I like to think summer picks up steam as July rolls into August and we aim for the grand stand of summer’s bell lap. Our skin smells like sunscreen and lake water or chlorine; our toes wriggle in the breeze. Maybe we’ve coasted a lap or two, thinking we’ll hit the beach another day. But, [...]
Many will remember the summer of 2020 for its terrible cacophony of pandemic and politics, reckoning and rage. But I am still struck by its silence, the eerie stillness of its streets, the sad spectacle of silent swimming pools and limp park swings, the mute stages and empty playing fields. That’s why, even more than [...]
We stole a slice of summer Wednesday night, which felt exactly right. With just hours of July to spare, we snuck out of the city and headed north toward tranquility. By 6 p.m. we were on the river and we let its current drift us home, to our cabin that, shockingly, I had seen just [...]
The Erb Park Pool opens today and I can't wait. I bought our pool passes months ago, on one of those sleety Midwest afternoons that makes you wonder if summer planned to skip us this year. She took her good, sweet time but summer finally made it and it was fun to watch her unpack [...]
Broadway lyrics trapped themselves in my head Sunday afternoon as we made our way to a family party in Ortonville, Michigan. This was no surprise to my veteran co-pilot Vince. The poor guy has heard me belt them all. "Ortonville sounds very Seussical," I said and then let loose with a couple of choice lines [...]