Stain-glass Eyes

I’ve been up in St. Ignace (North side of the Mackinac Bridge, in Michigan) visiting.  When I’m with my mom time gets whacky and my writing gets neglected.  If you can imagine stepping into a time machine, being transported to a small tourist-town with a huge, freshwater lake only a block away.  No street lights, no Walmart, no Rite Aid and a mother as enthusiastic about getting outside to explore as I am. The amount of daylight dictates our day. With slow-cooking food in the crockpot, Clyde’s Drive-In or Bentley’s Restaurant to choose from, for dinner, we’re free for the day. St. Ignace Already Getting Started on Halloween If you were raised in this small, northern town you would likely feel the draw from Lake Huron.  It’s like a strong, magnet pulling relentlessly as soon as the bridge is spotted.  Crossing over, Mackinac Island is on the right, St. Helena left, both sitting smartly on their own huge lake. Many variations of blue toss around in the waves th

As I sit in Washtenaw Dairy, I feel relaxed.  (They made more than 300 dozen donuts for today.  There’s a U of M football game today and on top of that 30 dozen were specially made for a wedding)  This is a homey place to be.  I know most of the regulars that come in (for both coffee and comradery…a few get donuts). There’s a little girl with a pink, University of Michigan, T-shirt, with big, navy blue bow in her pony-tail, playing “I Spy” with her parents (as she eats her icecream).   She’s sitting at the long table  where I'm writing.  She's about ten years old.  Her parents are not winning.  She’s savy.  She reminds me of my niece, Jenna.  It’s Jenna’s birthday today.   I received a text from Elizabeth this morning, “Explosions in Ankara, but I’m safe.  Terrible news, over 80 dead.”    Ankara, Turkey.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world    I’m always so glad when she lets me know.  I don’t worry as much about her as I have in the past when she’s i