The little pharologist

We knew that one of the things I would love about working at the lighthouse would be the chance to meet people. Interesting people. People who are travelers. People who are thinkers. People who love nature and appreciate history.

Sure enough; that was true. I completely enjoyed that aspect of the job - the chance to meet people. Fascinating people. People from all over the world really. I had not realized how far some travelers come to visit Big Sable Point. But yes, we had guests from all over America as well as from Germany, Switzerland, Britain, Brazil, Austria, Canada, Mexico... and more.

Some people are fascinating because of their travels and others because of their interests. Some are learners and some are experts. Most are very open to sharing their knowledge with those who are interested. We learned much simply by listening and asking questions.

And then there are the pharologists. Quite a few of them actually. I even learned that I am a pharologist - someone who studies or is interested in lighthouses. Yep, that would be me. And that would include people who are interested enough that they would choose to walk nearly four miles to visit. People who come back to visit time after time through the years. People who have visited lots of lighthouses - lots more lighthouses than we have. People who have lived and worked at lighthouses.

There was the "real" pharologist, the lighthouse expert. The one who gets paid to travel around and speak to groups about lighthouse history because he has studied lighthouses so extensively.

There was also the "real" lighthouse keeper, Ken, who had lived and worked at Passage Island and Rock of Ages lights in Lake Superior. And I don't mean the way we "lived and worked" at a lighthouse. I mean that he ran the lighthouse when lives depended on the light burning and the fog horn sounding. Oh, my; what fun to listen to his stories - especially some of the close calls on dark and stormy nights!

But my favorite pharologist was only three years old. When his family arrived, he immediately began telling me about lighthouses. Turns out he knows lots about them and has an unusual fascination with them. He could identify pretty much any lighthouse by its picture and pick out the different ones in our display of models. What a neat kid!

Even though like me, his parents had probably never heard the term before, they were intentionally feeding his interest in pharology and had already taken him to several other lighthouses. One can only imagine what may come of this passion so they are treating it as something serious and worthwhile. Good for them!

I had so much fun watching him study the different model lighthouses and play with the magnets. By the way, he also likes boats, too. He had great fun with the magnets of the SS Badger - and he chose the model "with the boat in it" to hold for his picture.

Without a doubt Ben was the youngest pharologist I met and quite possibly one of the most knowledgeable. And certainly the cutest! You and your family made my day, Little Ben! Thanks for visiting Big Sable Point.

...

And a little note to Ben's mom: I hope you didn't give up on me and that you did stick around long enough to find this post. If so, please leave a comment below. And thanks again for a fun day!