So, we got up early this morning, around 7:30am. The kids ate breakfast and then we headed out on our adventures for the day. First stop was the local credit union to make my car payment.  Next stop, the Osceola County Fairgrounds in Evart, MI. The ride there was uneventful. We played the abc game on the way to stave of boredom on the 76 mile trip. We managed to get through the alphabet three times before we arrived. The rabbit show was great. Of course my niece’s rabbits won best of breed and best opposite of breed. I gave the kids each a dollar for the raffle they hold. Each of them won something. As we were leaving and getting into the car, I stepped in a hole and rolled my ankle again. Wait, it gets better later. It did hurt, a lot as a matter of fact. Kevin starting laughing at me until he saw the expression on my face. We ended up leaving Evart at around 2pm. I decided to drive around the area where my uncles lives and take some photos so for the next half hour to hour we did that. I wrapped my ankle before I got out of the car this time and it did start feeling better. I took some pictures of the Doc and Tom Creek and some of the small waterfalls. I also took some pictures of the old train depot near my uncle’s house. Then we decided to go and see if my uncle was home. He wasn’t, so we got out anyway and walked down to the lake. I took some more pictures there. I wanted to go out to the end of the dock and take some pictures of the house from the lake. It seemed sturdy enough so I headed out to the end of the dock. Just as I put weight on the third board from the end, I heard a snap, and quickly found myself in pain once again. The board broke in half, my good leg (thank goodness it wasn’t the bad one) hit the ice underneath, my right arm swung down and hit the post sticking out of the water dead on with my forearm. My left arm caught the dock or I would’ve hit my face too. There is a large bruise on my forearm and it hurts like heck. My right shoulder also hurts whenever I lift my arm. If the lake didn’t have 6 inches of inch on it I would’ve been standing with one leg in 3 feet of water. Why o why does this stuff keep happening to me? I have walked that dock hundreds of times and never fell through. I hope I didn’t break anything. I am sure I pulled something in my shoulder. We took some pictures and climbed back into the car to head home.

For some unknown reason, I decided to go the back way through Farwell. As I was driving through town, I remembered an old friend that lived there. I hadn’t seen or visited her in over 6 years. I wondered if she would remember the stranger that approached her as she stood there raking leaves in the yard. We had only seen each other once or twice in the last 17 years and that was at least 6 1/2 years ago. I was unsure as I approached. She instantly  recognized me  (apparently I haven’t changed much) and wrapped her arms around me to say hello. I was shocked at how good she looks. Time has been good to her that’s for sure. I introduced her to my three kids that were with me. She introduced us to her 5 years old grandson. She has two kids, a 24 year old daughter that is married and is the grandson’s mother, and a son that graduated high school last year. We stood outside talking for over an hour and watched her grandson play in the yard.  He  started to get a little cold,  so we went inside and  talked some more while the kids played.  We caught up a lot of things that have been going on in each others lives.  We also talked about the old days and the neighborhood we grew up in.  She was the girl I would have asked to prom, if only I could’ve mustered the courage. I never did ask. Of course, later I found out that if I had, she would’ve went with me. I didn’t go. That’s probably my biggest regret from my school days. Anyway, we talked another 2 or 3 hours while the kids played. This kid is extremely smart. Her stories of him reminded me of the stories that my mother told of me at that age. She handed me a piece of paper with her number on it and instructed me to not be a stranger with a giggle. I gave her my number too. We all said our goodbyes. The kids and I climbed into the car and headed for home. I would’ve liked to have stayed longer, but I had put a dinner into the crock pot before we left the house this morning. I pushed the 8-10 hours on the bag to the limit. I finished preparing the dinner and we ate. It turned out very well. It amazes me how a good day can turn into a bad day and then back into a good day so quickly.

I took the time during dinner to write this and am getting ready to play cards with the kids. Typing hurts somewhat, but I wanted to blog tonight. If I feel better in the morning or tomorrow night, I will take more time and post some of the pictures I took. It felt so good to be in the area around my uncle’s house. I spent my summers there. It’s another of my “safe” places where I can go and relax. None of the problems I face seem so bad when I am there. I hope to spent a lot more time up there this year then in years past. I know my uncle will appreciate the company. I hope you all have a good night and great day tomorrow.