As I was thinking of how to transition from several years of blogs filled with photographs of my sweet Bear, to writing the first one without him, I came upon a quote from Anne Lamott. She said, “Grief is like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly. It still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.”
That about says where I am right now. . . . I’m beginning to learn to dance with the limp.
Life does go on though, doesn’t it. And if anything could have started my heart on the path to dancing, it was the arrival of Blake last Monday. One of my readers said on Facebook, “I’ve heard that sons always know when their moms need them.” And although Blake’s trip had been planned for several weeks before everything that happened with Bear, I believe God, who knows all things way ahead of all of us, had Blake’s trip in the works for a reason.
Blake arrived from Colorado for a week of beach time.
He’s soaked up the sun (in between some rain storms), eaten some of his favorite mom-cooked food, and also enjoyed a few meals out – like here at the Funky Pelican for dinner last night.
Another night Julie and her gang came over for dinner. Only ones missing were Jason and Jennifer, but they’re coming in a couple of weeks!
We’re putting Blake on a plane back to Colorado late this afternoon. It’s been a super-great week!
MACKINAC ISLAND NEWS
Another reason to smile is our upcoming trip to Mackinac. Still almost eight weeks away, but you all know how I like to plan ahead! Jill returned to the island last week and has been TORTURING me with photos ever since she got there.
But first- can you believe they had SNOW on the island a couple of weeks ago? Unbelievable! Residents were beginning to wonder if spring would ever come. And then . . . it did!
Horses have been arriving for weeks now – these loading onto a ferry in St. Ignace. (Photo: Kellie Lawrence)
Construction is rapidly coming to a close as Memorial Day approaches. Once that weekend is over, the island will be in full “season” mode! (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)
The sunrises continue to be incredible – as this one from the Arch Rock platform (Photo: Clark Bloswick) . . . .
. . . but they are rivaled in beauty by the sunsets – this one captured by Stefanie Congdon from Stonecliffe.
And then there are those full moons (Photo: Clark Bloswick) . . .
. . . and some amazing rainbows. Jamie Andress captured this one in the side yard of our former condo at Surrey Hill.
A sure sign of spring on Mackinac – the tulips at Grand Hotel are up and glorious! (Photo: Orietta Barquero)
But the Grand’s not the only one with bragging rights with the tulips! (Photo: Jill Sawatzki)
Early morning at the Grand Hotel barn. (Photo: Clark Bloswick)
Yeah!!! It’s George, my favorite dray driver! I didn’t see nearly enough of this sweet guy last summer. So glad he’s out and about this year. Happy Birthday, George! (Photo: Clark Bloswick)
Horses and tulips – one of those perfect combos! (Photo: Clark Bloswick)
PRAYER REQUEST
Our dear friend Lowell Greene will be having heart surgery on Thursday, May 26 at the Cleveland Clinic in the Sydell & Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute. Lowell has had a pacemaker for many years, and it seems one of the wires has become frayed and must be replaced. The problem is the wire has become imbedded in the wall of his heart, and it’s going to be a pretty tedious procedure. He tells me he’s in excellent hands (his surgeon AND his God), but I think he’d appreciate knowing we’re all lifting him up on Thursday that things go well, and that he’s home quickly with no complications. Please remember his sweet wife Faye and his sons also – as they wait.
I guess that about catches us up. Many thanks one more time for all your love during the last weeks. You kept me going in more ways than one, and I am beyond grateful for every card sent, word written, and prayer lifted. You are simply the best.
God bless.
Bree's Mackinac Island Blog 
Happy to hear your starting to “dance” again. Certainly makes it easier when your son comes to visit!
Loved the Mackinac photos and I’m sure you are very excited to get back to your beloved Island.
Let Lowell and his family know that he’ll be in my prayers while he goes through his surgery. I may just need a little of that later this summer myself. I’ve tentatively set up for my other knee replacement mid August.
Enjoy your week and keep smiling…
Love that rainbow…it was such a perfect arch! Of course all the pictures from the island are beautiful. Sunrises, sunsets, horses, tulips oh my!! So glad Blake came for a visit. I can aways see how happy the boys make you. We will be thinking and praying for Lowell, Faye and the boys and thinking positive thoughts. He is in good hands he says and if Lowell says it, it must be true. 🙂 I believe in my heart that all will go well and he will be home before we know it.
My feelings exactly, Hilde , about Lowell.
>
Not only will I be praying for Lowell and his family but I will also pray for the surgeon and other medical professionals entrusted with his care. I also am going to set a reminder in my phone to keep him in my thoughts and prayers as he gets his surgery on Thursday. Beautiful thoughts today, Bree. The new normal will progress slowly but it will progress to the point where your happy memories of Bear will dominate and the trials of his crossing will recede into the background. Love and healing to all of you. Limp on, Sister! Remember the clay.
Love you, Cathie!
>
I’ll agree with you that God knew you would need Blake. I find that the loss of a pet is hard for non-pet people to understand. You need people, like my best friend was willing to text with me all day when I had to make the decision about Blitzen. (There won’t be a perfect moment. If it will happen in the next two weeks, you aren’t a horrible person to do it now or to wait.)
Spring seems so slowly creeping into Ohio. The graduations this weekend mean it must be here though. It must be different to live in a place like Mackinac where it’s spring because a few hundred horses showed up on the doorstep.
I always love the photos. I think my favorite is of the full moon shining on the water.
I will pray for Lowell. As a discussion I had in a Facebook group this week – internet friends are real friends!
I so agree, Lauri, and will go even further and say that some of us become almost as close as family.
I agree with your pet-lover statement also. It takes another animal lover to listen to you go on and on in every conversation about your friend who you lost. Thank the good Lord for all those sweet folks who’ve listened to me the last three weeks.
>
We are taking my parents and my brother’s family for their first trip to the island Memorial weekend. My mom actually asked me if 2 hours would be enough time on the island. I think 2 lifetimes is not enough time on the island.
I’ll also be participating in the bridge run in honor of my adopted soldiers. 🙂
I can’t wait!
So glad to see that your spirits have lifted! Even though our fur baby has been gone 2 years….I still expect him to greet me at the door. Glad to see the island photos! The rainbow picture is gorgeous! Sorry to hear about Lowell and will keep them in my prayers. I have never met him personally but he seems like such a gentle soul! I wish him well.
So good to see your smiling face!!! Thanks for sharing photos of your lovely family and many thanks to your Mackinac Island photographers for taking us to the Island! Praying that Lowell’s surgery goes very smoothly and for his family too.
I cannot believe how much you look like your Mother in the picture with Blake. It was just like looking at her. Hope you are feeling better but time really does make the hurt a little bit better. Come see us when you can❤️❤️
Thank you for that sweet compliment, Pat. With each passing year, I look more and more like her!
Brenda,
The sunshine I’m seeing out of my window must be because of your blog. It promises to be a beautiful day at our house today.
Thank you for mentioning me in the blog and thanks to all who will be remembering me in prayer. It means a lot to me. By the way, I’m told it will be a 2-6 hour surgery, depending how things look when the surgeon gets into my heart and what happens during the surgery. And here I thought he would just stick his hand in there and jerk that wire out and put the new one in. Oh well, at least I’ll get a nice nap while it’s all taking place.
Dear Brenda, Count me among the many who are grateful that your spirit has lifted, even if just a little. You have the buoyancy of God to support you, and aren’t you glad that you know it! As always, love all the photos of Mackinac. Please pass along to Lowell (and whoever drives him to Cleveland) that there’s a brand new project in Toledo/Perrysburg messing up connections between interstates, so please consider getting on the Turnpike in Maumee (before the mess). Lowell, I’ll be praying that you don’t get nervous crossing the border into Buckeye territory! Seriously, I’ll be with you in prayer.
Barbara,
Your comment reminded me of an illustration our preacher used in a sermon years ago. In his illustration he started to say something about Ohio. Then there was a long pause and he said, “I just can’t bring myself to use that word.”
Now to the serious part: Are there signs on U. S. 23 at Maumee that will guide me to the Ohio Turnpike eastbound? From what I can see in my atlas and the internet, there is no interchange on U. S. 23 for the turnpike at Maumee. Please help me if you can.
There is no direct access to I-80/90 off of 23. I know, we all think it’s strange, too. There are signs, but you have to get off at Maumee (I believe it’s for route 24 and rte 25) and wind around a little bit. My other thought is this: Take 69 straight down to Indiana and pick up the turnpike there. You’ll go maybe 5 miles in Indiana, then have to pay, stay on the same road and get on the Ohio portion, but you’ll sail right through Toledo – and there’s precious little smooth sailing on our interstates until fall! Now, I just checked, and posted this morning was a warning for ‘rolling roadblocks’ on eastbound I-80′ that started at 8:30 this morning. More roadwork. I’m changing my prayers to safe travel prayers for you!
Barbara,
I guess I can’t reply to your message to me, so I hope you see this.
Thank you so much for the information. It sets my mind at ease. I like to know at least a little of what I’m getting into.
Thanks again. I really appreciate it.
Lowell, I was thinking about you today. I hope the surgery went well.
Happy to hear your spirits are being lifted up. Having Blake home had to be a big spirit lift. Will be sending prayers up for Lowell and his family on Thursday. Jim and I will be going to the Island in less than a month. Can’t wait.
Safe travels and have a wonderful time, Charlotte!!!
We will be on the island during the week of July 4th. Don’t know if you’ll be there yet…if so, I’ll keep my eyes peeled so I can yell, “Hey!”
And Lowell…you will be in my prayers. Praying God guides the surgeon’s hands and you will be up and around in no time!
Darn! We won’t be there yet, Melody!
>
Love the Mackinac photos. We’re on our 3 year cycle to return this year. A lot has happened in our worlds since I had the pleasure of meeting you face to face. Tell Lowell that he’s touched many people with his peaceful wisdom and kind spirit. You certainly have a handsome family.
Aww – thank you, Mary.
>
I enjoy all the photos: Florida, Mackinac Island, the River, animals or people.
Bree, I am sorry to hear you lost Bear. Anne Lamott is good company in grief. Her words can help an aching heart. I lost my dad in January, so have had moments of sadness, too. Good that your son came visiting, and that you’re still blogging about your beautiful island. I often wave when driving by!
So sorry to hear about your dad, Kathy. My daddy’s been gone almost 20 years and there’s not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. Still talk to him too. It’s good to hear from you. Anytime you get a hankering for a visit to the island, let me know. We’ll be there middle of July to middle of October this year. Hugs.
Makes me chuckle to see that Lowell is having his heart surgery at the Cleveland Clininc. It doesn’t get much better than that. I had both of my knees replaced there, largely because of the surgeon too. My prayers for him and Faye. Being from the Cleveland area makes it so much easier.
Looks like you better get to the Island pretty soon. It looks stunning, as usual.
Be well.