The Long Road Home

I returned to my home... my old stomping grounds today – Marinette WI and Menominee MI – where I had my first newspaper job out of college. Over the years, I've been back several times. But the last time I was there it was last fall for the unexpected death and funeral of my friend and former co-worker Cindy. 

Today I was there to take senior photos of her granddaughter Madison – daughter of Sara, who I've known since she was 7.

A bittersweet day in that respect. But so good to see these amazing young women again! Cindy would be so proud.

We went up to Henes Park in Menominee and then along historic 1st Street where I have a ton of memories since our newspaper office was there (and where I got hit by a car).

Also, over the years, I considered this MY lighthouse! So it was cool to be on the Menominee Pier again. Lighthouse hair, don't care!

Also got to see my and Cindy's friend and former co-worker Sally and one of her grandchildren. My heart is full! We are all still grieving but finding joy in family – and friendship – moments.

Naturally I waited until my 2 1/2 hour drive home to feel the storm of emotions – as I headed into the first of two storms on the way back to Rapids. I think this post today from my friend Gene says it best...

As tears stream down my face as I type this, I realize yes, I am so lucky. Not only for Cindy's friendship, but the next generation and generation after that of friendship, family, and love!

Treasure your friends, folks!! 

Turn Back the Clocks -- If Only

Fitting that we turn back the clocks tonight when I've been trying to turn back time all day.

Drove up to Marinette this morning for my friend Cindy's memorial service. Saw this sign as soon as I walked into the funeral home. Spot on. That's what's been going through my mind all week – treasured memories of a friendship I treasured.

Not gonna lie. It was a tough day. While it was great to see her family and my friend Sally, it was heartbreaking knowing the reason. Definitely had some body-shaking sobs left in me. That's where good hugs get you! But it feels good when someone's there to hold you up. 

At least there were some laughs in there. It was a celebration of life, after all. And what Cin would've wanted...

What a perfectly selected poem for her. We'll work on that.

After the service and my goodbyes, I went by the old newspaper office where Cindy and I first met 32 years ago. The Menominee newspaper merged with Marinette's five or so years later. So now our old office building is just a retail space of some sort.

But it holds a ton of memories, including getting hit by a car while sitting outside on a bench in front. They don't have a bench there anymore! I'm pretty sure I've shared this story before. If not, I will on a different day. But that's the time I saved Cindy's life by pushing her out of the way and taking the hit. Guess we were bonded for life after that.

Swung by my lighthouse down the street. It was cold and rainy and windy so I didn't walk all the way out. Plus I needed to get back to Rapids for a wedding for the son of hubby's cousin.

I texted Jim: "If I go straight there, I'll be late. If I stop home first to see how you're doing, I'll be really late." Even though he was on his own all day, he was fine with letting me bypass the house. Despite a super windy drive back and an unexpected detour thanks to an accident, I did manage to sit down at The Ridges in time to eat dinner with my family. Missed the wedding ceremony but was able to visit with my in-laws, nephew and his family, and plenty of other relatives on the Austin side.

It sort of brought the day full circle as far as emotions go. Quite the rollercoaster. But I'm grateful each segment of that full circle included love and at least a little laughter.

Treasure your loved ones! 

Road Worthy 2.0

On June 18th,  my "Road Worthy" blog was about a trip to Marinette that almost didn't happen because I had to do the hundreds of miles of driving by myself. I wondered if a graduation party for a friend's grandson was worth the solo road trip plus extreme price of gas. In the end, I decided to go so I could see my girlfriends of three decades: Cindy (left in photo) and Sally.

I wrote: "These friends are worth more than the price of gas! If I didn't go and something happened to one of them, I'd regret it forever."

I did not realize that day would arrive so soon. 

After taking pictures at the state cross country meet today I was heading for the shuttle bus and my phone was buzzing with a call from Sally. We don't usually call each other. We text. I knew right away something must be wrong. But never was I more shocked to hear the words "Cindy died last night." Totally unexpected. Likely a heart attack, but I don't for sure. 

I got down on one knee amidst cross country spectator traffic and just tried to process the news. I was devastated. Still am. As I've written before, she was my family up there. And I watched her beautiful children grow up like they were my family, too. Those poor broken-hearted kids! 

If you go back and read that blog you'll understand why my heart is shattered, too. And my closing statement that day still rings true. More so today than ever:

"My advice: Always take the trip. Make the time. See that person. Get that hug. Always!"

Do it!

Road Worthy

Woke up and decided to take a 336.2-mile round-trip road trip. I mean, why not? Gas is cheap, right? Honestly, although a graduation party was on my calendar for quite sometime now, I was waffling on my decision to go. Since hubby had a previous golf engagement, did I want to drive to Marinette by myself – almost 3 hours each way to spend an hour in between? And with these horrendous gas prices?

When I woke up this morning, I decided yup. These friends are worth more than the price of gas! If I didn't go and something happened to one of them, I'd regret it forever.

And it was the best decision! So very, very glad I went. I needed hugs from these almost-lifelong friends. Three decades and counting. Cindy (left), Sally and I had worked together at the daily newspaper in Menominee – my first job out of college! Cindy and her family took me into their fold and they literally were my family when I lived in Marinette – since driving home to Luck was a 6-7-hour drive so I missed some holidays. Love both these "girls" so much!

Cindy's daughter Sara was 7 when I first met her. Now she's the mother of the graduate! I've got to see her grow from a little girl to a strong young woman to an amazing mother of two!

And I've known her brother since he was born. Love my little Jacob! He's gonna be 30 this summer so yeah, somebody here is getting old!

After much-treasured hugs and visiting (3+ hours not 1), I hit the road. But not before touring around some of my old stomping grounds. Mainly the Lake Michigan waterfront wrapping around Marinette and Menominee.

This car breaks for beaked-creature pictures!

Looking across the waters of Green Bay you can see Door County in the distance! I loved that when living up there.

And I had to stop and see my lighthouse. Yes, MINE!

The memories here are classified, sorry.

Don't miss the gulls though. Their poop, that is!

Slams on brakes midair.

Dives for something.

No sure what because he surfaced empty-handed and empty-mouthed as far as I could tell.

Watching the boats – and occasionally riding one – never got old. And still doesn't.

New (to me) statue in Menominee.

And a Robyn-sized lighthouse replica that I couldn't lift to take home in my car. It wouldn't have fit!

Driving back into Wisconsin, I just felt so blessed and grateful that I decided to make the trip. These people were my family for 4 years and still are. 

My advice: Always take the trip. Make the time. See that person. Get that hug. Always!

Press Conference

Wherever two or more reporters gather, it is a press conference. Either that or a reunion 20-plus years in the making.

I'm sure you recall that the early '90s were legendary years for newspaper coverage in Marinette and Menominee (Mich.) thanks to ace reporters Laura and Kristin at the Marinette Eagle Star and me at the Menominee Herald-Leader. Today those legends returned.

I brought my 1992 Menominee Waterfront Festival t-shirt out of the archives last night. This morning my long-time friends Laura and Kristin and I met up in Green Bay (where Kristin flew in last night from her home in Seattle) and trekked up to our old stomping grounds. We were all fresh college grads when we were worked there, becoming the best of friends and making a million memories before going our separate ways more than two decades ago. I last saw Kristin in person when Carter was 1. And saw Laura last month when her daughter was playing softball in nearby Plover. This trip down Memory Lane today was a long time in the making! And it was awesome, awesome, awesome.

Our first stop was the Pine Tree Mall, where we enjoyed shopping at the Gap and I can't remember where else. Sad that the sign only shows JCPenney, which is closing in 4 days. The rest of the mall is pretty empty, but locals tell us there is about to be a comeback there. Good luck.

Even more sad is that our two favorite watering holes are now a boutique and, you guessed it, a bridal shop. What the heck. As long as we looked like a bridal party, we might as well get our photo taken by some dresses! Not sure it is just a coincidence that we leave town and the bars go out of business.

Had lunch on the waterfront at a place called the Serving Spoon. Since we are celebrities, we held a meet and greet with fans there over the lunch hour. Our guests included our friend and fellow socialite Stacey...

And former PD dispatcher "Grandpa Joe." Awesome to see them!

This stained-glass piece of art was hanging in the restaurant. I really should have bought it since I love that lighthouse! And yes, we did see it.

Toured around the marina after lunch. Forgot how windy and wavy it is off of Green Bay.

Always an assortment of impressive boats.

My lighthouse!!

They now have a pathway to make it easier to the get to the breakwall and walk out to the lighthouse.

Had some young lady take our picture. I guess I should have made it clear I wanted the whole lighthouse in the frame. Should have used our selfie stick!

We stopped at each of our former residences, too. I used to live in the upstairs apartment of this house. Sad that there is now a handicap ramp AND a Packers logo in the front window. There goes the neighborhood.

Also swung into the fire department because, well, history.

This was my newspaper office building across from the Menominee marina. We occupied the bottom floor. At the time, we were separate newspapers but both owned by the same company and both printed at the Marinette facility. Less than a year after I left in 1994 (those two got out of town before me), the two newspapers merged to become the Eagle Herald.

Thanks to our investigative reporter skills (aka Google), we tracked down the former Marinette editor. Larry is 86 years old and as sharp as a tack. He not only remembered who we were but plenty of details, too. It was awesome to see him!

From there, we stopped at the newspaper office to see who was still there that we would remember from 25 years ago.

We found Dan (middle), who is the editor now and was the city reporter when I covered Marinette council meetings, and Tim, a county reporter. The sports editor we knew is still there but wasn't on duty for the evening yet.

Had to walk into the press room to smell the ink and pretend to yell "Stop the presses." For as much fun as we had off duty, we honestly loved being reporters, writing stories and scooping each other.

But mostly we just loved our time together – crafting art projects or crafting shenanigans. We were pretty good at both. But that will remain off the record.