Lake Michigan Views

It was always ten degrees colder by the lake - in the summer months along the shores of Lake Michigan. On the reverse side it was ten degrees warmer by the Lake in the winter. It never really got warm in the summer, which is why I didn’t care to live so close, and in the end the foul winter weather finally drove us to move to DC thirteen years ago. It wasn’t the only reason, but the primarily colder environment was just not for us - especially the ice and snow. Although I have to say it feels like Wisconsin here in DC and northern Virginia - the winter just doesn’t last as long. So when we visited our old home town last week we drove along the Lake several times - in our old neighborhood and downtown to points north. It rained most of our visit, so it reminded us again of foul weather. On top of that, both of us caught some sort of bug, virus, flu and were tired, sneezing, and coughing our way through. A most unfortunate situation since we haven’t been to Milwaukee for three years and wanted to visit with our old friends and colleagues. The lake looked the same. It has its own personality. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t care to live near the water regardless of where it is. 

Scenes From Milwaukee

It's been three days since we got home from our road trip to Milwaukee. We lived there thirty years before moving to DC nine years ago. We always stay with our next door neighbors and friends. While there we never miss an opportunity to take a ride down Lake Drive along Lake Michigan. This time we started at our favorite restaurant "The Knick" and headed out. There was construction everywhere in the city, but on this route there was none and it looked oh so familiar. The white apartment building, beach and volleyball & coffee shops along the way - to the art museum masterpiece, Hoan Bridge, and the Denis  Sullivan out in the distance. It is quite scenic and lovely. We usually visit Milwaukee on the Fourth of July weekend, but changed our plans this year because of family illness. We visited with friends and colleagues - which is the best part. But I kept reminding myself that it was August and in the winter all of this turns to snow and ice. It's hard to believe but not forgotten - including the fingers in the snow blower accident. It is a wonderful place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there anymore. I just wish I could transplant all our wonderful friends to DC. 

The Unexpected Road Trip and all the Planned Vacations

As we were passing through Richmond on our way to Florida it occurred to me that August is the month for taking vacations. Capitol Hill becomes very quiet this time of year. Unfortunately our road trip was not planned. We are traveling to visit my parents - one of them is in the hospital and the other is alone. Both are in their 90's. Luckily things could be a lot worse and it is not an emergency. But it is a good time to visit just to calm me down. As we drive along I95, things have become so much easier with our digital devices. I hate airplanes and schedules. We haven't been on a trip this far from home for several years, but we did it routinely before moving to DC. On the way I'm checking Facebook and a lot of friends and family are also traveling and visiting a variety of places- from Hawaii and Pearl Harbor to an escape to San Francisco before the hurricanes; Niagara falls and Toronto; Beale Street; Great Lakes Circle tour and Chicago; kayaking in the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan; water skiing on a lake somewhere in Massachusetts; a cruise that leaves Baltimore passing under the bridge. Summer is a great time to reconnect and travel to familiar and unfamiliar places - even if it is unexpected. 

A Drive Down Memory Lane on Milwaukee's Lake Drive

We have been in Milwaukee since Thursday and have had a really nice time visiting neighbors, friends, and colleagues. Today we went to breakfast and decided to take a ride along Lake Drive starting from downtown. We traveled this way so many times in the last thirty years. It was a little cloudy and only in the low 70's in July. That's one reason we moved to a warmer climate. But the ride from the back seat of the car was fun. It started at the Pabst Theatre where we saw The Christmas Carol a few times; past City Hall - still under construction; by the Calatrava and art museum to the beach. A volleyball tournament was going on; the beach goers were having a whack at it; and the coffee lovers had ample opportunity to enjoy it all from several venues. Along Lake Drive are the stately mansions along the north shore; neighborhood parks overlooking Lake Michigan; and a return trip heading back home. The Hoan Bridge is under construction and underneath it is the last day of the famous Summerfest.  The skyline is all too familiar but seems so different now. We moved to DC eight years ago and it's definitely not at all like Milwaukee, which was the reason I started the blog. It's hard to believe we lived here for thirty years. I wish we could transplant all the people we know and grew up with there. That is definitely the one thing we miss the most.