked of this and that. The food and drink were most pleasant, the wait staff pleasant and attractive, and conversation ebbed and flowed in the nicest manner.
At a quiet moment, I ventured to comment on the difficulties currently being faced by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, one of the cultural entities which has survived from the golden days of yore down to these difficult times.
I opined that it was interesting, a sign of the times, that Detroit funds the implausible, fantastic expense of no less than four professional sports teams, franchise which play children’s’ games, while at the same time finds it impossible to pay the expenses of one high quality cultural entity, an entity which would cost a fraction of what possibly a few players of these children’s Games make in a year or two.
This was not my way to argue for any form of tax support for the arts.
What it was was instead a commentary on the changing tastes of our people, tastes which prefer ball games to classical music.
We do not pretend to know what this apparent change of values really means, just that it seems to exist.
The classical arts in this part of our world are in trouble.
Children’s games are thriving.
And the public is happy.
RECOVERY
The November elections draw ever closer.
The economic news grows ever grimmer.
It is our hope here at The Study that no false glimmers of improvement intrude themselves upon the scene until after the fall elections.
We say this not to condemn anyone to continued economic hardship, but rather to hope that no false credit is given to the failed economic policies of the b.o. Administration.
The American electorate is, in the short term, a fickle one. In this it is by no means unique.
We do not want it to be tempted to make a mistake in this all-important matter.
b.o. is bad news for our economy, for our nation, indeed, for all aspects of our national identity.
It is important for national democrats to suffer defeat this fall and for credit for any national recoveries of any sort not to be assigned to a wrong-headed regime.
The economic news grows ever grimmer.
It is our hope here at The Study that no false glimmers of improvement intrude themselves upon the scene until after the fall elections.
We say this not to condemn anyone to continued economic hardship, but rather to hope that no false credit is given to the failed economic policies of the b.o. Administration.
The American electorate is, in the short term, a fickle one. In this it is by no means unique.
We do not want it to be tempted to make a mistake in this all-important matter.
b.o. is bad news for our economy, for our nation, indeed, for all aspects of our national identity.
It is important for national democrats to suffer defeat this fall and for credit for any national recoveries of any sort not to be assigned to a wrong-headed regime.
THE NEW BOOK
The new book by bob woodward apparently details infighting by b.o. advisors regarding the Afghanistan war strategy.
We find it not at all surprising that insiders provide the President with a variety of opinions about strategy and tactics, etc.
Savvy folks of all political persuasions know that infighting is not only normal within administrations, but is actually very important and should be encouraged.
What is discouraging is the two-facedness of this President – his own apparent desire to ‘lose’ the war- and his willingness to treat the war as a purely political issue, not one of real national security which requires leadership, even politically sacrificial presidential leadership.
We find it not at all surprising that insiders provide the President with a variety of opinions about strategy and tactics, etc.
Savvy folks of all political persuasions know that infighting is not only normal within administrations, but is actually very important and should be encouraged.
What is discouraging is the two-facedness of this President – his own apparent desire to ‘lose’ the war- and his willingness to treat the war as a purely political issue, not one of real national security which requires leadership, even politically sacrificial presidential leadership.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
DEFINITIONS AND A COMMENT AND A QUESTION
A capitalist economy is one in which producers and consumers own all or most of the means of production and make most of the decisions about what goods and services shall be produced; how they shall be produced; and for whom they will be produced.
A mixed economy is one in which the government owns some of the means of production and makes some of the decisions about what and for whom and how…but consumers and producers own most of the means of production and make most of the decisions about what and for whom and how.
A socialist economy is one in which the government owns more of the means of production and makes more of the decisions about what and how and for whom…but some, even many decisions are still made by consumers and producers regarding what and how and for whom.
A communist economy is one in which the government owns all of the means of production and makes all of the decisions about what; for whom; and how. Consumers and producers make virtually none of those decisions.
A fascist economy is one in which means of production commonly remain in private ownership but the government makes all of the decisions regarding what; for whom; and how. Consumers make virtually none of those decisions.
The economy of the United States historically has been one best described as mixed.
The government has long exercised influence, even considerable influence at times, over the American economy.
But consumers and producers have always made most of the decisions of what; how; and for whom.
You decide whether or not the b.o. Administration is striving to maintain a mixed economy or is seeking to establish a socialist economy.
A mixed economy is one in which the government owns some of the means of production and makes some of the decisions about what and for whom and how…but consumers and producers own most of the means of production and make most of the decisions about what and for whom and how.
A socialist economy is one in which the government owns more of the means of production and makes more of the decisions about what and how and for whom…but some, even many decisions are still made by consumers and producers regarding what and how and for whom.
A communist economy is one in which the government owns all of the means of production and makes all of the decisions about what; for whom; and how. Consumers and producers make virtually none of those decisions.
A fascist economy is one in which means of production commonly remain in private ownership but the government makes all of the decisions regarding what; for whom; and how. Consumers make virtually none of those decisions.
The economy of the United States historically has been one best described as mixed.
The government has long exercised influence, even considerable influence at times, over the American economy.
But consumers and producers have always made most of the decisions of what; how; and for whom.
You decide whether or not the b.o. Administration is striving to maintain a mixed economy or is seeking to establish a socialist economy.
CYCLES
Saturday morning.
It is raining and cloudy and cool.
We love it.
Dear Wife and Dear Daughter are off on a ladies’ weekend…to a country fair with a Dear Cousin.
They will be gone for a few days.
Sophie and I remain at The Study to ‘hold down the fort’.
There are errands and hereing and thereing [I know, not words] and rituals to perform.
The cycles go on.
Thank the Lord.
Leaves and raking and trick or treating and wood splitting and Northern Camp closing and buying new winter boots and fueling up snow blower and making cocoa and too many other things to mention.
And there are the political cycles.
As the song lyric of the 60’s said, “Something’s happening here.”
Love the song. Cannot remember the title.
b.o. has spent trillions and failed to cope with economic problems – has even made things worse – and we fervently hope that his party pays the price in the November elections.
Failure after failure of stimulus efforts are being revealed/discovered.
The effectiveness of tax and spend policies have once again been shown to be what they are – shall we say, less than helpful.
The Republican Party is reinventing itself.
Thinking democrats are concerned. Ignorant dems, a considerable number, ridicule the realignment going on in the GOP, much as the French knights at Agincourt probably ridiculed the English archers as the latter strung their bows.
Go Sarah!
Go non-establishment Republicans, whether they make tea or not.
May one or both Houses of Congress abandon the idiocy of the national democrats.
The poverty level as defined by the Federal Government is rising at an alarming rate.
Home sales are tanking.
Unemployment rates are not responding to democrat fixes.
US efforts to resolve Middle Eastern hostilities will not succeed.
State and national deficits grow at horrendous rates.
b.o. continues to embolden our enemies in Afghanistan by announcing our abandonment timetable, as he has done in Iraq.
Gitmo continues to do its duty.
The Republic is resilient.
We have had less than ideal leaders before.
We will again.
But perhaps this fall some sanity will return.
God willing.
It is raining and cloudy and cool.
We love it.
Dear Wife and Dear Daughter are off on a ladies’ weekend…to a country fair with a Dear Cousin.
They will be gone for a few days.
Sophie and I remain at The Study to ‘hold down the fort’.
There are errands and hereing and thereing [I know, not words] and rituals to perform.
The cycles go on.
Thank the Lord.
Leaves and raking and trick or treating and wood splitting and Northern Camp closing and buying new winter boots and fueling up snow blower and making cocoa and too many other things to mention.
And there are the political cycles.
As the song lyric of the 60’s said, “Something’s happening here.”
Love the song. Cannot remember the title.
b.o. has spent trillions and failed to cope with economic problems – has even made things worse – and we fervently hope that his party pays the price in the November elections.
Failure after failure of stimulus efforts are being revealed/discovered.
The effectiveness of tax and spend policies have once again been shown to be what they are – shall we say, less than helpful.
The Republican Party is reinventing itself.
Thinking democrats are concerned. Ignorant dems, a considerable number, ridicule the realignment going on in the GOP, much as the French knights at Agincourt probably ridiculed the English archers as the latter strung their bows.
Go Sarah!
Go non-establishment Republicans, whether they make tea or not.
May one or both Houses of Congress abandon the idiocy of the national democrats.
The poverty level as defined by the Federal Government is rising at an alarming rate.
Home sales are tanking.
Unemployment rates are not responding to democrat fixes.
US efforts to resolve Middle Eastern hostilities will not succeed.
State and national deficits grow at horrendous rates.
b.o. continues to embolden our enemies in Afghanistan by announcing our abandonment timetable, as he has done in Iraq.
Gitmo continues to do its duty.
The Republic is resilient.
We have had less than ideal leaders before.
We will again.
But perhaps this fall some sanity will return.
God willing.
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