Can-Amera Games

Logo for the Can-Amera games in 1992

     Currently with the Olympics going on in London right now it reminds me of a time where I was involved with something similar to the olympics but on a more local level.  It was called the Can-Amera games.  

     Can-Amera Games was similar to the olympics but only for those living in Saginaw Township, Michigan, USA and Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.  One year the games would be held in Cambridge and the next year it would be held in Saginaw.  People from ages 9 to adult could participate.  There was something for everyone:  track and field, biking, tennis, archery, trivial pursuit, monopoly, euchre, chess, boxing, soccer, swimming, baseball/softball, basketball, volleyball, bowling, wrestling, and many other events that slip my mind.  A participating player would stay with a host family and generally that host family would have a person playing in the same sport but not always.  A player from the visiting team usually would bring something from their country as a gift to their host family.  Awards and medals were given to first, second and third places and everyone received a complementary medal for particiapation.  Late in the winter season little booklets would be inserted in the newspaper in reguards of the Can-Amera Games, which activities to try out for, qualifications and other information needed to participate.  It was something we would look forward to. 

     My brother had participated for a few years and I remember a few Canadians staying at our house but I can't remember if it was for basketball or track and field.  I just remember, at a young age, that these young men were from another country and to me that was amazing.  I just couldn't wait until it was my turn to participate. 

     The year was 1991.  I was 14 and was granted permission to participate.  We got the booklet in the paper and I looked it over to which event I would be interested in.  Then I found it.  Something not too difficult and fun.  Table tennis!  I called the number and talked with the coach, Mr. Sission.  He said practices were already starting and I didn't need any experience.  Practices were at Sherwood School about 4-5 blocks away from my house. 

Sherwood Elementary School, Saginaw, Mi.           

     I rode my bike to Sherwood School and made my way to the gym.  About 8 to 10 tables were lined up with a few people already engaged in a game.  The coach greeted me and he pointed me to a table and called out for his son, who was around my age, to practice with me.  As I looked around I realized I was the only girl on the team.  Perhaps it was affirmitive action that got me on the team for being a female. I don't know.  I didn't think much about it.  I grabbed my new paddle and proceeded towards the table.  His son (can't remember his name) met me there.  I have seen it played but I have never played before.  I have played tennis but I figure it cannot be much different than that.  He served the ball.  The ball came towards me.  Then with a strong hand I whipped the ball over to the other side of the gym totally avoiding the table.  Not good on my part.  It took me a while to realize what a tender hand is needed to hit the little ball.  After a while I got used to it and I was doing okay.  I wasn't the best but I was learning.  Another boy about my age also joined the team and the three of us would take turns practicing against each other.   Every now and then an adult would join us for playing partners while practicing.  It was fun. 

     The games were held in Canada that year.  I was excited to travel to another country.  At that time we didn't need passports.  We just needed our birth certificates and a signed medical form and a parents signature.  On Friday every team that was playing met at the Saginaw township hall and boarded several busses to take us over to Cambridge.  We were 4 to 5 hours from Cambridge.  The ride was uneventful.  We crossed at the Bluewater Bridge into Canada.  Canada didn't look that different.  I think I was expecting some great change in climate and scenery but it is rather the same. 

Saginaw, Mi is located near the where the thumb meets the fingers near the Saginaw Bay over by Lake Huron.  Cambridge, Ont. is located on the map. 

  
     When we finally arrived we hooked up with our host families.  The coaches son stayed with his dad in a nearby hotel.  The other boy and I stayed with another young table tennis player, James.  He reminded me of a blonde Screech on the show Saved By The Bell.  I don't remember much of what their house looked like or if they fixed any special meals but it was in town and our room was more like an enclosed porch. 

     That night was the opening ceremony.  It was complete with a torch runner.  We were in some arena that I think was also a hockey rink.  Parents and citizens of Cambridge were up in the stands as they called out each activity and the players entered the arena.  When they called out table tennis we proudly marched around the arena and gathered in the middle with other players.  It was really thrilling. 

     The next day our host family drove us to a school where the table tennis tables were all set up.  I looked around and realized that there was not a female playing on the Canadian side either.  I was the only girl on both sides.  I won some and I lost many.  I tried to convince James to lose the game for my favor.  He did let me win one but over all he won the best 2 out of 3.  In between matches we would watch other players play and root for our team.  Other times we would walk around outside.  One person pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.  I noticed the name on it.  Players Cigarettes.  I never thought Canada of having different namebrands from the US. 

     Saturday night there was a dance for all those particpating in the Can-Amera games.  Back to the arena we all went.  I don't remember much of the music or the dance.  The part I do remember is when we were about to leave.  James and I couldn't find the other boy who was on the US team who was staying with us.  We searched everywhere.  James' parents pulled up to pick us up and sadly we had to tell that we lost an American player.  He was very upset that the one boy was lost.  We searched around some more.  The crowd was thinning out and still no luck.  We drove back to their place so we can get the coaches number at the hotel to tell him.  I looked at the dash.  It was reading 95-100.  Wow!  We were going fast!  I was thinking he really is upset.  It wasn't until after I got home that I realized their vehicles are set at kilometers per hour and not miles per hour.  The dad was only going about 60 to 65 miles per hour.  The dad calls the coach.  We sat quietly on the couch.  The dad hangs up and a relief look crosses his face.  The other boy went off with the coach and his son to spend the night at the hotel.  The boy told the coach that it was okay but he never told anyone about it.  We all were thankful that he was safe and sound. 

     The next day was the last day.  The closing ceremony took place.  Medals were given out to those who placed.  Everyone received a bag of goodies with a smaller medal for participation.  I still have mine saved in a box of memories that I collected along the way in my life.  I remember I gave my host family a coffe mug with images of Saginaw on it.  I don't remember what I received.  It was the memories of it all that I cherished the most.

     A year goes by and I get a little bit better at playing table tennis.  I enter the Can-Amera games again.  This time the games were held in Saginaw, Michigan.  My mom and a few of her friends entered that year for Trivial Pursuit.  I remember her studying thousands of trivia cards and off to practice with other teams.  James came and stayed with us that year.  He stayed an extra week and we took him to see Mackinac Island and to our family cabin.  His family came and picked him up.

     That was the last time I entered Can-Amera games.  Other interests took my attention.  I never heard from James or anyone else on the table tennis team.  As I googled search Can-Amera games I was sad to find out that the games were officially canceled in 2006 due to lack of participation.  From a mlive blog in 2008 Saginaw Township Supervisor Tim Braun (who used to be one of my school counselors or vice principal) was trying to organize a para-olympic games.  I am not sure how well that took place as I no longer live in the area. 

     It may have not been THE olympics but this was the next best thing and a neat experience I got to have in my life.  And I am thankful for that.

Fudge, Fun and Nuptials

Our bikes up at Mackinac Island.

     It was the summer of 1995.  Brian and I have been dating for only a few weeks.  One day out of the blue he decided to go purchase some bikes for him and I and spend the day at Mackinac Island.  We went to K-Mart in Plainwell and picked out a nice pair of matching bikes.  We rode them out of the store and all around the parking lot.  I loved gliding along at top speed feeling the wind against my face.  The bike rode smoothly like floating on a cloud.  It was late in the day so we decided to head out first thing in the morning. 

     It was several years since I had been to Mackinac Island.  Motor cars are not allowed on the island that is just under 4 square miles and it gives the appeal of stepping back in time to an era of long ago.  We decided to cross the Mackinac Bridge to take the ferry from St. Ignace in the UP over to the island.  I never realized how big the bridge looked before.  The closer we got the more my heart started pounding and the harder it was to breathe. Soon were driving up the 5 mile long bridge.  I couldn't move.  I could barely talk.  I sat there staring at the floor of the Bronco refusing to look out.  In the meantime, Brian was jabbering away about the view and ships he sees off in the distance.  It made me uneasy.  I begged for him to stop talking.  I needed absolute quiet.  An odd vibration rumbled across the Bronco.  I could tell we were on the grated part of the bridge near the middle, which is also the highest part.  I took a long deep breath.  I gripped the door handle very tightly.  I was singing songs in my head trying hard not to think about being 199 feet above Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.  Deep in the back parts of my brain the story of how a car was blown over the edge of the Mackinac Bridge and the person died played over and over.  My mental singing couldn't keep the thought of that away.  Brian was realizing that this wasn't just a small fear but more of a terror I have.  A few times he would tease me telling me we were off the bridge only to open my eyes and look up and see a huge pillar passing by me.  My heart beats faster and I pray hard for those miles to pass by quickly.  Finally we reach the upper peninsula and I was able to breath again and my heart returned to its normal beat.  I never had a fear come upon me like that before while crossing the bridge and I didn't like the feeling.  I knew I would have to cross it again but I didn't want to think about that so soon.

     We had a great time on the island.  We biked around it stopping at various sights like The Grand Hotel, Arch Rock, battlefield sites from the war of 1812 and a tree from a scene from the movie Somewhere in Time startting Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymore.  We sat upon some rocks on the southwest side of the island near the water's edge and enjoyed the Michigan landscape across the waters.  Brian is fiddling around with my camera but I didn't think too much about it.  He holds it up and says, "Hey Jill," I look at him, "Will you marry me?" click goes the sound of the camera. 

My reaction the moment Brian asked me to be his wife.

    

     I was shocked.  I was not expecting that very important, life changing question at all.  We never even hinted around to it.  We have only been dating probably 2 months at best.  I wanted to say yes but I didn't want to seem too eager.  I wanted to see how long he would go before he would beg for an answer.  I looked at him, smiled, and replied, "I will have to think about it and get back to you with an answer." 

This was taken after I told Brian I would think about his marriage proposal.

     He tried to persuade me to answer but I was firm in having him wait.  Brian finally realized that he wasn't going to get an answer right away like he hoped and we changed subjects.  Deep inside my heart was fluttering and I was screaming with delight, YES! YES! YES! but I was 18, an adult, and had to hold my composure.   Then I began to plot on how long I would make him wait and in what special way would I let Brian know that my answer would be yes.  There was some strange sinful pleasure in my knowledge of the answer to the marriage proposal and him not knowing yet.  It was like I was in control and he was at my mercy. 

     It was getting late and we started to make our way towards home.  We had to cross over the Mackinac Bridge again.  I couldn't do it.  My heart was leaping out of my chest.  I kept telling myself that I had to cross it.  I live in the lower peninsula and can't stay up there.  I can do this.  I can do this, I would tell myself over and over.  We paid our toll and started making our way south over the bridge.  I looked over at the suspension wires and I fell apart inside.  Staring at the floor boards were not enough.  I couldn't feel safe.  If being blown over the bridge is there a safe spot to be in a vehicle?  I wondered.  I unbuckled and curled myself up in a little ball at the bottom of the Bronco.  Brian kept trying to tell me what a beautiful view I was missing and to give it a chance.  I started crying and begging for him to stop talking.  I just wanted silence so I can concentrate on calming myself down. 

     I can feel the Bronco start to slow down.  Why is he slowing down?  Is there an accident?  Are we about to go over the edge?  Did part of the bridge collaspe?  With my eyes still closed and me still curled up on the floor of the Bronco I heard Brian's voice, "Tell me you will marry me?"

     "WHAT!  GET ME OFF THIS BRIDGE NOW!" I pleaded! 

     

     "Nope.  Not until you say that you will be my wife."  He said calmly. 

     "I AM NOT GIVING YOU AN ANSWER!  HURRY UP AND DRIVE FASTER!" I begged.

Between the two pillars of the Mackinaw Bridge Brian slowed down
and demanded an answer to his marriage proposal. 

     He slows his driving to a slow crawl and taunts me with being up near the top.  "You can see everything from up here.  Look, there is a freighter off in the distance.  I am not going to move until you say yes."  Brian says proudly knowing he has the best of me at this moment.

     I knew I was defeated.  With not being of sound mind I shouted, "YES!  FINE!  I WILL MARRY YOU!  JUST GET ME OFF THIS BRIDGE NOW!!!! 

     "What was that you said?  I want to make sure I heard you correctly." he teased back.

     "YES!  NOW GET ME OFF OF THE BRIDGE!" I hollared back from the floor of the Bronco.

     I felt the Bronco speed up.  My heart is thumping wildly but I couldn't tell if it was fear from the bridge or agreeing to the marriage proposal.  Maybe it was a little of both.  Looking back now it is still hard to tell which got my heart thumping more.  I plugged my ears and kept my eyes tightly shut so I can fully concentrate on not being on the bridge.  After a while I felt Brian pull the Bronco over to the side.  He gently pats my back to tells me to step outside.  I slowly slide my body up into my seat to see if we were off the bridge.  We were.  We were safely on the side of the highway on the lower peninsular side.  Brian already rushed around to my side of the Bronco and already had the door open.  I fall out like a wet noodle so exhausted from horror of crossing over the bridge.  "Did you really mean it when you said yes?" Brian asked.

     "Yes, I did.  I will marry you."  I replied back.  It wasn't the way I imagined that I would say yes to his proposal but I was off the bridge.     

     Brian pulled me close to him and gave me a huge romantic kiss and a great big hug right on the side of the highway.  Cars were zooming past watching us embrace but we didn't care.  At that moment we made the decision to spend the rest of our lives together. 

     17 years has passed by and I don't regret the answer I had given in haste.  We have gone across the bridge a few times since then and I try to open my eyes to take a look if even only for a second.  One of my greatest fears (bridges) also gives me one of my greatest memories to cherish and that is to become a wife to the man I love.   

Brian and I standing in front of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island
the day he proposed to me.

Honey, I Got A Sliver!

     There is one thing our children love doing with their dad and that is hooking up a small trailer in back of the riding lawn mower and going for a ride around the area.  They all have so much fun.  He will ride up and down the ditch to give the children a thrilling homemade roller coaster ride.  Other times he will ride to the old Pere Marquette Railroad (the railroad was already taken out and eventually made into a paved trail.  At this time it was unpaved) and explore the area for edible berries and other interesting finds.  One particular trip they all would learn a very important lesson on God's creations.

    

     The summer of 2005 was well in the making.  I was 8 months pregnant with our fifth child.  It was a beautiful day and Brian decided to take our four children out for a tractor ride to give me a few moments of quiet relaxation.  I watched them for a moment outside as Brian rode around the yard.  The older kids were sitting at the edge of the trailer letting their feet sweep across the grass underneath them.  They all had smiles on their faces enjoying the ride.  Brian headed north to the trails.  The kids happily waved good-bye to me and I waved back at them.  In their heads they knew they would be on another exciting adventure with daddy.  As they rode out of sight I walked back into the house and listened to the quiet.  I went and laid down on the couch for a moment. 

     The phone rang.  It was Brian calling from his cell phone.  "We are on our way home.  Get the first-aid kit ready."

     Panic sweeps across my mind, "What happened?  Are the kids okay?"

     "Kids are fine.  I just got a sliver."  he said calmly.

     We hung up the phone and I smiled at the thought of my husband worrying about a little sliver.  I went and retrieved our first-aid kit and waited to play the part of a nurse.  Off in the distance I heard the sound of the mower coming closer and closer.  They came into view.  The kids still looked like they were having a good time.  Brian dropped off the kids and went to put away the mower.   They came in all talking at once about grass so tall that it was over their heads and how daddy got a huge sliver.  I listened to their stories waiting for Brian to come inside.  Then my husband walks in the door. 

     He had his hand behind his back.  I look at him with a humours smile thinking how a little sliver can cause this grown man to call me to have the first-aid kit waiting.  What a baby I thought lovingly as I chuckled a little.  "Are you ready to see this?" he asked.

     I half rolled my eyes in humor at what I was about to see.  Brian brings his hand around.   At first glance I thought I was looking at Freddy Kruger's hand.  This wasn't a sliver.  This was a piercing!  I looked at my small tweezers and realized that tweezers would be useless.  It looked like a couple of huge skewers stabbed into my husband's thumb.  One entered just above his thumb joint and exited out from the top of his thumb right below the nail.  This was not a little splinter how I imagined it.  I know I must of gasped.  I looked up at Brian in horror.  "How did THAT happen?"





The grass piercing threw Brian's thumb.  Ashton looking amuzingly up at daddy's thumb.



    He told me how on their ride they came upon grass taller than he was.  He tried to pull the grass shoot to bring it home to show me.  The grass near the base splintered off and pierced my husband's thumb.  He never knew grass to do that.  I think he mostly felt bad that he couldn't bring it home to show me.  "Pull it out."  Brian says.

     I gave him a look of shock.  I cannot handle gross things like this in person.  Just looking at it gave me a chill.  I examined his hand closely.  I didn't even know how to begin to pull it out.  I looked at Brian again with a worried look.  "I don't know if I can."

     "Just try it."  I gave a little tug on one end.  It didn't move.  I tried a bit harder.  I could tell Brian winced at it.  I quickly stopped pulling. 

     "I can't do this."  I looked at him wondering what to do.  I know some small slivers, if you let them be, will work themselves out.  I don't think this was going to work its way out on its own. 

     We decided that the best way to take it out was to go to the emergency room in Reed City, Mi.  He drove himself while I stayed back with the kids.  Several hours later he came back with the large piece of grass in a clear plastic bowl.  He said the staff was so amazed by the grass piercing that they brought in other medical staff to look at it.  They ooh'd and ahh'd over it.  Brian told the doctor we took pictures of it and he said he wanted a copy of one.  He never heard of grass piercing anyone like this and was just amazed by it.

     Brian quickly healed from the wound.  He still enjoys going on tractor rides giving the kids an adventure.  Now he thinks twice about pulling something, free-handedly, out of the Earth.

Useful Driving Tips

     Being in a trucking family we have learned a few tips and tricks of the road that most people don't think about or forgot from driver's training long ago.  Some of the tips may sound so simple but there are a lot of people who don't follow the basic rules of the road and that can lead to road rage. 

HOW TO CHECK YOUR FUEL MILAGE:  Fill up your gas tank and either write down your odometer milage or reset your trip odometer.  Drive around normally and fill back up when your tank gets to be about half full.  Divide the number of miles driven to the number of gallons you put in your tank.  This will give you your fuel milage.  Do this several times and you will know the average of miles per gallon you get. 

102 miles / 7.842 gallons = 13 miles per gallon

Using different octane's can change your fuel milage.  Try different octane's to see which one gives you the best fuel milage. Perhaps the higher octane can increase your fuel milage enough to save money.  Driving a lot in the city will have a different outcome or going on a long trip and you do a lot of highway driving.  You will also use more fuel if hauling a boat or camper.  Weather can also play games on your fuel milage.  If the wind is blowing against you, you will have a lower fuel milage than if the wind is blowing with you.

LOOK FOR ANIMALS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD:  At night keep panning yours eyes to both shoulders of the road.  Animals eyes will give a glowing look when the headlights shine upon them.  When you see something glow slow down.  You know an animal is the area and you never know what they are going to do.  A few weeks ago I was driving down the highway late at night.  I caught a glimpse of a raccoon on the side of the road.  I tried to slow down in hopes that it would scurry off the opposite direction.  As I got closer the raccoon turned around and went right for my tire.  Thump!  Thump!  There went the raccoon.  NEVER! NEVER! NEVER SWERVE FOR AN ANIMAL!  There were no other cars around when I hit the raccoon but I knew if I were to try to swerve I could of flipped the van causing more damage than what the raccoon did.  If you can safely come to a stop before you hit the animal than do so. 

SEEING ANIMALS IN THE ROAD AT NIGHT:  If there is a car in front of you at night pay attention to the headlights or taillights (depending on the direction of the vehicle is traveling).  If the lights "blink" then that is a good indicator that something passed on the road between you and the other car.  Proceed with extra caution.  Some animals, like deer, travel in packs and there may be more deer that follow.  Again I stress NEVER SWERVE FOR AN ANIMAL!  If you do hit an animal pull off to the side of the road.  Check the animal carefully.  If the animal is dead please pull it off to the side of the road.  Also check your car for damages and your insurance company may need a police report for damages the animal may have done to your car.  Know your location so you can tell police (or tow truck if need be) where you are located. 

IS THE ROAD ICY OR WET:  Winter driving can be tricky.  The sun could be shinning down and the heat of the cars can melt the snow.   However, depending on the temperatures and wind chills that wet look can easily turn to ice.  If you are in doubt look at the car in front of you.  If there is spray coming from the tires the road is just wet.  However if there isn't a spray coming off from the back of the tires of the car in front of you than the road is icy and proceed with caution.  If you don't see a spray do not panic and hit your breaks hard.  That will only cause your car to start spinning and it could be the start of an accident.  Slowly lift your foot off the accelerator and slow down gradually.  As a reminder, in the spring, frost in the underground layers starts to melt.  It gives the road a wet look during a sunny, spring day.  At night, as the temperatures drop, that melted frost freezes back up again causing icy roads.  Be very cautious.

IS IT WORTH IT TO PASS THE SEMI:  You are driving down the highway and it is snowing out.  You come upon a semi truck blowing the snow around making the road hard to see.  Should you fall back or pass the semi?  Most people will pass but here is something to think about next time you debate on whether to pass or not.  Semi trucks have CB's.  They radio back to let other drivers know where the slick spots are on the road and other hazzards they come across.  Also semi trucks can be up to 80 tons.  That heaviness can help give a truck traction and manuever easier on the road that a car cannot do. Now say you pass the semi.  You now have 80 tons driving behind you.  If you start to spin out due to a patch of black ice that truck that you just passed isn't going to stop quickly and will run over you.   Look back in your rearview mirror and look at that precious cargo you have in the backseat, your children.  Again, is it worth it to take that chance?  I am not saying to never pass a semi truck but if the roads are bad think twice about it.  It is easier for you to stop behind a semi than a semi to stop behind you.  If you don't like the snow blinding you as you drive than slow down and pull back from the flurries the truck makes in it's wind path.  

HIGHWAY MERGING FROM THE ONRAMP:   Driving law has it when a car enters the highway it has to merge with the traffic already traveling on the highway.  Everyone get's a little stressed coming on the highway and having to merge with traffic.  Here are a few pointers to make the transition smoother for all.  It is polite if the car (red car) in the right lane can move over to the left lane if possible.  The car (green car) who just merged to the right lane should either speed up so the car (red car) can get back into the right lane again or slow down, let the car (red car) get back into the right lane and then pass the car (red car) on the left.  In most states it is the law for trucks to stay in the right lane (or designated lanes) expect when passing.  Many times, especially in the city, a semi will be polite and move over to the left lane to let a car onto the highway.  The car will not speed up or slow down leaving the semi out in the left lane (hammer lane).  If you get into the semi's blind spot it makes it that much harder to have the semi get back into the right lane safely.  Cars will also fill in the gap left from the semi making it impossible for the semi to get back over.  If you cannot speed up in time then slow down.  Let the semi pass you on the left and let the semi merge back over into the right lane and you can speed up and pass on the left.  To let a semi know it's okay to get back over to the lane flash the lights on and off.  DO NOT BRIGHT THEM!  The truck driver wants to make sure there is clearence and brighting them distorts their vision.  While driving down the on-ramp look to see if there is a gap in traffic and aim for that spot.  Look for cars to pull back to let you in or speed up to put more room behind them.  It's a hard dance to learn but when everyone knows the steps it can be done gracefully. 

MERGING FOR A CONSTRUCTION ZONE:  This is a pet peeve that I have.  It is when cars fly down one lane of the road before it ends because of construstion and then try to merge over.  It happens all the time.  By right the car can use the lane up until the point of merging.  People start merging to one lane way before that point and a few cars just think they can beat the wait by zooming up to the front.  That is rude. When cars start moving to a certain lane it is polite to get in that lane as soon as you can.  In doing so it makes traffic run smoother even though it is still slow.  It is when the one lane has to stop to let in other cars that creates the slinky effect where cars have to stop and go before the construction zone begins.  I have noticed cars and semi's huddle over both lanes to stop cars from zooming up too far.  I guess these people who cannot wait their turn get upset by cars and semi's who are forcing them to wait.  This is a good brew for road rage so be careful around these areas.  Mind the road workers, slow down and give them space.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE SEMI'S IN TRAFFIC JAMS:  Sadly accidents happen all the time on the highways.  Traffic jams can be miles long and tiresome.  Remember that semi trucks can communicate with the use of the CB.  Pay attention if you see a lot semi's moving to the left lane or the far right lane.  It is a good indicator of what lane to be in.  Start to move to that lane as soon as you can.  This will reduce a lot of the stop and go traffic that the police try to control before the scene of the accident.  Also, don't stop and stare at the accident.  People are hurting.  Let the medical crew, police and tow trucks do their job.  Keep traffic going at a steady pace, say a small prayer and move on. 

DO NOT OVERUSE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS:  Brights can help you see better in the dark, especially in the country.  Be courteous to other drivers around you.  If you see lights from the car in front of you, dim your lights.  Do not wait until the last quarter mile to dim them.  You never know what kind of vision the other driver has.  That bright light will make them unable to see the road properly.  If that other driver does not dim the lights after giving a quick "bright light flash" then look to the white line or roads edge on the far right side of the road and focus on that until the other car passes.  If you are coming up behind a car double check to see if you have your brights on.  The bright lights reflect on the mirrors and makes it harder for them to see the road in front.  Try tapping on your breaks to let the driver behind know about the brights.  If that doesn't work then adjust your mirrors slightly so the glare from the bright lights isn't fully in your eyes.  Slow down and let them pass.  DO NOT BRIGHT THEM BACK!  Some people do forget and this can cause road rage.  Just let them be on their way.  When traveling on the highway and you can see the opposite side of the highway TURN OFF YOUR BRIGHTS!  There isn't some light force field in the median of the road that stops the bright lights from one side of the highway.  It still can impare the vision of the driver.  Rule of thumb, if you can see lights from another car, shut the bright lights off.

DON'T BE CAUGHT WITHOUT BLINKER FLUID:   Okay,  I do know there isn't such a thing but there is a small bar that protrudes from the left side of the steering wheel.  This is called your turn signal.  It is easy to use.  Lift it up to signal right; pull it down to signal left.  USE IT!  Until we are all telepathic the driver behind you has no clue on your intensions.  This is another part of being polite while driving. 

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TRAVELING DOWN DIRT ROADS:  You are not Bo and Luke Duke.  Do not speed down them causing dust and leaves to fly up and around when there is another car heading in your direction.  Slow down enough to cause the dust to settle and pass by slowly.  If there are people walking do not dust them as well.  Slow down.  No one wants to be coughing on the dust long after you leave the area.   

REMINDERS:  DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE

                         DO NOT DRIVE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS

                         DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN & PETS IN CARS (especially in the heat)

                         DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE 

                         DO NOT TALK ON THE CELL AND DRIVE

                         WEAR YOUR SEATBELT

                         BE ALERT WHILE DRIVING

                        

The Worst Fourth of the North (Twice)

     The year was 2008.  The nation was celebrating its Independence Day.  Parades and festivals were going on across the country.  We decided to take the kids to Lake City for its "Greatest Fourth Of The North" fireworks that night.  We have seen the advertisments many times over on the TV, radio and newspapers and wanted to check it out. 

     We drove north to Lake City.  The small country town was wake with activity.  People were strolling along the sidewalks nibbling on ice cream.  New couples were holding hands as if they were the only ones on Earth.  Dogs on leashes were sniffing every passer-byer.  A band was playing in the distance.  Families were swimming at the beach.  It was a Norman Rockwell moment.  We parked several blocks north of the festivities.  I was over 8 months pregnant and we had 5 excited kids in tow.  The walk was uncomfortable but I was determined.  It was going to be a great night.

     We strolled by the Dairy Queen and stopped in for a bite.  The line was stretched out past the doors and far into the parking lot.  It was hot but it was fun soaking in the sites of people hurring by and cars trying to make it to its destinations.  Afterwards we took our ice creams and walked along to see the vendors and came upon the band.  Songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's filled the air.  They were good and fun to listen to.

     Next to the band was an open grassy area that led out to Lake Missaukee.  People were dotted along the field on their blankets and chairs awaiting for the fireworks to begin.  We found a spot that looked good and placed our blanket down.  The kids were occupied with some toys I brought from home.  All was going good.  The night was setting and kids were anxiously asking if it was time yet.  "Soon", we would tell them.  Out across the lake homes were letting off smaller fireworks.  It was nice and somewhat entertaining.  Then we heard loud booms.

     We knew the fireworks were starting.  Peoples eyes were on the sky.  We could hear the explosions of fireworks but couldn't see any.  A few boo's echoed in the crowd.  Finally, to the south, the top of fireworks peeked over the buildings.  Again and again we would see just the top sparks for an exploding firework.  We assumed they were going to light them off from the lake and not from the side.  Store buildings towered over the grassy seating area.  More boo's and complaints filled the air.  Some people grabbed their blankets, coolers and kids and quickly headed south to find a spot to see the show.  We thought about it but instead headed back to the car unhappily.  We didn't want to go further away from the car, with me feeling the effects of being 8 months pregnant plus little kids and trying to make it back to our car in the dark.  We didn't want to take the chance of an accident happening.  That was the end of the firworks for that year.

     A whole year went by.  Advertising for the "Greatest Fourth in the North" was sweeping the papers once again.  In one newspaper there was an apology from the city counsel about the location of the fireworks and they had a lot of complaints from the location so they declared to have the fireworks go off from a boat in the middle of Lake Missaukee so all could view them.  We decided to give it another try. 

     We loaded up the van, this time, 6 children in tow off to see the firework show.  We parked in the same area, stood in the same line for ice cream at the Dairy Queen, and heard the same sweet tunes of a band playing.  We even took our place in the same grassy field as the year before.  We were excited this year.  We brought sparklers to keep the kids happy during the dusk hours.  They enjoyed it.  The night started growing darker and darker.  The 10 O'clock hour struck.  The fireworks should be beginning shortly.  Nothing happened.  Other families in the area had fountain fireworks and people near by ooooh'ed and ahhh'ed over them to pass the time.  Thirty minutes pass.  Still nothing.  Young children in the distance started getting tired and cranky.  Even our children were getting annoyed at the darkness in the sky without fireworks exploding to entertain them.  



Ashton(8), Elizabeth (11), Christian (12), James (6), Halvor (almost 4) and Levi (almost 1) 2009.



     Families were starting to pack up and head for home.  Brian and I started laughing at the funny odds of having two bad experiences with fireworks from the same town.  Our children were starting to get restless and tired.  More and more families were leaving.  Rumors were circulating that they couldn't find the pyro-tech guy or they forgot to bring something to light the fireworks out on the boat.  Eleven O'Clock roamed around and we decided that it was our turn to pack up our things and leave.  The crowd was thinned out by the families that already left.  Again, with unhappy children we made our trek back to the van and headed home. 

     As another year passed by the kids were starting to enjoy the hope of fireworks and the failure of them not happening at Lake City.  They wanted to go back and see what kind of disaster would happen that year.  We decided to opt out and keep it local instead.  We haven't been back there since.  My sister even called earlier today as I was starting to write this blog and asked if I ever been there.  I gave her my experience and told her if she wanted to take her family to experience it that I wish her the best of luck.  

     Moments like that cannot be planned but it is moments like that that become memorable.