The Crim Festival of Races

Impressive

Inspiring

Some day I might volunteer

I keep saying that

Not this year

But I will walk down there and see all the bustle.

Downtown

Start line

Those hand cyclers are FAST!

Then the 30 and 40-year runners!

40+ years of running this race!!!

Now THAT’s impressive

Is that Bobby Crim?

Sure enough

THE Bobby Crim, the founder of this great race

And another guy walking with a cane

Then the regular runners

Wave after wave of runners

I take a short-cut to the 2-mile point in my neighborhood

Loud music welcomes the runners to Carriage Town. 

A big guy in a fluorescent green Marine shirt doesn’t need a mic as he cheers and slaps runners’ hands.

Somebody shoots photos of specific groups of runners in matching shirts.

Police officers manage the intersection and runners thank them for being there.

I cheer for the runners, too.

“Good job!

“Doing great!

“Looking good!

“You got this!”

Runners start thanking ME for being there!

Whoa.

What’s this?

Why am I getting choked up?

Is it the parade syndrome?

(Yah, I was that little kid who cried at parades.)

Come on now.

Pull myself together.

Cheer and clap.

This matters, doesn't it?

This is important

Sorta’ like in real life

I want to be an encourager

A motivator

To cheer people on to do their best

And now some of the first walkers...

By now the photographers and hand slappers are gone.

The loud Marine has headed off in another direction.

Now it’s just me and my single voice

Now it’s quiet when I’m not cheering

Hey; people’s names are on their race bibs.

I can cheer for them by name!

Well, that’s fun.

So much appreciation

“Thank you for being here.”

So many expressions of gratitude

I realized one lady was signing “thank you” to me and then veered off course and came straight toward me to give me a hug!  Dang; I wish I knew more sign language! But at least I understood her “thank you.” And she understood my encouragement.

Such emotion

Such solidarity

Such humanity and good will

I feel a little silly…

But…  This is what I want to do

To cheer people on

To call them by name

To notice their efforts

To encourage them to be their best

Porches

I love porches

Especially wrap-around porches

Lots of reasons

Lunch on the porch
Maybe breakfast on the porch

Or even dinner on the porch

Soak up the sunrise

Listen to the rain

Sit and talk

Sit and write

Sit and relax

Just sit

The lost art of porch sitting

A topic for bloggers and poets

…

But NOW…

There is a bit of fresh excitement about porches

In my neighborhood

In my town

Porches are being spruced up

Repaired

Rebuilt

Painted

Used

Enjoyed

Porches are being talked about

Crazy ideas

Fun possibilities

…

What about your porch?

What is your favorite use of your porch?

What could make it better?

This week in my town

Why in the world did you move to Flint?

What is there to like about Flint?

We still get strange looks and comments and questions like these.

I’ve written about some of my answers to those questions here and there.  I mention things like culture and diversity and history and the arts.  This city is full of those things.  

Maybe I should just tell you about last week.  

It was quite a week.  Lots happening in Carriage Town Historical Neighborhood as well as downtown Flint. Lots of culture and diversity and history and the arts - but also a bit of celebrity.

Let’s start with Sunday...

We had invited a few new friends over for a cookout, but not quite as many as the previous week for another cookout to welcome International students.  That night 53 people showed up - people from a bunch of other countries and quite a few Americans.  

But this night was much more relaxed.  We had invited just a few and we had a lovely time together.

And yes, some celebs came to town this week - including  Michael Moore, Chris Hayes of MSNBC’s "All In" show, Miss Michigan, and the CEO of General Motors. 

Michael Moore had come back home and appeared at the Whiting with Dr. Mona for a screening of his new movie on Monday night.  On Tuesday Chris Hayes interviewed Michael Moore, Dan Kildee, Miss Michigan, Emily Sioma, and several of the "water warriors" during two different shows. 

The live show with Moore happened right here in Carriage Town at Factory Two.  The place was hopping with big white trucks, men in black suits, helicopters overhead, people standing in long security lines and over-flowing parking lots. 

On Wednesday those parking lots held an abundance of Corvettes and Cadillacs as well a long row of shiny Chevy trucks parked along Water Street for the gala event for General Motors big-wigs. 

This was also the week for the usual Friday Art Walk and the annual Hispanic Festival at the Farmers’ Market. 

What a lovely evening to stroll downtown browsing art work on display and listening to sidewalk musicians playing! 

At the market the leisurely stroll became a quest to find one’s way through the festival crowd.

Amazing food options

Mariachi music in a big tent

Beautiful people everywhere.

There has been yet another bit of excitement in Carriage Town.  For months we have been looking forward to new pedestrian bridges at the confluence where Swartz Creek joins the Flint River.  These bridges will “fill the gap” between the Flint River Trail to the north of the city and the Genesee Valley Trail to the west affecting far more than just our neighborhood.  Hikers and cyclists from all across the county will benefit from this new connection.

We’ve been watching the progress at the site and were excited when the first span of bridge arrived and was waiting on shore.  Could this be the week for the other bridge to arrive?  Sure enough; on Thursday it was spotted being transported across Corunna Road. By mid-Friday the final section was put into position and Saturday morning kayakers were paddling under the new bridge!  Learn more about Kayak Flint here and here.  

'Twas a busy and exciting week in the neighborhood.

Now we wait for the completion of the trail and the bridge approaches so we can ride across it.

AND we wait for SOMEbody to set up an ice cream shop somewhere in the neighborhood!

I LOVE my porch!

I know that there will be many weeks coming when I will not be able to enjoy sitting on my lovely porch - so I have determined to enjoy lots of mornings and evenings out here now when I can. 

Hopefully that way instead of wishing I had done so more often I will have lots of memories from when I did - and that I will be grateful to have taken advantage of the opportunity.

So here I am out here once again - enjoying the moment.  But yikes, I might need some sleeves!

And that in itself is something to be thankful for after all of the unseasonably hot weather we've had recently. I am very happy to have to find some sleeves.

I just don't understand!

I just don't understand how someone could vote for him/her...
I really don't understand why you spend money on that.
I just don't understand why you can't see things my way.
I guess we just can't communicate anymore.  
I give up!
Conversation over!

...

This sounds SO familiar.
It can happen between:
- Friends
- Spouses, siblings
- Parents and offspring
- Roommates or classmates
- Friends, neighbors
- Co-workers, team members
- People from different backgrounds and upbringing
- Different personalities

Triggers might be:
- Politics
- Toothpaste tubes
- Toilet seat up or down
- Whose turn it is to take out the garbage
- Which way is the right way

...

How about people from different languages or cultures?
Locals and foreigners
Expats, International student, immigrants
We might expect misunderstanding there.
Frustration, confusion, impatience, exhaustion
It would not be surprising to hear one of our students say, "I just don't understand so I think I'll quit trying."

But nope. 
That's not what I hear.
Instead I mostly hear the opposite.

"I don't understand so I guess I need to try harder."
BECAUSE I don't understand, I must put forth greater effort.

...

Misunderstanding.
Of course.
I may have misunderstood...

...

Humility, deference, respect
Teachability

...

Might there be a lesson here for me?
Could be.

I have much to learn from my new friends who have to work very hard at understanding.  I'm grateful for their diligent example.

... 

Seek first to understand

before seeking to be understood.

-  Stephen Covey

Fireworks with friends

Fourth of July surprise

I just realized some things...

Sitting in a comfy lawn chair in my own backyard* with a perfect view of the fireworks exploding over the river...  I realized that this was one of the most comfortable and convenient settings from which I have witnessed a fireworks show.  

Great American values... comfort and convenience.

I also thought back over the years and realized that we didn’t often attend fireworks shows through much of my life.  Maybe it was too much bother to pack up chairs and blankets and load everybody into the van to drive to town and try to find a spot in a crowded park amongst the throng.

But now… here we are living in a city where the fireworks are launched less than half-a-mile from our house.  How cool is that?!?  A time to celebrate America and a time to celebrate new friendships.

And then I realized something else.

I realized that this might be the first time I had celebrated the Fourth of July with such a diverse collection of nationalities.  There we were gathered with representatives from several regions of the world - even though we had not planned it that way. I mean... we DID move here to be near Internationals and we DO often host events for them, but not this time.  This was just an informal gathering of new friends - who just happen to represent a bunch of other countries - like Brazil, Canada, Tonga, Nepal, India, Ecuador, Germany, England, Ireland, Mexico...  Sure enough; we are all from somewhere else.

Now there's another great American value: diversity!

It was about 5 generations back that my ancestors sailed across the ocean and came through Canada to Michigan and here we are - celebrating America’s independence with first and second generation immigrants.

Feeling blessed I am.

So very blessed.

In so many ways.

And so much wanting to bless others.

...

* Disclaimer: Well, ALMOST in my own back yard.  My chair was actually a few feet over the line onto our wonderful and generous neighbor's property.

Mulberry Lane

Mulberries!

Mulberry trees along the sidewalks all over the place.

I have never before lived in a place where you can pick mulberries as you walk to and through the downtown area. 

I love it!

It was one of those happy surprises that met me last year and one thing that I have looked forward to for this second summer here.

Sure enough, I was out riding my bike the other day and remembered to slow down and check for berries at the corner.  There I sat on my bike plucking mulberries from the tree and popping them into my mouth.

We decided to go back later with a couple small containers and pick some more for a pie.  Yum!

Photo cred and pastry chef:  Bob Sims

Why I love this place

I sure do love this place. 
This town, this neighborhood...
You ask why?
Lots of reasons...

• The Good Beans Cafe
• Art - so much art in this town, so many places to find art
• Music - all kinds of venues
• Races and festivals
• Diversity 
• History
• Walkability
• Bike-ability: 17 miles of bike trails along the river
  
  

But these are not why we came.  They are not why we moved to Flint. We didn't even know about most of these until we got here.  

We came to work with Internationals but we quickly found other reasons to stay.

I continue to be amazed by this place but it really does come down to the people. Sure enough. There is much to love about this town, but it is the people who make me feel at home here. 

Internationals:  
We have met students from 30 countries and we love hanging out with them.

Volunteers:  
Before we even moved here, the people we work with made us want to be part of this place.

Neighbors:  
What an amazing bunch of people.  They have welcomed us with open arms. I am already a better person for having known them. We are so grateful for our neighbors.

Our kids and grands:
Can't forget them. They were not the reason we came, but it sure doesn't hurt to have some of our family nearby.

Yep, I sure do love this place!
And yes, there are many reasons!

Travel the Globe

Mott Community College is hosting their annual International Week with special events every day this week, 
March 26-30.  

The kick-off event on Monday morning was titled “Travel the Globe.”

Students from at least a dozen countries lined the hallway with tables displaying photos and information from their respective cultures.  

They shared stories and answered questions about their people and their history. Some of them even offered morsels of their country’s typical foods.

Although I see these students now and then at our English conversation group, this was a special time to be able to focus more on each of them individually and to learn more about their homeland.

  

Rather than simply watching news stories from these countries on the evening news, this was a chance to talk with them in person and see their pictures and hear their own stories. 

Indeed, I shed some tears with the Syrian women as we talked about the destruction of the beautiful historic buildings in Aleppo.

This event was the culmination of class assignments for the students and they did a great job.  







It was cool to see the double-sided aspect of their work. 

On the one hand they had to work hard to put together a presentation in a language not their own involving art, photography, and layout but also to practice their English speaking skills in understanding and answering a wide array of questions.

On the other hand it was an opportunity for them to celebrate their own home culture and to share it with others.

I was impressed with both aspects of their work.  
Good job, students!  
AND great job, Miss Debra!

...

Every day this week holds yet more International events:

Tuesday
Clínica de migrantes” film screening: 11a.m. & 6p.m. in the Regional Technology Center room 1005

This documentary goes beyond the politicized rhetoric to show the faces of real people in the middle of the immigration debate.

Wednesday
 Lecture and discussions with Fulbright Scholar Jianjun Wang: Center for Teaching & Learning 11a.m.

Fulbright Scholar Jianjun Wang’s keynote address in the Trustee Scholar room (located next to the Event Center). The title of the discussion is: “Owen Lattimore's Mongol Journeys and Mongolian Region - US Relations”

“Prince Among Slaves” lecture, film screening, and discussion: Gorman Auditorium (room 1201) 3p.m. 

Thursday
 “China Cultural Fair”: 12– 3p.m. in the MCC Event Center

Travel throughout China and experience the culture and beauty it has to offer without leaving campus! 

Friday
 “Foreign Languages Talent Show”: 6p.m. at the Mott Memorial Building Auditorium room 1130

Over 20 student performances all in various foreign languages. Talents range from singing and dancing to instrumentals and acting. 

International Women's Day

In recent years I’ve chosen to observe International Women’s Day by celebrating women I know from around the world as well as other amazing women who are working to make the world a better place…  because that was all I knew to commemorate the day.

But THIS YEAR it was my privilege to celebrate WITH phenomenal women from all over the world at our local event co-sponsored by the International Center of Greater Flint. 

We enjoyed flavors of the world, we heard successful International women discuss the challenges in their lives and careers here in mid-Michigan and we were entertained by the Kuungana African Drum/Dance Company.  ’Twas an interesting and inspiring evening.

I am so happy to be in a place where I can now participate in such wonderful festivities - and am especially grateful that they are not isolated events for me.  In the last few months I have met people from more than 20 countries and often bump into them on campus, around town and get to hang out with some of them regularly.  What an incredible privilege!

Snow day!!!

Another snow day!
Snow days are wonderful.

We’ve had lots of them so far this winter.  

Lots of opportunity to enjoy Michigan winter.

Disclaimer:  even though I am no longer a teacher or a student nor am I personally affected by snow days, I still notice them - perhaps because they were always such a wonderful part of winter.

…

During the years we lived “on the road” we were away from Michigan for four winters. Despite our fun adventures in beautiful places, I had begun to feel like something was missing.

The kids and grand-kids. Obviously. 

And friends.
And a sense of belonging and community...

And then one day I happened upon an article that grabbed my attention. 

…

I started reading it and then I stopped reading so I could write about it.
I simply had to interact with what I was reading.
I was compelled to try to capture these thoughts and feelings.

I found myself crying as I read some more and as I wrote some more.

I began to recognize some of what I was missing.  
Some of the nostalgia associated with Michigan winters for me.

…

Snow days...
  

Memories from my childhood.

The smell of fresh bread baking. 

Curled up with a good book.

Going sledding on the big hill on the dead-end road.

Clambering up onto the huge snow banks piled high by the snow plows.

Coming back inside the house chilled to the bone.
Standing over the huge floor register as the warmth rising from the furnace below spread through those cold muscles.

Maybe get out a big jigsaw puzzle.

Definitely a holiday feel.

…

And then there were the memories from our years as teachers and with our own kids...

A roaring fire in the fireplace.
Not having to do anything or go anywhere - unless we decided to walk to Grandpa and Grandma’s place.  
Or to maybe walk a little farther across the fields to the other grandparents!
Or just listen to our boots crunching the snow as we walked through the silent woods.

…

But it wasn’t just the snow days.  Even when life was moving along on a “normal” schedule, something was different about wintertime. Something special and valuable. 
A sense of coziness.  
Not really hibernation, but of feeling snug and at peace.  
Of having time to breathe. 
Time to BE and not just DO.  

Maybe I shouldn’t say this out loud, but I really loved January and February - because I felt like they offered a chance to slow down and think.  To process life.  To learn. To read and study.

…

And so on the day I read that article I remembered what I loved about Michigan winter. 

I learned that “Norwegians … have a word, koselig, that means a sense of coziness. It’s like the best parts of Christmas, without all the stress.”  

Yes!  That’s it.  Or at least, that’s part of it.

That’s what I was missing. What I was wishing for.

And so I kept writing and thinking - trying to articulate what I was feeling.  

And of course I wondered what hubby would think.

He had been the one who wanted to get out of Michigan winter.

He had suggested that we try it for at least one year and then maybe alternate - one winter in the south and the next in Michigan.  I had agreed to give it a try.  

We spent that first winter in the tropics and I was okay.  And then we got our RV and did two more winters in the south - as far south as we could drive the rig.  And then we flew to the tropics one more time. We found some great spots in each of those winters.  

So what would he think?

He quickly agreed that it was certainly my turn.  AND he even felt like he also was ready to come off the road and settle down for a bit.  So we decided to give it a try.  

And…

Not only did we survive a Michigan winter, but we found ourselves ready to buy a house and put down roots.  In fact that was his idea.  He realized that he was ready for some “projects” - as in to do some carpentry again.

…

Years earlier, when we put the tree farm up for sale we had decided to try out the life on the road and then see whether we ever felt like buying property again.

And here we are - in an old historic house with lots of projects to be done.   

And here we are - smack dab in the middle of a Michigan winter.

Granted; I have to admit that winter in the city is far different than winter in the country - but some things might actually be better.  

Like the fact that we can walk to The Local Grocer if we run out of supplies.

AND the cafe next door is still a bustling place - a community gathering spot - even on a snow day!  That’s fun.

But...
Snow days don't automatically mean a slower pace and a sense of cozy peace.
I still have my strong tendency to let my schedule get too busy - especially because there are so many fun opportunities that come with living here. Therefore I have had to make deliberate and even difficult choices to slow my life down so that I can once again bask in the glow of my Michigan winter.

And oh, yes, I readily admit that there are lots of things about Michigan winters that are NOT fun or warm and cozy.  Duh. Dealing with snow and wind and ice and sub-zero temps can be downright miserable - not to mention dangerous and unhealthy.

But still I want to make it a priority to focus on the good stuff and to celebrate the things about Michigan winter that I love.  The things that I need about this season.

So here's to snow days!

Here's to slowing down.

Here's to koselig.

Here's to the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven...
...or a pot of soup simmering on the back burner!

Here's to gazing out at the beautiful snowflakes.

And here's to shoveling them every few hours!