Ah, Michigan......

I really like/enjoy the distinct seasons of the year Michigan provides.  Each has qualities that I eagerly anticipate, yes, even the snow.

But sometimes it seems the season are crammed into, say, one week!  It was just a couple of days ago when I ran in 7 degrees.  This AM, it is 42 degrees.  Tomorrow night's low is forecast to be in the low teens.  Heh Heh Heh.  I hope the cold brings a little snow, a few inches.  I know Karen doesn't like the snow, any of it, but it does brighten things.  Last weekend we had about an inch or so, maybe a bit less.  I was running in a state park with a friend and she looked around, saying, "It's really pretty out here."  Yes, it was.  I'm not calling for another 11 or 12 or 13 inches like we had in November, but 5 or 6 wouldn't bother me.  Besides, I enjoy shoveling.  I know that's odd, but I like the exercise and, especially at night when the snow is still falling, I love the peace and tranquility.

Speaking of running, one AM last week I saw (and heard?) a herd of deer pass right in front of me.  At first, eight ran across my path.  Right afterward, another four followed.  I'm not sure if I've ever seen that many bunched like that around here.  Later that afternoon, out running/walking with Karen, Carrie, Emily, and Russ, we came across two bucks, with decent sized racks.  They stopped about twenty yards from us and just stared--as we stared.  We won the staring contest, though, as they finally scampered off.  It reminded me of the Three Stooges gag.  "See the little fawn.  Does it have any doe/dough?  Yeah, two bucks......"  I still think it's funny.

And, while we're on this Michigan thing, I'm reading Gerald Posner's history of Motown, the Berry Gordy record company.  It was recommended to me by a high school friend and she was right--it is great!  Much of it is nostalgic, stuff I already knew.  But it's great to read the stories again and the Motown folks' reminiscences of them.  And there is new stuff, "Hey, I didn't know that."  And it has inspired me to check out a few tunes online.  Plus, I have put in an order for a CD, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Anthology.  It includes the stuff from back in the early '60s that I remember so well and later stuff that most others recall, too.  I was reminded, also, of the play, Motown:  The Musical.  The story was good; the music was great!  For my birthday, Matt and Linda bought and sent me a CD of Human Nature, the four, white, Australian guys who do a great, great Motown show in Las Vegas.  If you are ever out there, by all means see that show!  The CD is great.  I sing along and, sometimes, just listen, esp to the band.  Wow!

I'd also like to pick up the book by David Maraniss, Once in a Great City.  It's a reminiscence (a history?) of Detroit in the mid-'60s, I think.  I have read a couple of excerpts and my friend also recommended it to me.