Distance Friends

Many people spend their senior days hibernating, repeating the same schedules day after day and keeping the same friends. As age increases our friend circles contract because of moves or death. It becomes a rut.

There is a solution. Make more friends ( some younger), travel more, do more, learn more. Even when situations limit ability to travel, learning each day expands our horizons. And not least, be thankful each day for what what we do have.

Expanding our friend circle enhances our lives immensely. Ten years ago I was fortunate enough to meet and bond with eight others on a trip to Italy. Over the years we have all kept in touch through visits, Zoom meetings and more trips. We have celebrated families milestones and grieved losses.

Recently we all met in Detroit for a guided tour that included Mackinac Island and ended with four days in Chicago. Not only was it warming and fun to be with dear friends but mind expanding as well.

Our stay in Detroit included a tour of the city where we learned its role in the underground railroad and shipping. A visit to the Henry Ford Museum was a “blast from the past” as several exhibits modeled life in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, not to mention the expected car models and Presidential limos. We also visited the Ford F150 factory and was amazed to hear that they turn out a new finished vehicle every 53 seconds. Obviously, Henry was successful with his automated production line.

From Detroit we traveled to Mackinac City from which we caught a ferry to Mackinac Island. Once there, we were transported to the Grand Hotel by horse drawn carriages. There are no cars on the island. The Hotel itself is a once in a life time experience….pricey but well worth it for the experience. The Hotel was built in 1897 and the ambiance reflects that with the decor (brightly wallpapered rooms), a 600 foot long porch inhabited by myriads of rocking chairs and impeccable service. The dining room was amazing. We had a wonderful opportunity to experience a five course meal there with white glove attention from the staff.

A visit to Fort Mackinac Fort provided a glimpse of history in the late 1800’s for inquiring minds and a walk downtown satisfied our shopping whims. For those who would like to know more about the island the fiction movie “Somewhere in Time” gives perspective about the place and time. The documentary “Ice Bridge” is an amazing account of life there when Lake Michigan freezes during the winter and ferries are unable traverse between the island and the mainland.

On our way to Chicago we had other enjoyable and contrasting experiences. In Grand Rapids we visited the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park- a leading midwest cultural Destination featuring 158 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens. Our travels also included stopping at a musical instrument museum and a dune buggy ride over the ever moving dunes of Lake Michigan and an ecological lesson

Once in Chicago we added a Cubs game at Wrigley Field to our itinerary and a Mobster tour to see and hear about the famous mobsters’ haunts during Prohibition. We also visited Frank Lloyd Wright’s original home in Oak Park and came to appreciate his unique and forward thinking style.

So dear readers, travel, learn and be active.