Where Has This Been

Certainly a sign of changing times, but the "blog" has lost relevance. Briefly one of our primary means of communication with the family, it is now just sitting idly waiting for someone to remember. Facebook, its successor, may also be falling behind. Will I?

Prayer

Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds. And whose breath gives life to all the world. Hear me! I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes Ever hold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made and My ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand The things you might teach me. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden In every leaf and rock. I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother. But to fight my greatest enemy, myself. Make me always ready to come to you With clear hands and straight eyes. So when life fades, as the fading sunset. My spirit may come to you without shame. ~ Chief Yellow Lark, Lakota ~

Alive

Jeesh, this blog still exists too...I need to get back into this stuff...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Calvin was a cowboy for Halloween - again! He would NOT wear anything that was given to us or purchased by us for this year's festivities. But, when he saw last year's Woody costume - he had to be a cowboy. I wonder how many years this will go on for? Anyway, he's the cutest little bugger this side of the Mason/Dixon line. Rootin' Tootin! Or as he says - Tooty Tooty!!

Someone actually gave him an apple. But it as at the church my parents attend & I know the old couple that did it. He was most happy about the apple & the suckers! Mel :-)

End of An Era? No More Meijer Penny Horses?

Could it be true? One of my earliest memories is of riding the penny horses at our local (Jenison, back then) Meijer store. Either my mom or grandma would pass me a penny or two to take a ride on the electric steed which, back then, even had a leather saddle. Sometimes, a kind soul would leave a penny or two on the control box for a child to find, like a treasure, and take a free ride.

The horses changed over time, the leather went away, seat belts, some became pink, some evolved into dinosaurs (go figure), but the ride was the same; simple safe, pure. Thankfully, my son Cal had a chance to ride on the horses at our local Meijer (Grand Haven and Muskegon), I managed to capture this picture with my phone:
Well, last week we visited the store and they were gone. No dinosaur, no pinkie, and now no brownie. Friday, I spotted one in a local auto shop, bought second hand from a local contractor. Set aside like every other remnant of a simple, more pure past in a society that used to function by the penny, a simple reward. No, I am sure that Meijer will once again take up the electric ride market, since Walmart has them, but I fear they too will cost 50 cents and, in some fashion, work to market our kids with Elmo or some other trademarked character-icon. After all, we can afford it.

Shedd Aquarium

Our trip to the aquarium was a huge success. Calvin managed to stay more interested than we could have hoped. It helped that it was toddler Tuesday and they had activities for him to enjoy in a safe environment. Admittedly, Calvin is not writing his dissertation on the variability in adaptation of Amazon freshwater aquatic species (yet) and there is such a thing as enough colorful coral and fish for us laymen. Our first stop included fish AND ducks, an instant hit:
It was very fun for us to watch Cal experience all sorts of plants, corals, and animals on this trip. He also traveled like a champ, especially considering how long the train trips took us (more on that to follow). Cal was especially excited to see sharks, AKA "sharps" (an appropriate nickname, I think) and Nemo.
The activity area was found in the local waters section of the aquarium and included camping gear and live animals for the kids to touch...
...and crayons...
...and a boat...

...and buttons to push (our favorite)!
At the end of the day, Calvin crashed in the stroller as mommy and daddy hoofed to Union Station (by way of Panera Bread for refreshments and Walgreens for snacks on the train) to catch our 5:20 train departure.


PS: I was excited that the train pulled out of the station at exactly 5:20, as scheduled. Train travel the way it was intended, right? Wrong. After traveling for a mere 15 minutes we were plagued by delays as the tracks we were to ride on were under construction. At one point, the conducted used the term "are being built". Nothing like blazing fresh track on behalf Amtrak. Long story short, our 3 hour train ride took another 4 and a half hours. That's a total of over 10 hours of train travel and waiting for what should have been 6 hours of travel in either a car or a train. Better luck next time, I guess.

We Made It

What's taking so long?
On the baboose...

To Chicago By Train

1039 9/22/08

Well we are finally aboard Train 371 from Holland to Chicago. The train was supposed to leave the station at 0821 and we were plenty prompt for that, to the tune of a half hour. No good explanation yet as to why it took them so long to get to us. I was quite excited to try the train in the USA, my previous experience was in Canada (hardly) and Europe on the high-speed trains. How convenient for us to park less than 20 miles from our house to pick up the train to Chicago. The drive would take us a little more than an hour and it would have been on our schedule. Well, that is a type of patience of its own, relying on the schedule and consistency of others. So there we sat, with a toddler of little more than 2 years trying to keep him fed and occupied while we waited for the train. I was ready to board myself.

Tom just sent me a text that said, “wait until you get to Chicago and Amtrak does not own the tracks there either.” I can hardly wait. On the plus side, the ride is generally smooth and I am excited about sharing a seat with nobody (for now), Calvin and Mommy are behind me, well in front of me but I am facing to the rear of the train.

Allegan

In the Allegan State Game Area...



At Allegan Dam...
At a nearby family campground (I promised swings)...

Life

So many, too many, things in life are absorbed into the category of "regular". We are used-to cars, used-to food, we expect the sun to rise, we know that gravity will keep us firmly planted to the ground (in my case, too firmly). It becomes easy to be complacent about simple things like air, water, and life. But really, these simple things are extraordinary things, gifts from God. Like life in the absence of reason, like Calvin; the exception to what should be and has become. Today I am considering these things and I feel grateful for what God has given me; a wife, a son, a good job, a passion for my profession, a love of nature, strength, faith, and so much more. -J