October 11th, 2023
My trip down to the Florida panhandle has been postponed. So, instead I will be heading back up to the Minneapolis area for the winter. There I can spend the season with my mother (now 92 years old) and sister and also cross country ski with my friends. Thus, for the next 5 months, I will avoid the warm but somewhat boring life in the desert southwest.
For the last week and a half, I have been just north of Detroit, visiting with my son, and friends still living in Michigan. I drove through the small town where I lived for 24 years, but not much is different there. Change is slow. There is a new Taco Bell and an automatic car wash is being built.
My older son, Zach, is doing well with the “instant family” he has acquired. Fortunately he does not work in the auto industry, which is in the midst of upheaval right now with labor strikes, high prices, and the push for EV vehicles. Some of my other friends do work for auto suppliers, but their jobs are in Information Technology and thus are a little more insulated from the blue collar workers. In addition, they are very intelligent, have great work ethics, and more easily can land on their feet with other companies when necessary.
As I am preparing to leave, it is with a heavy heart, as I will greatly miss them. Though we talk and text often, it is not the same as seeing them face to face while engaged in fun and interesting activities. We saw movies, hiked old familiar trails, visited the apple orchard, cider mill, and pumpkin farm. We had great conversations over breakfasts at the Coney Island and dinner at Asian and Korean restaurants.
Zach, keep up the good work. I am proud of you.
Sai, Alekhya, and Cheng, I will remember your beautiful faces until we meet next time. Maybe we will get together and again hike some mountain trails. Or, we might get out and try some skiing again this winter.
Lastly, coach, perhaps we can meet up in Colorado for some hiking there with our boys.
Early tomorrow morning, I will head west in Michigan, drop around the south of Lake Michigan through Indiana and then northwest through Illinois to the state park near where I grew up. I will get a chance to visit with my youngest sister for a couple of days before going north to Minnesota.
I am not sure if I will write as often on this blog until spring. My travels will continue then in April, as I head back to Colorado. Hopefully, I can complete my failed plan for this last summer with a loop through Montana and Idaho.
I chose to live this vagabond life. But it is sure not easy having to say these frequent goodbyes…
Starting All Over 