More Real Each Day 10/17/2013

When you spend a few days cleaning out closets and dresser drawers, you can’t help but wonder, “How on this earth did we accumulate so much stuff in six summers?”  Getting ready to go home for the last six seasons meant leaving a lot of clothes, shoes, cleaning supplies, etc. here over the winter.  This time it all has to go, and all I’ve been able to think about is, “What in goodness is it going to be like to pack up the lake house in Georgia where we’ve lived since 1996!”  Of course that’s IF/WHEN the lake house sells!

Corners are beginning to fill with boxes to be shipped home. The first one went off island yesterday, addressed to Ed and Sally Feagin, who will store them at their house down the street from us until we get home.

My closet is almost empty. The only things left are a few cold weather items I’ll wear for the next 13 days and a couple of warm weather items I’ll pack for the last leg of our trip into south Georgia, where it’s 85 as I type this at 6:35 p.m. Thursday evening.  It’s 49 right now on Mackinac.

Most of the closet shelves are empty, with the kitchen being the only room that still looks “normal”. After all, we still have to eat for almost two more weeks.

But nothing makes it more real than this sign in the window at Mackinac Island Realty. (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)

I took a break on Monday to walk downtown to have lunch with Frankie, who was leaving the island for the season that afternoon and heading home to Grand Rapids.  After lunch we hung around at the Star Line dock until the 3:30 ferry arrived.

Judy and Jill came down to see Frankie off also . . .

. . . and Hershey had this look on her face like, “Sure was a short season, mom!”

It’s always sad to see a friend off at the dock, but we’ll all be back next summer at one time or another, good Lord willing.

I knew what was waiting at the condo, so I didn’t spend any time downtown after the ferry left.

As I walked up the hill there were more and more signs of the season being over – like the painting going on outside SomeWear on Mackinac, one of my favorite clothing stores . . .

. . . and this sign on the Ryba’s shop on Cadotte.

As I got ready to take a photo of the Grand Hotel, I noticed something white out of the corner of my eye. Someone is missing a visor!

The Grand Hotel is always beautiful, but never more so than when surrounded by the colors of Fall.

Can you tell me what’s missing?

The flowers are gone! We’ve come full circle, and in a few days, the tulip bulbs which will emerge next spring, will go into these bare spaces.

Surrey Ridge Condos . . . just can’t look at them now without tears forming.

On Tuesday morning I was up bright and early . . . make that DARK and early.  I was going over to volunteer at Shepler’s in Mackinaw City because, once again, it was Winsome Women weekend at the Grand Hotel.  Since I’m NEVER up before daybreak, I took the opportunity on my walk downtown to catch the 8 a.m. ferry to get some sunrise shots.  I really, really need to do that more often.

Blazing sky beyond the Grand Hotel bike parking lot. . . .

. . . and behind Little Stone Church.

Almost to Chambers Corner

First Shepler’s ferry of the day arrives at the Mackinac Island dock.  

Today Ted went to Cheboygan to drop off some boxes at the Salvation Army store and pick up enough groceries to keep us fed until our leave date of October 30.  I stayed home and packed some more boxes, and we’ll get those shipped tomorrow.  Slowly, but surely, we’re getting it done.

Hugs to all of you, and I’ll be back here in a few days!  God bless.