Mike always encouraged me to take little trips, to expand our world a bit. His world went from being a gregarious and physical man, to confined to a bed and trying to stay connected to the world with a computer. My trips were my way of bringing the world to him through me. He looked forward to hearing of my adventures and I was more brave than I am naturally just so that I could see his face with hearing my stories.
I'm still doing these trips, even after 3 years since his passing. I still follow up my trips with going to the cemetery and telling him all about them. I can picture his face while I'm telling my stories to the wind.
The Grand Hotel had been on my radar for years and this past week was the perfect timing. I had to cancel and reschedule the trip a few times due to the girl's health and the nursing schedules. By the time I rescheduled it this last time, it was cold and rainy. But as my son said.... Mom, it was on your list to go. Having a good time is optional..... he makes me smile.
Getting there was a nice 7 hour drive with my amazon music on shuffle and trying to concentrate on the road in front of me when my eyes kept diverting to the pretty trees. I found the dock and made it to a ferry all with perfect timing. I had never taken a ferry like that before, it was too cold and rainy to stay on top so I had to go below to the seating inside. I quickly did a headcount and positioned myself near the life preservers and the exit.... just in case.... I'm brave because I'm neurotic at times. :)
My attraction to this hotel came from the movie Somewhere In Time. It is just one of those movies that stayed with me, just like Out Of Africa. I figured getting to Michigan would be a lot easier than getting to Africa, but one of these days....
When I went to the care facility to meet Mike for the first time, I walked into his room and said "You have Richard Collier's room". That he knew my obscure reference and smiled broadly at our common interest was one of the reasons I knew he was just my type. I was reminded of that memory while I was sitting in the Grand Hotel talking to a delightful man who was asking me why I was at the Hotel. Just polite conversation between strangers and yet I found myself telling him that story. I don't usually talk about Mike to strangers because I can't get used to the thought of him being dead and telling people that he is dead is still so strange to me.
The weather and the short amount of time I had there kept me inside the hotel. It truly is a grand hotel. Oh... an extra bonus.... I walked down the steps and saw so many people dressed in period costume! I was there during the Somewhere In Time weekend! I had no clue when I scheduled that that would be going on. The women looked so beautiful with all the lace and ribbons and hats and the men with their top hats. I should have felt out of place in my comfortable travel clothes that I tried to dress up slightly but still fit in my backpack, but I didn't. Every person in that room smiled back at me. Many couples brought me in to their conversations. It was such an enchanting environment.
I would like to go back to the island when the weather is warmer and drier so that I can wander around the island and explore the history there.
It was my last trip planned for 2018 and I am now planning on some of the other trips that Mike and I had talked about. He's always with me even though some of my memories of us are fading a bit, blending more and more into just one big picture.
