Friday, April 9...Count On Me (Bruno Mars)

  Shaved, showered and on the road by 9 a.m.  Sky is overcast and there’s a good wind but the temperature sits in the mid-50’s.  Still wearing shorts and sandals, no socks though.

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   Told Rapunzel to avoid toll roads so she got creative in routing us around the Chicago area traffic. We were driving in the outer lane through a business area of some little town when a nice red car passes and then pulls right in front of us and, no kidding, immediately hit the brakes to turn into a business on the right which may or may not have prompted me to say “What the hell?!” rather loudly.  We are 40+ feet long and stopping quickly is not easy.  The person couldn’t have gotten in behind us?  Was it really that important to put all of us and others behind us at risk?  Thankfully the brakes held and we were able to stop inches from the rear of the car as it seemed to take it's time turning and no one rear ended us because it was so sudden.  I had a strong urge to open the window to flip them off and yell crazy things but my good angel won the battle on the one.

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   Cruised into the Mitten at 11:30 a.m.  So good to see that blue Pure Michigan sign overhead and to make it official Rapunzel said, “Welcome to Michigan!”  And we’re back to our normal time zone.

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   We’re adding a little bit of time and mileage to our day...decided to go to the north side of Holland to stop and see  Aunt Butch, Kim’s 97 year old aunt or at least see if she’s home. Aunt Butch is the clearinghouse for all happenings in the family and the local neighborhood (the area where both Kim and I grew up), has a big laugh and is prone to profanity in a non-offensive way.  It’s always been her mission in life to be of service to people especially her immediate family.  Back when I first joined the Bakker clan I used to hear it said that her kids/grandkids were always taking advantage of Aunt Butch; however as I got to know her, I could see that she doesn’t feel that way at all.  She sees it as her duty to help out in any way she can...and she enjoys being able to do that.  She was the chauffeur for the weekly lunch outing with the ladies. However, a year or two ago she confessed that her get up and go is just gone. She also stopped driving about the same time. Every time we’re in the Holland area we try to stop and visit for a few minutes.

   Aunt Butch was home so we were able to  visit for a half hour or so.  A few months back she had some a-fib going on and is now on Eliquis which she says has made a huge difference for her.  She ran it down for us...clean the back of the house on Tuesday, the kitchen/living room area on Wednesday, and the breeze way area on Thursday.  Monday and Friday are her goof off days...in her words ‘I don’t do a damn thing if I don’t want to on my goof off days’.   And she’s pleased that she was able to get her COVID vaccine.  I believe that she’s already planning a family gathering.  However she has a great grandson who’s afraid of needles and, if necessary, she’s willing to drag him in and sit on him so he can get his vaccine and join in family gatherings.  I love her spunk!

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   We’re on what feels like the final leg of the trip...Grand Rapids to Charlevoix.  Still almost 3 hours and 185 miles from home but we are definitely on familiar ground.  Kim could drive this route with his eyes closed but I’ll make sure he doesn’t.

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   Ran into rain just north of Grand Rapids and then ran out of it before Big Rapids.  This was a bigger rain than yesterday...big enough for the wipers to be on high instead of intermittent.

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   It was 58o when we arrived home at 6:45 p.m.  The truck wasn’t even in park before there were WonderKids running out of the house to welcome us home.  😎

   
                                                  And so another Kim n Karen Adventure has come to an end.

 

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