A Sunday to Remember

Noah, Lisa, Brian Vander Ark, Scott, Mason and Katherine after the show. (And I thought I was short compared to Scott!)

We had the best time this past Sunday! The weather was perfect after a very stormy night. The company was delightful and the music was awesome! We discovered some months ago that singer/songwriter Brian Vander Ark (lead of The Verve Pipe) was doing a second summer of his "Lawnchairs and Living Rooms" tour featuring his solo work as well as any requests from The Verve Pipe albums. After a short discussion, Scott and I decided that it was just too good of an opportunity to let pass. So we contacted his manager, and luckily secured one of the slots for the tour. After the date was selected we set up a time and then I created the playlist of requests, to which Brian graciously played as well as adding an on-the-fly rendition of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" that was fabulous.

We invited neighbors and friends as well as the school staff as well. The principal, Doug, of the elementary school that my kids attend is fantastic, not only knowing every child's name but truly knowing them besides. You'll hear him during the day saying things to a kid as he walks to his bus like "Hey Mark! How was your t-ball game?" And he honestly wants to know the answer. The kids love the guy and we have always found every answer we needed and every measure of help requested, so we all feel lucky to have him. Of course, he was invited to the event, and he and his wife attended.

When Doug arrived Brian was tuning his guitar and didn't see him right away. Of course I didn't think anything of it. Moments later I am busy getting hummus out of the refrigerator and I hear them excitedly "HEY MAN! OH WOW! It's been forever!" and happy hugs follow. It turns out, the school principal is related to Brian Vander Ark. They are cousins and played together a lot as kids. We're thinking this will only help Doug's street cred with the kids.

Anyway, the concert was really wonderful. Brian laughingly called me out as "a bit of a rebel" based on my set list. Hahaha! Those who know me know that there may be a wee bit of truth in that. We were lamenting the dreams of living in cities or edgier places full of creative inspirations and support. Then you have kids and you just don't want some guy asking your 3 year old for that gumball quarter, or dealing with the myriad of other priorities parenthood requires you to readjust. So, as parents we both ended up in 'the burbs'. GASP. He has a great song referring to it: Lily White Way, and if you haven't heard it, take a listen through his website http://www.brianvanderark.com/ . It received huge applause as well as hearty laughter throughout the song.

To any who live in West Michigan (Kzoo Mom of 2...listen carefully), he's doing a show with the full band, and his singer/songwriter wife, Lux Land, on January 24, 2009, at the Rockford Fine Arts Center. My kids are already saying "So, we're going, right?!"

Brian, Noah and Scott admiring kids singing post show. Yay! I love huggy people!

A Beautiful Visit

I've been away from the computer for awhile as I enjoyed hosting guests for a few weeks as well as taking a week away from home without computer or mobile technology of any kind (y bes, including using the cell phone).

Our friends were here from the Netherlands with their two little children. It was a great visit and we enjoyed all of it. Even after they have gone back home (no easy task since they were caught in a 3 hour delay in Chicago which caused them to missed their connection to Amsterdam from Zurich---another 4 hours waiting there) our kids are still speaking dutch. Sometimes it is on purpose, and sometimes it slips out before they have even noticed. Their kids were doing the same, especially their 3 year old son. It has been great to hear and see.

So what do you do with people who regularly travel the world who are now coming to see "America", but really plan to stay in Michigan the whole time? I warned that Michigan wasn't going to be like seeing America exactly. They were seeing, instead, Michigan. That was fine for them. But as hostess I was a little concerned at first. Looking into your own backyard and thinking about what to do was a challenge but a good experience too. I overlook a lot, I realized.

Michigan is full of beautiful freshwater beaches, for example. Especially along the west side of Michigan where we live. Oval Beach in Saugutuck is listed on Conde Nast's list of the top 25 most beautiful shorelines in the world. It was gorgeous. Our friends shunned the sunblock, favoring nothing or tanning oil. I teased Marlies that I was going to just rub some garlic on her and toss on some rosemary while she was at it. On the other hand, I rubbed on 50 spf liberally and I still freckled and my belly even burned. Johan was stunned and said "Doesn't the 50 mean you can be in the sun 50 times longer?" "Yes," I said, "and still I burned". Katherine thinks the next vacation should be in a cave. HA!

We visited Charlevoix and took a 2 hour boat ride to the remote Beaver Island where we had no tv or phones in our rooms at the resort. The island is mostly trees and one main street along the shore. The place is full of artists and naturalists as well as writers and anyone wanting to get away from a busy pace. It is great for that. We stayed a few nights enjoying the calm, some sights, shopping and great food and drink. We met a watercolor artist painting along one of our walks by the water. He was thrilled to learn our friends were from the Netherlands as he was from England himself. He lives in Chicago now and he and his wife were happy to escape for a while. The place isn't posh but it grows on you much in a way like some New England towns do. The locals expect your own independence while they share the island with you, but they're more than happy to help in anyway you need if you ask. There were no spas or pampering spots. The most polished space we saw was a restaurant at our hotel called Nina's where we enjoyed a fabulous dinner in the middle of Lake Michigan watching the sun set.

After a few days and nights there, we headed to Mackinac Island staying on Main Street and enjoying most of the sights to see on the island. We had a great time with perfect weather. The contrast between Beaver Island's quiet beauty and Mackinac Island's smiling fudge induced frenzy was a lot of fun. The kids and adults all enjoyed playing at the fort, watching fudge being made and maybe most of all just quiet walks with ice cream cones later in the nights when it quieted down on the Island and the lights of the Mackinaw Bridge were in full view. The sound of the waves lapping the shore as we licked our ice cream and talked quietly was perfect.

We did a lot of other things locally and even a short stay in Chicago. But much of our time was spent playing with the kids and enjoying the things I take for granted too often. Sometimes you don't have to go anywhere to make new discoveries or to remember the discoveries you forgot.