My 4th

July 9th, 2008 · No Comments

I spent the 4th of July with friends and family back in Ohio and on Pelee Island on the Canadian side of Lake Erie.

I left Memphis Wednesday night, was supposed to switch planes in Detroit and then get into Akron/Canton. Unlike my brother, for whom traveling is almost always filled with surprises of the negative sort, things often work out in my favor when I travel and this was no exception. Instead of landing in Detroit, adverse weather forced us to land in Columbus where I was able to get off the plane affording me the opportunity to see my friends Ryan and Heather (6ish months pregnant with twins).

Then, my friend Pam drove me 1/2 way up to Canton while my friends Jay and Clay drove 1/2 way down to pick me up.

I spent Thursday in Canton trying to soak up as much time with my community of friends and former students as I possibly could.

Babs and I had breakfast at John’s Bar and Grille where we happened to see a former professor of mine, John Geib. Then, we went over to hang out with Caris and JJ - 2 of my favorite kids in the world.

Josh came down to visit me at Muggswigz that afternoon, then Lauren joined us. The thee of us went to visit Lauren’s sister Olivia at work where I received my typical huge-and-excited Olivia hug - always a treat!

A number of us went out for dinner together and then caught Hancock later in the evening.

I was off early in the morning to catch a plane over to Pelee Island where I spent some time my my grandma, mom, brother Alex and his girlfriend Michelle, my cousin Beth and her husband Kale, and my long-time high school bud, Kenny. Of course there were all kinds of other cottager friends who were there for the weekend - which was filled with plenty of boating, jet skiing, cards, bonfires, fireworks, and other goodness.

Ken and I tackled the 2 mile hike out to Fish Point, the southern most part of the island and a feat I have been wanting to accomplish for as long as I can remember.