Remember Winter?

It's Labor Day weekend and summer is almost over - just three weeks til autumn. It's supposed to be hot the next few days and I intend to enjoy it while it lasts. Then when winter comes, I'll be ready. --------------- This photo was taken from my friends' house, Dawn and Ed from Grand Marais, MI on Lake Superior last April 1.

Drowning in Thirst

Dave and Heather this is for you. You seem to be overwhelmed with responsibilities and decisions and things to do lately, so I thought you'd like this. Hang in there...one more day and it's a week of chillin' with the Wilds. I'll watch the kids. M

Fellow Alum

When I went to visit Sarah, my friend in medical school at U of M we went to find my grad pic on the walls of the dental school. As we walked back to the med school Sarah pointed out a fellow alum on those sacred walls.

Drumbeats and Car Horns

"Natives who beat drums to drive off evil spirits are objects of scorn to smart Americans who blow horns to break up traffic jams." – Mary Ellen Kelly

I just had to save these quote and photo of the moment in a blog.

Jingtamok

The drumming and singing accompanied my yardwork all afternoon. This weekend is the 17th Annual Odawa Jingtamok, or Pow Wow. Since the Pow Wow Grounds are less than a quarter mile from my house I can hear it all - the drums, the M.C., the singing. A Pow Wow is a Homecoming or gathering of Native American tribes or as my friend Victor Kishigo would insist, "Indians". The contemporary version includes drum, dance and singing competitions and the intricate regalia that go with it. This year's pow wow chairman, Winnay Wemigwase said they expect 300 to 400 dancers from all over the midwest. My shrubs were all planted by 7pm but the drumbeat continued on long enough to lull me to sleep.

Almost reunion time

Wild Reunion '05 in Sea Ranch, California.

August 18th, Wild Reunion '08 - Steamboat Springs, Colorado, here we come!

Can you say ... Inpropinquitous

My brother Dave taught me a new word. "About 50% of Americans live within 50 miles of their birthplace. This is called propinquity." Since I live well beyond the 50 mile radius I told him, "I guess I'm just inpropinquitous!"

Goofballs

My brother Mike is almost as big a goofball as I am. I only see him once and year and that time is drawing near. Can you look at this picture of Mike and NOT laugh? See ya in 2 weeks, Mike!

August Calendar Page Top

World Trade Center, NYC

9/11

That's all you have to say and each person has a unique image come forth from their memory. The only time I ever saw the World Trade Center in person was from the Newark airport as the sun was setting and I was anxiously awaiting the boarding of my plane to Ireland. I was bored with the book I was reading and needed to move around so I walked to the large windows that offered a view of Manhattan across the river. My impatience disappeared as I stared at the warm glow melting over the skyline. So those are the famous Twin Towers. They truly did "scrape the sky". I was literally startled by the beautiful scene in front of me.

Nine months later, in the days following 9/11 the thought of that sunset barely entered my mind. Like everyone, I was shocked and saddened, but it wasn't personal.

Fast forward to July, '08. Standing alone at the site of the disaster, the sun sinking quickly behind the remaining skyscrapers, the NYFD #10 truck just to my right awaiting it's day at the permanent memorial, a few other people staring into the hole of construction. Silence. Suddenly, it was personal. I felt the pain, the sadness, and the hope.

The towers of the World Financial Center stand guard over the site like sentinels casting shadows of pride and protection.