Up North

When Rob told someone he had been in Michigan over spring break, they said, "You shouldn't stay up there too long. There are Yankees up there. It's not good for you." Well, I think it was real good for him and James and Peter and all of us.

The boys had a very special time in Michigan at big sister Emily and husband Chad's place, chasing their 3 year old and making her giggle. Then playing pool and computer games, touring the big sporting goods store at the mall and eating Chinese at Stir Crazy with Stephie and Ed. Then it was across the border to Canada to get loved on by grandparents.

We all slept over at my sister and her husband's small farm where the kids helped gather eggs and learned how to catch a chicken, hold a rabbit and hug a goat. When Grandpa, my dad, who is ninety next month, asked if he and my wonderful step mother could take the boys to Point Pelee National Park, I was thrilled because I practically grew up at Point Pelee.

The morning they were to make the one hour trek to 'the point', big flakes of snow were slowly drifting down from heavy gray clouds. Not the least dissuaded, they dragged out Auntie Marnie's winter box and dug for additional gloves, hats and scarves, until everyone was warmly layered against the cold.

Off they drove as the snow fell thicker and thicker. They spent half the day at Colosanti's indoor plant farm and zoo and then drove on to see Point Pelee, the tip of which was obliterated by six or seven foot waves rolling across from the east. Freezing snow whipped across the open water and pelted their cheeks with stinging wetness. What a time of memory making, laughing, and bonding for all of them!

Back home on the farm the snow was accumulating to a perfect depth for a snowball fight, which included the boys'little Canadian niece, who laughing, peeked out of the bushes at her rowdy uncles from Mississippi washing each other's faces in snow.