The Perils of Not Checking the Oil

     It was around the fall of 1995 when Brian purchased an Eddie Bauer, 2 door, Ford Bronco II, navy blue with cream trim. It even had a sunroof with it.  He bought it after his older pick-up truck, that we called Big Blue, went out.  He had to take a loan out for it and he was nervous on doing so because he never had a loan from a bank before.  He looked at the sales man who wanted to offer us a 2 year loan contract and Brian said, "Two years?  I don't know if I can make a commitment that long!"  He said that meaning more of where the economy might be in two years and where he would be financially. 

     I looked at him wide-eyed, "You CAN'T make a two year commitment yet you want me to marry you?  At least I am finding this out now!"  We all laughed. 

     He eventually made the purchase and he was enslaved for a little over $220 a month for the next few years.  While he was out trucking over the road he let me use it at college as long as I would pick him up when he returned back home.  My mom's husband's family was having a get together at Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon.  Brian said I could use the Bronco to drive there.  While leaving the park I noticed the beige tire cover on the back was missing.  I felt horrible.  When I told Brian about it he laughed and said we could get another one and that it was no big deal,  We never did replace it.   Even now as we see a Bronco similar to what ours was we check to see if the tire cover is on theirs.

     I remember my sister and I would go shopping and we would try to fit her daughter's infant car seat in the back.  She had to hold her daughter while I had to twist the car seat around at different angles and upside down and wiggle its way to the back seat.  After I got it in the backseat I had to climb in the back myself to buckle it in.  My sister would pass her daughter over to me and I would place her in the infant car seat and buckle her in.  It really took some talent and time get the infant car seat all set up properly.   

     Fast forward several months to late summer in 1996.  I was 19 and finished off my first year at Grand Valley State University and I moved in with Brian.  We lived on the boarder line of Gobles and Allegan in Michigan.  We just found out we were expecting our first little baby in April the following year.  He was busy trucking for TML out of Grand Rapids and I worked for Family Dollar in Allegan.  Things were going good for us.

     It was a Sunday when the unthinkable happened.   I had my friend Rhonda over and we were watching Scott (Brian's brother's son) who was around 11 or 12 at the time.  Brian called from a payphone to tell me that he was on his way to Grand Rapids and to come and pick him up from the TML terminal.  I was so excited.  It was a week since I had seen him last.  We all piled into the Bronco and made our way north to Grand Rapids. 

     We were having a good ol' time of singing to the radio songs and driving north on U.S. 131 coming near the Cutlerville area when the Bronco started to shake real bad and make loud noises.  I reached over and shut off the radio so I can hear the sounds better.  The steering wheel wobbled heavily in my hand.  Something was seriously wrong.  A rest area was just coming up on our right (the rest area has now been torn down for the construction of M-6).  I managed to work the wheel to pull into there and find a parking spot. 

     We all get out and I lift the hood and look into the engine.  I had no idea what I was looking at.  The parts I was looking at were dark and dirty looking.  I didn't know what to do.  Rhonda and Scott were just clueless at what was going on.  I knew something wasn't right and that I shouldn't be driving it.  Even if I could drive it the Bronco was nearly impossible to control.  I was so close to Grand Rapids yet too far to tempt to drive it or to walk.  We were stuck there at the rest area. 

     I go over to the pay phones and called my sister.  I was running low on coins so I had to be specific and brief in what I said.  I told her the Bronco broke down and that she needed to have her husband Doug drive out to where Brian worked, pick him up and tell him we are broke down.  The downside was that they didn't know exactly where Brian's terminal was and I didn't know the street names to tell her.  I just remembered the route by going with Brian several times before.   The task couldn't be done.

     We went back to the Bronco and stared at the engine as if by magic it would fix itself and remove us from this horrible situation.  A middle aged man nearby was going through the garbage bins looking for soda bottles.  He noticed our drama and started to make his way towards us.  He said he knew a little bit about cars and asked if he could help.  I figured it couldn't hurt any if he looked at it.  I motioned for him to take a glance.  He started to twist off caps and pull some sort of measuring sticks out of the engine. 

     I just wanted to take this moment to explain my background knowledge of cars.  The only thing I knew about cars was put the key in the ignition, how to put in gas, mover the shifter bar to drive and reverse, how to break, how to press on the gas pedal, how to use my blinker, how to turn on the lights, how to use my wipers and how to turn on the radio.  Outside of my little circle of knowledge about cars I knew nothing.  I was completely ignorant.  I didn't care to learn about it.  I just want a car to go from point A to point B.  I had no interest in the mechanics of how it worked. 
    
     The man looks up with a grim look on his face.  "Your dipstick is dry."

     I look at him blankly, "and that means....."

     He shot me a glace to see if I seriously didn't know or if I was being sarcastic.  "You are without oil.  Do you have any on you?"

     I still didn't know what to think.  I told him I didn't have any on me.  I couldn't even tell anyone where to pick any up at.  He said he would see if he had any in his car.  I walked over with him and he had a son about 8 or 9 years old in the old rundown car.  I felt bad for him and his misfortune but ironically he was the one who seemed to feel bad for me and expressed concern.  He fumbled through his trunk and pulled out a few black bottles.  He tried to add it to the Bronco.  He asked for me to start it up and it sounded loud and shook violently.  He immediately told me to shut it off. 

     "I think you have blown a rod."  Again I give him a blank look as I have no clue to what he is talking about, "Do you have far to go?" 

     "I am on my way to pick up my boyfriend.  He's a truck driver."  I reply back.

     "How about if I give you all a ride to him?"  he asks.

     I look over at Rhonda and Scott.  I didn't know what to do.  I know we are not supposed to take rides from strangers.  His car looked like it was ready to fall apart as it is and we just seen him go through the garbage.  Do we dare go with him?  I know if bad things happen Rhonda and I are old enough to take care of ourselves but I had my nephew to think about.  It wasn't just my life I was putting at risk if I took the offer for a ride, it was another person's life.  On the other hand I couldn't just stay there with everyone either.  I said a little prayer of protection from God.  "Alright." I said.

     Before we left I called my sister one last time to let her know I was getting a ride to Brian's work.  She thought I was crazy for getting a ride but I felt as if I didn't have a choice. 

     We proceeded our way north down the highway.  Rhonda and Scott sat in the back along with his son.  I felt secure keeping my hand on the door's handle.  I found myself concentrating to keep breathing.  I was so scared.   I kept looking back at Scott and Rhonda making sure they were okay.  The man obeyed every direction I gave him.  I started to feel relieved that he was truly going to take us to Brian's work and not kidnap us.  I was very thankful when he turned into the trucking terminal and Brian was there waiting for us. 

     He talked with the man about the condition of the Bronco.  It all seemed like doctor's jargon - a language only they can understand.  All of it seemed so foreign to me.  Shortly, the man and his son left.  Brian told us that TML granted us permission to take the semi home and we should hop in.  Rhonda and Scott were excited about getting into the semi truck.  I had already been in a semi before and I do enjoy the rides.  But I knew Brian was upset and I wasn't going to enjoy this ride home. 

     He asked me why I didn't check the oil.  I told him I never knew I had to check the oil.  I also told him I never knew how or where to check the oil.   He grew up working around cars and trucks so for him it was all second nature.  He didn't understand how I didn't know.  He explained to me that oil is like the car's blood and without it a car cannot run.  I still didn't understand the depths of it all.  I kept thinking just add more oil and it will be okay.  But Brian further explained that by not having oil in the Bronco it kills the engine and the whole engine would need to be replaced which is very expensive.  We still owed on the Bronco and we couldn't even use it.  Now I was starting to see how major of a deal this whole thing was.  I felt beyond horrible. 

     He made his way around Grand Rapids so we could head back to the rest stop.  He looks the Bronco over and declares that the engine is blown.  He wasn't happy to say the least and I don't blame him for being mad.  It was silent for a moment as we made our way back home.  Rhonda, sitting on the bed in the bunk, broke the silence to ask Brian a bunch of questions about the trucking industry.  It sort of calmed him down talking about it. 

     We did make it back home and eventually purchased another vehicle from the side of the road and that is a whole other blog in itself.   The Bronco wouldn't of made a good use for a family vehicle anyway but I would of rather tried selling it rather than having the motor blow out on it.  Now I am a little wiser in checking the oil and learning where to take the car for oil changes.  It was an expensive lessoned learned. 

Just Say No Rally

Nancy Reagan promoting
Just Say No

     Lately it has been a tradition for a president's wife to take up a campain or promote an awareness while her husband is leading our country.  Barabara Bush supported literacy, Pat Nixon highlighted volunteering, Betty Ford was for women's rights and our current First Lady, Michelle Obama advocates for childhood obesity.  Since I grew up in the 1980's we heard a lot about Nancy Reagan's campain against drugs with her slogan "Just Say No!" 

    

    

Every time you turned on a television set there would be an anti-drug commercial. 

                                                  One that would focus on the parent:

One that would focus on the teens:

And one that focused on everyone

and pretty much a favorite:

These commercials, and a few others, were drilled into our heads in between our favorite shows and MTV music video's.  Schools pumped into our brains the risks and dangers of using drugs and tobacco.  Everyone knew the phrase "Just Say No".

     It was the spring of 1988.  I was 11 years old and in the 6th grade at St. Thomas Aquinas.  I was the only kid in my neighborhood that went to a private school.  The local public school, Weiss Elementary, was planning to participate in a "Just Say No Rally" on Ojibway Island in Sagianw.  My best friend Sara asked her teacher if I could come with them to participate in the rally.  The teacher gave me the okay to attend as along as my mom signed the permission slip, which she did. 

     We boarded the yellow Saginaw Township Bus and made our way into downtown Saginaw for a brief march.  The bus dropped us off at Hoyt Park on Washtington Ave.  Different school gathered in their groups to line up for the march to Objibway Island.  Green Balloons and white T-shirts with the phrase "Just Say No" were handed out and each school made up their own banner.   We had to think of a cheer to yell out as we marched south onto Ezra Rust Dr (Court St after you cross over the Saginaw River) and entered the island.   The chant we came up with was "JUST SAY NO - NO!"  We repeated it over and over.  One school a head of us had a little ditty with a side step and a spin to their marching chant.  I guess we weren't that creative. 

From L. to R:  Tammy V., Me, Danny F., Sarah B.
and in front my best friend Sara W.

On our march from L. to R.  Sara W., Kelly, unknown, unknown (Matt I think his name was), unknown

     We finally arrived on the island and made our way to the north side where a bandstand was set up for motivational speakers and local bands to play.  We found our wooden steak pushed into the ground with a sign on it saying Weiss Elementary School for our group to be located at.  We danced, sang, and listened to the speakers.  It was a fun time.  A lot of media showed up like WNEM TV News 5 and a popular radio station WIOG 102.5 with their giant jambox.  We were briefly shown on the news marching down the street and we all felt like we were celebrities being shown on TV.   

On Ojibway Island, stage is on the right side of the pic

WIOG 102.5 Giant Jambox - a popular gimmick among the younger crowd.

     Nancy Reagan's effort to promote the hazzards of drug abuse still linger on today.  Most people who were around in that time era of the 1980's remember the phrase well - "Just Say No".

An Interest In Genealogy

     As a young child I have always been interested in history.  I am not sure how that interest arose in me.  My mom never really was interested in the past nor were my sibilings.  Sometimes when I was little I would daydream about who, in the past, walked the same earthly grounds as I was walking.  Who would walk the same grounds after me?  We are only here on the Earth a short time.  Is it important to find out where we came from to let future generations know how they came to be?  I believe so.  We are only a small link in the chain of time from the past generations linking together the future generations. 

     My mother's mother (Nonnie is what we called her) used to have a Family Bible.  I am not sure if she bought it on her own to put newspaper clippings in or if her mother bought it for the same reason.  However she came to have the Family Bible wasn't important.  I just knew it wasn't that old.  But what it contained was the real treasure.  I remember going over to her apartment and thumbing through the newspaper clippings and reading old obituaries of distant relatives.  There was even a picture of a young girl who was probably a year or two older than me.  I asked Nonnie about this girl.  She would tell me she was related and that she died of leukemia.  Nonnie added on that due to chemotherapy she lost her hair.  She finished treatment and her hair finally started growing back and that picture was when her hair was somewhat long enough to look feminine even though it was still on the short side.  I would look at that picture and feel sad for her that she had to battle cancer at a young age and die.  I was still at the age where I pictured my Nonnie and Grandpa being one - having one family and not coming from their own families.  Being of a young age I was ignorant of the type of questions I needed to ask.  Sadly, Nonnie and Grandpa passed away before I became knowledgeable in the type of questions I needed to ask. 

     In that Family Bible a newspaper clipping caught my attention.  It was about a Levi or Lester Holbrook.  It was a good half page article about him.  I am trying to remember it now but it was an article celebrating a milemarker birthday and the things he has lived through.  That article has been misplaced through time but that was the key ingredient which started my journey on the family tree.  I remember it talked about either him or his dad fighting in the Civil War.  I remember he mentioned about the first house he had with his wife and how cold the winters were.  Snow would come in through the roof and in the morning him and his wife had to shake off the snow from their blankets.  They kept chickens in the crawl space between the ground and the floor.  I couldn't imagine having to live like that.  But people did back then.  But the name Holbrook stuck in my mind.  Who were the Holbrooks and how where they related? 

     I must of been 11 or 12 when I started my search.  Back then I didn't have the aid of computers like we do today.  The only way I could search was to ask family or go to the library.  The only family that was around was my great Aunt Elaine (Nonnie's sister who lived nearby where Nonnie and Grandpa used to live).  But I still didn't properly know what question's to ask.  I did make a list of questions about what school she went to, did she use horse and buggy (she laughed at that question) and if anything interesting happen in her life.  I should of asked her more about people, places and dates but I was still learning.  My great Aunt Elaine did tell me she was a journalist for the school newspaper and she got to interview Amelia Earhart when she came to Michigan.  How interesting that would of been!

     I dabbled on and off with the family tree during my adolescence.  I would go to the Hoyt Library, which is known for it's genealogy collection, and find information and take notes.  Sometimes years would pass before I would begin my search again on the family tree.  Each time I started to research my line I would pick up new information and clues as to who the Holbrook's were.  I finally discovered Holbrook was my grandfather's mother's maiden name.  I was so excited when I made that connection.  You would of thought I won the lottery by the way I was dancing around with merriment. 

My son Levi is named after the man sitting in this picture - Levi Holbrook (1859-1955)
His wife is Cynthia Jane (Burpo). 
My great grandmother, Opal Holbrook, is standing in front of her mom, Cynthia, just to the left of her dad.

     I seriously took another dive into family trees after I was married with children.  This time computers and the internet was well in use.  I bought a membership to Ancestry.com (you do not need a membership to get started if interested in doing a family tree of your own) and transerfer my written notes to the computer.  I would look at census records and find sibilings, where they lived, where they were from, etc.  I purchased birth and death certificates to aid in my search.  I even requested transcripts from Nonnie's old school and I was able to get a copy of it.  I was having a hayday finding out more and more information.

     Along my search I came in contact with my great Aunt Elaine's daughter who was also working on the family tree.  She shared so much information with me and I shared pictures I had of her and stories I knew.  She had notes back to a person from 1810 in Canada.  She also discovered that through marriage we were related to the Zehnder family.  Zehnder's is a very popular restaurant in Frankenmuth, Michigan famous for their chicken dinners. 

     On my mother's father's side I was able to trace it currently back to 1763.  I have been searching Revolutionary War records and I may have found that someone in the family fought for the Loyalist (The British) but I am still trying to confirm it.  That family really moved about from North Carolina to Kentucky to Illinois and finally to Michigan. 

     My dad's side came across Ellis Island in 1906 from Germany.  With the use of the computer I was able to discover what ship she was on and to see a picture of the ship.  We even had someone stay at the Ellis Island Hospital because she came down with the chicken pox and wasn't allowed entry into the US until she was cured. 

The Ship Patricia in 1909
 This is the ship my great grandmother rode
 on when she came to the United States.

     My husband and I started to work on his side of the family tree.  On our own we discoved that his roots started  in 1869 when an ancestor came from Norway.  We, too, came across a cousin who was also working hard with that line of the family tree and we exchanged notes from her.  She has gone far back in the line to 1570 in Norway and found we were related to the last nobleman of Semelenge in Norway.  In other words we were relaed to one of the old Viking Kings of Norway.


After Lars died in 1867 his wife, Anne, immigrated from Norway to North Dakota in 1869.



My son Halvor was named after Halvor Stensland,
son of Lars and Anne Stensland.
He was about 16 years old when he came to the US.
Halvor (1853-1922) is in the front row second from the right.



     You never know who you may run into while working on a family tree or what stories you may discover.  These stories, dates, and people are now going to be passed down to my children and to their children in case they every wonder how they came to be.  

     A family tree is never really finished.  People are born, people get married and people died.  It is forever changing.  New names and dates of events are constantly being added.   If you know the history around the time the ancestors were living you can get a bigger picture of their lives. 

Traveling Family Car Games

     I look at ads for new cars today and most all of them boast about tv's in the back to keep the younger children quiet.  The commercial shows young children happily sitting in the back, with ear phones plugged into their ears, as they sit and stare at a screen that is built into the back of the front seat of the car, each watching a show of their own.  Mom and dad are in the front seat listening to music from their own generation.  On the commercial it all looks great and quiet but one thing is lacking.  Quality family time. 

     While the children's brain's are turning into a pool of mushy goo by over watching SpongeBob SquarePants and another Justin Bieber music video, they are missing out on the opportunities of what is around them outside of the car.  A city kid may miss out on seeing a deer or a cow as they drive through the rural areas.  A country kid may miss out on seeing the lights and sounds of a big city that they are traveling through.  Perhaps there is some rich history that the parents could tell the children about the area.  This is all part of taking a car ride, to be with one another and to enjoy each other's company. 

     In long car rides my sister, brother, and I would find ways to occupy our time.  We didn't have tv's in our car.  We only had each other for entertainment.  Below I am going to list some of the things we did to help entertain ourselves in the car.  Some are widely known and other's we made up.  Perhaps you have a game that you remember playing in the car with your family when you were little.  Remember how much fun it was to pass the time?  Why not pass those fun moments onto your family?

1. Mad Libs:  Every child loves adding words to create a funny story.  These can be printable right off the computer or bought at a variety of stores.  Not only is the outcome of the story funny but it helps a child learn their parts of speech when they have to think of a noun, verb, adverb, or adjective.  Have mom think of a word, then a sibiling, then dad.  When you get different people thinking of different words the story could get very creative.  
2. Letter Game:  Have a person pick a letter from the alphabet.  Have another person be a writer or have a really good memory.  In a circular motion everyone has to say a word that starts with that letter and see how many words you can think of.  For instance, if the letter is "C" mom might start off saying "Carrot".  One child might say "Cake" and another child might say "California" and dad might say "Carborator".  The writer would have to write down every word so no one repeats a word.  If someone does repeat they get a strike.  If you cannot think of a word you also get a strike.  Setting a timer is optional for how long it should take someone to guess a word.  After 3 strikes a person is out.  At the end it is fun to see how many words can be known with a certain letter.  This game helps a child build up vocabulary.  Some words they may not know and want to know the defination of it.  It can also help with spelling.  If the letter is "T" and a child says "Pterodactyl" a parent can explain about silent letters and "Pterodactyl" actually starts with a P.  
3. Billboard Alphabet Game:  The object is, as a family, to get through the entire alphabet by looking at the billboards or license plates of other cars.  If there is a billboard of McDonald's then you shout out "A" for McDonAlds.  Then perhaps passing you is a car with the license plate QBX 620 a person would shout out "B".  "C" could be from a sign that says "Bridge May Be ICy".  See if you can get through the whole alphabet before reaching your destination.  Those traveling through a city will do the alphabet much quicker than those out in the rural areas.  You can add some excitment to it by seeing how many miles it takes to get through the entire alphabet.  Just remember the mile marker you are passing when you start and subtract it from the mile marker from when you are finished or set the odometer.  Play the game again and see if you can do the whole alphabet in less milage.  WARNING:  The driver can particpate but make sure the driver doesn't get too distracted looking around.  It may cause an accident. 
4. Roadside Tally:  See how many things you find along your trip.  This was a game my sister and I made up.  Some of the things we would put on our list is "Tire Monster" which is huge broken piece of tire, "smooshed unknowns"  which is a dead animal that cannot be indentified.  Each dead animal that could be indentified had its own category.  Live animal's also had their own category.  Sometimes Adopt-A-Highway would leave their garbage bags on the side of the highway waiting for someone to pick up the bags.  We would call it "Trash Monsters".  "Cars on the side of the road" would have it's own category.  "Hitchhiker" would be another category.  Everytime we passed something in the category we would make a slash mark under it.  We would often go from Saginaw, Michigan to Houghton Lake, Michigan and we would find around 4 "smooshed unknown's", maybe 2 "Cars on the side of the road" and maybe a few "Out of State" plates.  The fun part is that you create your own categories.  You can just do types of cars or different semi trucks you see along the route.  This game helps a child to look around the world around them.  They may catch a deer coming out of the woods or something they may not have noticed while staring at a tv screen.  It may also help them be conscience of the world around them and not to pollute if there is too much trash or debris around.  
5. Going On A Picnic:  This is another alphabet game.  One person starts off saying, "I am going to a picnic and I am going to bring an Apple."  The next person would say, "I am going to a picnic and I am going to bring an Apple and a Ball."  The third person will have to say, "I am going to a picnic and I am going to bring and Apple, a Ball and a Cat."  Go through the whole alphebet, repeating the long list as you go.  See how much you can remember and see if you can do this.  This game helps spark creativity in what to bring to a picnic.  It also helps with memory recognition as they recall all the things that are being brought to the picnic.  You can expand the game from here with doing just foods, book or movie titles, colors, people's names, etc.  
6. A Pad Of Paper and A Pen:   Many things can be done between a few people, a pad of paper and a pen.  Instead of listing them seperately I decided to list them together.  You can play Tic Tac Toe, Dots, Hangman, or Pictionary (Draw a picture and have the other person guess what it is).  Another game is a story game.  It is good with 3 or more players.  The first player writes down a sentence.  The next player, after reading that sentence, writes a sentence of their own.  Before passing the paper to the third person the second person folds over what the first person wrote.  The third person can only read what the second person wrote.  They have to write a sentence.  It goes on and on until someone ends the story.  Each time it is passed to the next person the paper gets folded down more and more.  The person after the last person wrote, when the story is done, unfolds the paper and reads the whole story.  It can get wacky and crazy so prepare for some laughs.  Another game with paper and a pen is for one person to say 5 animals names.  The next person has to draw a crazy creature using the 5 animal names.  Take turns and see what unique creatures you can create. 
7. Who Can Say 20 First:   The goal is to get your opponet to say 20 first.  A person can only say one or two numbers at a time.  It helps a person strategize a game in how to make the other person say 20 first.  It greatly develops their thinking skills and for younger children their counting skills.  
8. Books:   A book is not a game but it can be turned into one.  If two people have the same book, let's say a Bible, see who can find Psalms 90 first or who can find the book of Jeremiah first.  Maybe someone reads a paragraph out of a book or a full page.  Then the other person has to make up the rest of the story.  Again, this uses the imagination and creativity in their thinking.  It lets children know that there can be different options to ending a book.  
9. The Other Car:   Look into a car that is passing you or you are passing.  Talk about that car.  Where do you think they are going?  Are they on vacation or running errands?  Are there pets in the car?  What kind of pet would this person in the other car own?  Are they talking on the phone or singing to music?  If you wave hi at them would they wave back?  In playing this game remember to be polite.  Don't make silly faces or give them the bird.  Keeps the comments positive and up beat.  It shows the children to think positively about other people and it helps them wonder.  
10. Trivia Games:   You can buy packs of trivia cards for all ages at any big box store like Meijer's, WalMart or KMart.  I am sure some truck stops may even sell small packs of trivia cards.  If dad is driving then mom can read off the cards.  She can ask a question to see who knows it or direct it to certain people.  You can keep points and see who reaches 20 first or just have fun and pass the time.  Everyone can learn from bits of trivia they hear and sometimes kids can suprise themselves with things they remember from school.  Just don't make it too hard for the children's age group.   

     Those long car trips do not have to be torture for you and everyone in the car.  Use this time for conversation and getting to know each other better.  Getting there is half the fun of the whole trip and it is with these memories that the children will remember.               

Thoughts On Independence Day

     In the next few days many people will be enjoying cooking out on the grill, perhaps some swimming and enjoying time with family and friends.  Groups will gather around to watch parades and then see the fireworks blast off at night.  If a brief moment of your time I just want you to reflect on a few thoughts on the meaning behind this fun summer holiday.  Why are you celebrating this day?  What event caused the nation, on this day, to celebrate?  If you struggle to find the answer then please continue reading. 

     Revolutionary War was a form of a Civil War.  Think back to colonial days in our nation's history.  We were a branch off of England.  The land we claimed and took was for England.  We named cities and towns after some of the noble people of England.  Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth, Charles Town after King Charles II and New York after the Duke of York who gained control of the land in the 17th century.  We were proud to be part of England. 

     Then the tides started to turn.  Due to a variety of reasons (laws, land, taxes, not having a voice in England) we wanted to break away and have a country of our own.  The Continental Congress sat down and wrote out the Declaration of Independence.  Just as it sounds, it was to declare our independence from England.   We were saying enough is enough and taking a stand against the country we were apart of.   King George was unfit to rule our country. 

     Fifty-Six delegates from the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia and signed the declaration.  It wasn't
until August that most of the men signed the historical document. The last signature was placed on it in November.  The document was approved on July 4.  However, signing this was not as easy as it sounds.  These people were standing up to the king and saying that they don't want him to rule America anymore.  They wanted to have a country of their own.  In other words, they were committing treason.  Treason, back then, could have a person hanged and these men knew it.  They were risking their lives in something they believed so strongly in.  They were not thinking of themselves.  They had the whole nation in mind as well as future generations. 

     As leader of Congress at the time, Hancock was the first to sign.  When John Hancock got around to signing the document he did so very boldly.  His signature was similar to sticking his middle finger at King George or mooning England.  He wanted them to know that he was declaring our freedom from them.  The others were supposed to sign the same way, or so Hancock thought, but they did not. 

     Signing this treasonous document was not easy.  Five men were captured and tortured.  Many signers homes were vandalized and burned to the ground.  Families had to keep moving to keep themselves safe.  They did us this for the good of the country.  They were willing to risk their lives for our freedom.  Would you sign a document if you knew you could be arrested for treason and hanged?  I don't think many would.

     Now back in this time not everyone was for the revolution.  One-third was for starting our new country, one-third wanted to stay loyal to England and one-third didn't care one way or another.  They just wanted to farm or sell their goods and live their happy lives. 

     And the war starts....

     It doesn't end until October 1781. 

     If we didn't win we would still be under the rule of England.  We would not have an Independence Day to celebrate.  It makes a person thankful for our militia and our inner strength to see the cause through. 

     Knowing now that we won the war it is hard to say who would be a patriot, who would stay loyal or who would just not care.  I am sure all of us would say we would be patriots and defend our nation.  I hope to believe it is like that today, that we would take a stand and defend our country. 

     Now with that insight on why we celebrate Independence Day (or July Fourth) I hope you appreciate the risk and sacrifice our forefathers had to take so we can barbecue and enjoy fireworks at night.  MAY GOD BLESS OUR NATION!!!!

  
    

Encounter At The Pub

Encounter At The Pub

   It was late in the evening.  Mary was working at the local tavern serving people their food and drinks and clearing off the table.  The country is on a tangent about whether to split away from England and to start a new country of its own or if we should stay under the rule of King George.  People don’t care what her thoughts are since she is a woman but she is very much interested in what happens to the country.  She is able to pick up tidbits of what is happening from the local customers, many of whom work for the government.  They don’t know or don’t realize that as they speak she is listening to their conversations about the turmoil our nation is facing.  To them, she is just another bar wench. 

     The large wooden door opens.  They all stop to gaze at who is entering the tavern.  It was a well-known patriot Ben Franklin and his beloved son, William.  They come in here quite often to discuss politics.  They remove their overcoats and place them on a hook on the wall.  Ben gives a wave to others he knows sitting down already enjoying their spirits.  Ben and William walk over to another group of people and give a handshake and a pat on the back as they greet one another and engage in some small talk.

     “No.  William and I have a few things to discuss this evening so we will be sitting alone this evening.  Thanks for the offer.”  Ben says to one of his colleagues.  He nods a goodbye and motions to William over to a table by the window.  The candle on the table reflects their portrait on the glass window. 

     Mary pours them their regular ale and heads over to their table.  “Good evening, gentlemen.  I hope I find you in good health.” 

     “Ah, Mary.”  Ben greets Mary first, “You are looking lovelier each time I come in here.”  He smiles broadly at her. 

     “Oh, that is because your eyesight if failing you again.”  Mary jest with him.  She glance over at William.  “Hello William.”  She gives him a flirtatious smile.  Years ago they had a brief affair but she never stopped having feelings for him.  His career and marriage to Elizabeth took him to another direction of being Royal Governor of New Jersey.  How mary envied Elizabeth’s position in his life.  That should have been me, she thought to herself. 

     He eyed her petite little figure in her dress that enhanced her bosom.  You can tell by the look in his eyes that he was reflecting on those nights with her long ago.  “Hello, Mary,” he whispers back to her. 

     “Mary,” Ben interrupts their gaze, “Will and I need to discuss some things privately.  We will not be eating anything tonight. “    Mary turns to Ben, smiles and nods to him and walks back to the bar.   Little did they know that Mary was listening intently to their conversation.  They have been in there a few times before arguing between staying loyal to England or taking a risk and starting a new country.

     “Dad, “William speaks up, “How many times must we go through this?”  He pleads, “We need to stay loyal to King George.  America does not have a strong enough economy, military or any other means for America to stay afloat on its own.  England has been good to us.  This is our way of life.”

     “I thought so too, son, until I seen the light.  We have no say here, in America.  England is on the other side of the world.  They don’t care what happens to us over here.  Don’t you understand?  They want to tax us for THEIR own good, NOT OURS! “ Ben’s fists hit the table rattling the glasses.  He quickly regains his composure.  “England has been good to us when we needed them.  But how can they tell us what to do when they are so far away.  They don’t know how we had to have dealt with the settler’s and the fights with the Indian’s.  We cannot trade freely who we want to trade with!  We can only trade with who King George says we trade with.  That is not fair to those who are trying to make a living by buying and selling.  We need fairness in our country!”

     “Don’t you see? They HAVE to tax us.  How else are they going to pay for the soldier’s coming in to protect us from those darn farmers creating havoc in the streets, burning down homes that people worked so hard to build and all their belonging turned to rubbish?!  It is THOSE farmers and bar hoppers that are burning effigies of our FRIENDS out in the street!  Our country could be a peaceful country if they abide by the laws of England!”  William voice starts to rise.

     “THOSE people,” Ben snaps back, “are standing up for your freedom in which you are quick to deny.  They are there to stand up for what is right for our country.  There is no one forcing them to do what they do.  They do it because they BELIEVE in a freer way of life.  They do it for the potential of a greater nation.” 

     “These people, Dad, are just common everyday men.  They know little of what it takes to run a country.  The country cannot provide for itself naturally.  Rules have to be set into place.  Laws have to be made.  This is not all free.  Someone will eventually have to pay for it and it can only be done through taxes.  Did you hear me?  TAXES!  The same argument that these farmers are fighting for will still have to give their money over to the government, whether it be England or America.”

     Rain starts to tap on the window.  They stare at the window for a moment in silence.  Their thoughts are running madly through their minds.  They have always enjoyed each other’s company but the stress of the nation is tearing their closeness apart.  There is a pain residing deep in their hearts but hopeful that the other person will see their point of view and join in their cause.  Their attention is distracted by Mary who started wiping up a table across from them.  She smiled kindly at them as she uses her wash rag to wipe a few crumbs off the table and into her hand.  They nod and smile back at her.  Little did they know that she was trying to get closer to hear what they were talking about.

     “William, it is true that taxes are going to happen whether we are under the rule of England or not.  But if we have control then we get to say where the money goes.  Not England!  We can use the money to help build better roads and help develop new towns.  The tax money would go to US, NOT ENGLAND!”  Ben’s voice roared.

     “You don’t understand.  England is our bread and butter.  They appointed me governor of New Jersey, for crying out loud,”

     “And with MY help!”  Ben  sternly interrupted.

     “True, you did help with that but it was England who finalized it.  If I join the patriot cause England will hang me for treason.  They see fit for me to help them govern New Jersey.  If I can’t do that what will I do?  I have a family to raise and to take care of.  Speeches alone cannot feed my family.  Who is to say, if we become a new nation, that the people will want me to still govern for them?  I cannot take that risk!  It is too costly!”

     “Sometimes it is the costly risk that changes the direction of where our lives need to go.  We must unite with the patriots and take a stand against England!  I want you on our side, son.”  Ben places his hand on top of William’s.

     William quickly pulls his hand away from his father.  “Do you actually hear what you are saying?  This is treason!  TREASON!”   The other people in the bar look over.  Mary stands up and watches closely now at what is happening. “Going against your country is treason!  For everything England has done for you, dad, you are ready to turn your back on them!  How dare you!”  William bellows at his dad.

     “How dare I?  HOW DARE I?!”  Ben starts to stand up.  “You, son, have a yellow streak going down the center of your back!  If I had every taught you anything it is to take a stand for something to believe in.  It is to do what is right and not hide in your glorious comfort!  We need to take stands!  America needs us to come together as a nation and pull away from England.”  Ben’s voice started to quiver.  “If you cannot see that then you are no longer my son!”

     The whole tavern was now watching Ben and Will.  It was silent for a moment.  No one could move.  No one could speak.  Mary couldn’t believe they were both that upset with each other over this issue.  She had a look of concern on her face as she hugged her dish rag close to her.

     “You, Dad, are a Traitor.  You are a traitor to England!  When this is all over you will be charged as such!  Remember that!”  He got up, walked past his dad without saying another word and grabbed his cloak from off the wall.  He opened the heavy wooden door and the cold rain slapped him in the face as he entered out into the evening slamming the door behind him.  The tavern was still silent. 

     Ben looked down at their drinks.  How did I let this happen?  Ben thought to himself.  “Careless words.  Careless words.”  He muttered to himself.  He reached down grabbed his mug and raised it up to his lips.  His eyes came in contact with Mary and noticed her worried look.  Without removing his stare from hers he chugged down the rest of his ale.  He put down his mug and walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek and whispered to her, “It will be alright, my dear.  Don’t you worry. “   Ben reached into his pocket and paid for their tab.  He quietly walked over and grabbed his coat, tossed it over his arm and left the tavern. 

     What the people in the tavern realized they had seen was more than just a father and a son fighting.  They were seeing the personification of what is happening between England and America, with England being the father and America its son.  They realized a tension is rising fiercely among them that cannot be stopped.  Side will be taken as who is loyal and who is a patriot.  A war will be fought and lives will be lost.  At the end they all hope it will be worth it.    

The Bridge Built With Glue

1978 press photo

     If you live around the Saginaw, Midland, Bay City area of Michigan right away the title makes you think of the Zilwaukee Bridge.  This bridge is on I-75 just 5 miles north of Saginaw.  Before this bridge was built a draw bridge was used in its place.  I can remember when I was very young my Aunt Cindy was up visiting from Tulsa, Oklahoma.  She was engaged and my mom, my Aunt Joyce and I went to Bay City to look at wedding dressing or other wedding items.  I remember stopping at the draw bridge.  It might of been my first time seeing a draw bridge.  As a child is was so neat to see the road just raise up verticle to let the ships go through.  Even though I enjoyed seeing the draw bridge I never thought that I would probably never see that draw bridge again over the Saginaw River.  The Zilwaukee Bridge was built to help ease the highway congestion that the draw bridge created. 

     My grandmother's farm is set behind the Z-Bridge.  Thinking real hard I think I can still picutre going out to the farm and seeing cranes high up in the sky looming over the trees in the distance building the Z-Bridge.  Again, I didn't take too much notice to them as I was a child and busy playing but I did love the landscape out at the farm and I knew there was something huge far off in the distance that was being built. 

     Growing up I would often hear talks about the Zilwaukee Bridge.  I remember people talking about how a section of it came crashing down and rumors were spread that it was built with glue and the glue didn't hold.  I would think of the cow on the elmer's glue bottle and picture a tanker truck spreading this white sticky glue over everything. 

     Obviously, rumors are seldom true.  Back in 1982, a section sank 5 feet in the wet boggy ground while the other side of the section rose up three and a half feet.  In doing so it caused major cracking to the pier footings.  MDOT ended up firing that contractor and hiring a new one to finish up the already over budgeted project. 

     Highway I-675 was built to help route traffice around the Zilwaukee Bridge to help ease traffic from the draw bridge.  It also was helped loop traffic through the downtown Saginaw area.   

Map of where I-675 loops around I-75 to avoid the Zilwaukee Bridge

     At the end of the everything the bridge is about a mile and a half long and raises up about 125 feet above the Saginaw River.  There is epoxy that is used as joint sealant and when it hardens is stronger than concrete.  Perhaps that is where the saying of "made with glue" comes from.  After over 20 years of planning and building the bridge was finally open to the public in 1988.  Sadly, my grandfather (on my mother's side) who enjoyed keeping track of the building of the bridge died a few months before it opened.  My grandmother (also on my mother's side) vowed never to go across the bridge made with glue as she was worried it would fall. 

     That summer her health was failing quickly.  With my sister driving my mom, brother, Nonnie (that is what we called my grandmother) and I all piled into the Cadillac for a scenic drive.  Nonnie was in the front seat when she noticed a huge bridge up a head of her. 

     "MICHELLE!" she bellowed out to my mom.  "YOUR DAUGHTER IS DRIVING US OVER THE BRIDGE!" 

     We all laughed with delight as Nonnie was powerless to stop the car from going over.  I think the whole time she held on to the car door handles screaming until we got to the other side.  I will never know if she truely enjoyed it and was glad she did it or if she was glad she was on the other side.  A few months after that she, too, passed away.  I am glad of having that memory of her going over the bridge when it was newly opened.  It makes that bridge a bit more special to me.  I was 11 years old. 

     Since that time between I was 11 and 14 I had been across that bridge many times and I loved it.  I loved the part when near the top you could look over the edge if you sit up tall and see my other grandparents farm and see the barns.  I loved how being up so tall you can see forever it seemed.  I never thought twice about that bridge that is until I was 15. 

     I took driver's training through Sears Century Driving School at the Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw.  I will save my driver's ed for another blog but for my instructor everyone had to cross the Z-Bridge but it was unannounced to us.  After one day of driving around Saginaw my instructor told me to get on the highway and head north.  I was a good driver and had no problem in doing so.  Suddenly we round a corner and there stood like a huge dinosaur was the Z-Bridge.  It never seemed so big and terrifing before.  But I had never been behind the wheel before going over the Z-Bridge either.  I seen an exit right before the bridge. 

     "You want me to exit here?"  I asked the instructor as my hand was getting ready to push the turn signal upwards for the right blinker to come on.

     "Nope,"  he says calmly, "Go up and over the bridge."

     I couldn't breath.  My hands gripped tighter around the steering wheel.  I slowed down to the point where the instructor had to tell me to go a bit faster.  I wanted to shut my eyes but I couldn't.  What if Nonnie was right?  What if the bridge is built with glue?  What if another section comes crashing down below?  It seemed like forever before I came to the other side of the bridge.  After I was off the bridge it felt like I could breathe again.  My fingers relaxed around the steering wheel.  I did it!  I would tell myself over and over. 

     A year later I had moved to the other side of the state and never really had to deal with the Z-Bridge again.  I have been over that bridge a handful of times since I was 15.  When I get near that bridge as I make my way back to Sagianw my breath stops again and I can't start breathing again until I get to the other side.  My kids find it funny that I don't like that bridge.  However, if I am not driving, I still find myself sitting up a little taller to catch a glimpse of my granparents farm off in the distance. 

Aerial view of the Zilwaukee Bridge.
Courtsey of Mlive.