Our Wedding

WHAT A TRAGEDY!!! No, not our wedding, Brook Lodge is closed! 

We couldn’t continue with our adventures without sharing our biggest adventure of all, our wedding!  It was a small affair with about 75 of, really, our nearest and dearest friends and relatives. It was held in Augusta, Michigan at  Brook Lodge, which, unfortunately, ceased operations at the end of 2009. I suppose Michigan’s economy, and the lodge’s rather remote location, had a lot to do with the situation. Prior to its closing, it had been considered by Bridal Magazine one of the top wedding locations in the Midwest. Built in the late 1800′s, it was originally the summer retreat of W.E.Upjohn and his family. In the mid 1900′s, the Upjohn Company expanded it by building a number of meeting halls as well as overnight accommodations, turning it into more of a convention center. Then, in the 90′s, after a series of pharmaceutical consolidations, it was turned over to Michigan State University. Basically, the corporate support vanished and, sadly, the wedding business wasn’t sufficient to sustain such a large facility. 

What we did: 

She said: 

It was a beautiful, but very hot, July day.  We got our legal marriage licence in Denver in June, so my son-in-law Scott, not an ordained clergy person, could preside over our Michigan ceremony. Carlos, my other son-in-law walked me down the aisle and all of our daughters were attendants.  Whitney, my daughter, did a Biblical reading. Bill’s daughter Allison sang “One Heart, One Hand”.  Our oldest daughters, Heidi and Shannon, made toasts.  It was a very moving experience for all of us, and it meant so much that everyone there was very happy for us. 

He said: 

This was such a great spot. The original “Doctor’s Cottage”, a “Brookside Cottage” and a number of tasteful buildings capable of hosting groups and/or events with hundreds of guests, is now in moth balls. The grounds were filled with beautiful, and plentiful, gardens, a stream, a small pond  (in which my brother and I drowned a number of worms while catching sun fish so small it was surprising they tried to take our bait!), a ball field, driving range, horse shoe pits, and tennis courts amid walking paths that  simply invited one to enjoy the out of doors. Its hard to believe its closed down.       

Anyway, for us, it provided a perfect backdrop for our marriage celebration. Our 4 daughters, their families and boyfriends and our siblings spent the whole weekend with us. Friday, the family and close, out of town guests joined us for diner in a room that overlooked the pond. Saturday,we were married by a gazebo in the gardens. Afterwards, in the Doctor’s Cottage, we enjoyed some fabulous hoers d oeuvres along with cocktails and champagne, while being serenaded by a delightful stringed quartet. Then we all changed into more casual clothes and went to a local honky tonk – Bay View Gardens – on nearby Gull Lake, for some dancing and more libations. Whitney, Marla’s youngest, even coerced the band into allowing Allison, my youngest, to get up on stage and do a number. It was well beyond midnight, a long day for us old folks, before we cashed ‘em in.        

And, through it all, Marla remained a striking, radiant bride. I’m so-o-o-o-o lucky and so-o-o-o smitten!!!  

For more see – about us, the arrangement, our blind date           

The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument

Traveling west on I-80 from Lincoln, Nebraska, the first – and only – landmark we encounter is the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. According  to its website, ”The Great Platte River Road Archway is an interactive adventure that pays tribute to the pioneers who passed through Nebraska on their way West.” We’ve never stopped but, as you can see, it is quite a landmark!  

What we did:  

She said:  

This is a stop that we have yet to make, but a definite “must” when we have our grandchildren with us in the future.  The pony express is also located in Ft. Kearney,  Buffalo Bill’s home is along I-80 as are  many pioneer trails.  You can even go to Hastings, NE to see where Kool-Aid was invented!  I have to admit, I always look forward to the ribs at the Holiday Inn in Grand Island!

He said:  

Since we are always between destinations when we pass Nebraska’s “Archway”, we’ve never considered stopping. It’d probably be interesting, so, one of these times, we’ll have to factor in the time for a visit. I am, however, thankful that we never pulled off the road to admire it. Seems that when it was first erected, traffic around it was crazy – and very hazardous – due to oglers. Now it’s a $100 fine, plus court costs, if you’re caught stopping. I read about this on the archway’s blog. The no stopping/parking signs are so small I never new they were there, so I’m glad my curiosity never got the best of me, otherwise I probably would have known this first hand!  

Aside from the archway, Nebraska has one of our favorite rib spots – the Holiday Inn near Grand Island. We arrived here late one evening and opted for the convenience of the adjoining restaurant. I was kind of hungry and, although the buffet seems to be the dinner of choice for most, I decided to give the ribs a try. And am I glad! We now strive to make this one of our stops when traveling through Nebraska. Also near Grand Island is a town called Hastings, the site where Kool Aid was invented! I don’t know what else is there, but maybe some day a side trip can encompass both the archway and Hasting’s Museum of Natural - and Cultural - History.  

Mississippi River; image from flickr by Mike Willis

Travel is often focused on getting from A to B, especially if the trip is repeated on some frequency. Such is the case for our travel between Denver and Michigan/Ohio. But the familiarity doesn’t have to be without interest and excitement – or does it? 

What we did: 

She said: 

Bill and I must have traveled I-80 between Michigan and Denver at least 10 times since we met.  We see my mother, my sisters and their husbands, and his daughters in Kalamazoo.  We then make a trek to Cleveland to see his 94 year old mother.  I swear we could put the cars on auto-pilot and they would get there by themselves.  Our favorite and ONLY places of interest on these trips are the Mississippi River, the Iowa 80 Truckstop, purported to be the world’s largest, the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument in Kearney, Nebraska, and the ribs at the Holiday Inn in Grand Island, Nebraska. 

The Mississippi River is just so majestic, and the interstate bridge that crosses the river is beautiful. 

The World's Largest Truck Stop in Iowa

The world’s largest truck stop in Iowa is not a bad place to stop.  It’s clean and the food (we’ve eaten there several times for lunch) is inexpensive and pretty good.  The gift area is interesting with some fun items, that are not just souvenirs. 

He said: 

The 16 hour car trip on I-80 that separates us from our families in Michigan and Ohio has its pluses and minuses. The speed limit in between Denver and Lincoln/Omaha is 75 mph. That’s the good news. The bad news is, the speed limit is 75 mph because the road is flat, straight and seldom passes through, or by, anything that would cause one to slow down! Between Omaha and the western suburbs of Chicago, its the fields of corn and wind farms that provide the optical entertainment. But then again, this makes the drive easier, so dull is not all that bad! 

Since we make this trip 3-5 times a year, in addition to developing our “big four” that Marla mentioned, we are able to recite some of the verbage from the signs along the road! Its pretty bad when you notice which billboards are new and which ones have been there all along. Depending on weather conditions and the time of day we begin our trip, we now know what restaurants and motels we’ll end up eating and staying at. And, to be fair to Nebraska, we do try stay in Grand Island for the ribs at the Holiday Inn. 

And, just to show we aren’t bored only by our sister states, the turnpike in western Ohio, from Toledo to the Indiana border provides a scenic backdrop that rivals eastern Colorado and Nebraska!

Charlevoix Harbour image from Flickr by ktylerconk

Halfway between Traverse City and Petoskey, hard along Lake Michigan, the town of Charlevoix is yet another wonderful, “up north” spot. After spending most of an afternoon wandering around the town, we decided to dine locally at  the Grey Gables Inn Restaurant, which, for 75 years has been a very popular spot. 

What we did 

She said: 

Charlevoix is only about a half hour drive from Boyne City, so we did a little day trip.  It is one of the most wonderful little harbor towns located on Lake Charlevoix and very close to Lake Michigan.  The shops are fun and unique and the restaurants are wonderful. 

The  towns to visit (and they are all within an hours drive of each other) are Traverse City, especially in cherry season, Harbor Springs, again wonderful unique shops and restaurants, Petoskey, much the same,  and  Boyne City.  Almost better than New England. 

We did meet up with a couple in Charlevoix who had sold their house in the Detroit area and bought a VERY nice boat.  They were members of the “The Great Circle Route Club”.  They had started in Detroit and were going around the Great Lakes; traveling to the Mississippi and going around the Florida Keys and back up the east coast and down the St Lawrence Seaway and back home again; 5,400 miles. They were doing this in a year’s time to prove that the Eastern half of the United States is indeed an island. 

For dinner, we ate at Grey Gables.  It is a Victorian house located in the village, and the ambience is wonderful.  We had a table by the fireplace, and it was very romantic.  It was a little pricey, but not terrible.  My meal was okay. 

He said: 

When a couple goes “up north” in Michigan, the standard way to while away the day typically includes wandering along a town’s streets, ducking in and out of cute, unique shops and trying to resist the temptation to buy some sort of memento, clothing, or artwork. And did I mention fudge? It seems every city and town, no matter how small, has a homemade fudge shop. I’m sure they pump the aroma into the streets to get you salivating, and it works! One way to describe a day doing this would be to call it a tourist version of a “chick flick”! For us guys, it’s not as good as a day on the links or other such guy thing, but I do admit, as is true with most chick flicks, there are parts of it I enjoy, so it’s not a total waste! 

For us guys, strolling along the docks of Round Lake, which connects Lake Michigan with Lake Charlevoix, and ogling the marvelous boats provides a satiating respite from the shopping. Most of the boaters are quite amiable and eager to share in conversation. We met a couple from the Detroit area on a 50 foot cruiser. They were about a month into a one year cruise of “The Great Circle Route”. You don’t know what this is? Well, what it is, is a tour that encompasses the Saint Lawrence River, the Great Lakes of Ontario, Erie, Huron and Michigan, the Chicago, Des Plaines, Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean along the east coast of the United States and Canada, back to the Saint Lawrence River. What this proves is, not only does this couple have a very strong marriage, but, that the eastern half of the United States is AN ISLAND!!!! I’d never thought of this before and, picking up this little nugget of knowledge, made the time spent shopping seem well worth it. 

On a quiet street, just a few blocks from downtown Charlevoix, Grey Gables Inn Restaurant can be found in a neighborhood of stately, century old homes. Since it, too, was once a residence, there are numerous, small rooms that offer an intimate, yet casual, dining experience. The current proprietors have operated the restaurant for about 15 years and, sadly, from my perspective, are dependant on its former reputation for their continued success. The service was fine and the menu offered a wide selection of meats and fish in varied and intriguing presentations, but our meals were only average and were far from memorable.   I vote for the Walloon Lake Inn tomorrow night!

Walloon Lake: image from flickr by Close to Spectacular

One nice thing about dining in the upper west portion of Michigan’s lower peninsula is the plethora of unique, one-of-a-kind restaurants that have great food and comfortable, welcoming atmospheres. Many of these spots are a bit out-of-the-way, so be prepared for some adventure when finding them.  

Where we ate   

He said:   

I have a long time golf buddy who had been the pro at Belvedere Golf Club, just outside of Charlevoix, for years. I always stop to see him and, if time permits, play a round. This time we couldn’t play, but one thing I’ve come to depend upon from Steve is a great dining recommendation. And the Walloon Lake Inn certainly perpetuated his list of winners. Walloon Lake Village is so small one wouldn’t expect to find much there. And there isn’t much, beyond the marina and a few small shops. But tucked away down a residential street, right on the water’s edge is The Walloon Lake Inn, a wonderful bed and breakfast known more for its fine dining than its charming, very reasonably priced, accommodations. The gourmet menu, extensive wine and cognac lists, attentive staff and unobstructed, western facing view of the lake make the dining experience very, very enjoyable. Fish dishes are the featured fare, although filet mignon and veal, and, sometimes elk or some other exotic meat round out the menu. The sesame seed encrusted whitefish is one of my favorites, but I’ve yet to find a dish that I wouldn’t eagerly order again. If you can this spot, make a reservation for a window table and enjoy a wonderful evening.   

She said:   

 Okay, we had dinner at this wonderful Inn and enjoyed it sooooo much we went back twice. The food was unbelievable and the prices weren’t terrible. The only reason we were able to get in twice was because we were so early in the season. The location is off the main roads and it is on Walloon Lake, one the nicest lakes in Michigan. A must if you are in the area!   

 PS. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!   

Boyne City, Michigan: image from flickr by odalaigh

The Water Street Inn is the inn located on the beach just below the marina in the picture. 

The northern portion of Michigan’s lower peninsula is a wonderful destination for those seeking camping, shopping, hunting, fishing, boating, artwork and almost any other outdoor activity, especially golf in the summer and skiing in the winter. Marla was in Kalamazoo so we decided to take a long weekend for some private time away from family and friends….read more in About Us 

Where we stayed 

She said: 

I decided to head for Michigan to see my Mother, who lives in a retirement village, and sisters, who also live in Kalamazoo, and of course, to see Bill.  During my visit, we decided to head “up north” for a long weekend and a little “private” time.  We choose Boyne City because it was in close proximity to everything we wanted to do, and it wasn’t as pricey as most of the other resort towns. 

Bill had found a condo for us to stay, and it happened to be where he had stayed once before.  The Water Street Inn had a very nice one bedroom condo with a  greatroom and a patio overlooking  Lake Charlevoix.  We were there late May and were charged about $100.00 /nite.  The Inn is within walking distance of everything in town.  We had fun walking around the town but ended up eating and exploring in other areas. 

He said: 

The Water Street Inn provides up-to-date condos in Boyne City right on the shore of Lake Charlevoix. There is a private beach and rental slips are available for non-trailerable boats. It’s proximity to downtown eliminates the need to drive to any of Boyne City’s shops or restaurants. And the town is centrally enough located such that all of the western side of Michigan’s lower peninsula is easily no more than a day trip. Since we planned on a number of different excursions during our four day weekend, the location was perfect. All the condos have a bedroom, full kitchen, fireplace and sitting area. A glass of wine while enjoying the sunset over the lake provides a glorious, and relaxing, end to the one’s day. The daily rental rates – between $100 -125, except over Christmas – make it even better! This is the way to enjoy Michigan!

Traverse Bay: image from flickr by moumukherjee

The northern portion of Michigan’s lower peninsula is a wonderful destination for those seeking camping, shopping, hunting, fishing, boating, artwork and almost any other outdoor activity, especially golf in the summer and skiing in the winter. Marla was in Kalamazoo so we decided to take a long weekend for some private time away from family and friends….read more in About Us 

On the north side of Little Traverse Bay, just beyond Petoskey and before you get to Harbor Springs, one can enjoy truly memorable golf and dining at the Little Traverse Bay Golf Club. 

Where we ate 

She said: 

Bill is a big golfer and I was just getting back into playing.  He wanted to play golf at Little Traverse Bay, just outside Harbor Springs.  It is a beautiful golf course with  many hilly holes. (how’s that for a little alliteration?).  I didn’t do too badly, but, I have to admit, I enjoyed the views the most.  Northern Michigan is one of the most beautiful areas in the country. 

We ate at the course after golf and I had the best perch dinner I’ve ever had in my life. I cannot tell you enough what a wonderful dinner we had, and the view outside the windows was beautiful. If the weather had been nicer, we could have eaten outside on the patio which would have been even better!!!! 

He said: 

I love playing here. The drive to the clubhouse, a winding, and seriously uphill road,  gets my heart throbbing every time. The course doesn’t beat you up even though the routing takes you up and down the “mountain” 4 different times. Each time, from atop your perch, the grand vista of Little Traverse Bay and the surrounding area provides “Kodak” moments that make you rue the absence of your camera. So don’t forget it!! And for you golfers, here’s a tip. The 10th hole is a downhill par 3. When you reach the green, don’t let the terrain fool you. While it looks like it slopes from back to front, it’s just the opposite!! Putts seem to defy gravity as they race towards the back, or, correspondingly, screech to a halt as they creep up the hill towards the front of the green. This green, like most others on mountainous layouts, reminds me why I putt so lousy on them. At least I can savor the views! 

I always make it a point to have at least one meal here when I’m in the area. The clubhouse rests atop a hill which provides dramatic vistas of Little Traverse Bay and the surrounding area. Locals and visitors alike have made this restaurant a regular part of their culinary itineraries. The menu has a sumptuous variety of meat, seafood and local, freshwater fish. Always delicious, and highly recommended, is the very light, beer battered perch. I enjoy this so much that, if someone I’m with doesn’t order it, I eagerly do because I simply can’t eat here without at least one filet! And, for you non golfers, don’t worry about being crammed in with boisterous, beer sucking cads. The golfer’s lounge is separate from the dining area!!

Beyond our commitment to have dinner in Kalamazoo with Marla’s sisters Sharon and Connie, and their husbands Tim and Jon, we had no contact between August and November. We’d meet at Tim and Sharon’s for the formal introduction and a cocktail hour to ease into the evening.

She said:

Okay- I was a little nervous. I hadn’t really dated anyone for about a year. I was pleasantly surprised when he came to the door. He was exactly what I was hoping, and I was very comfortable around him. He then gave me a business card from one of my favorite cousins. Oh my gosh- He even knew my cousin! I’m getting these signs left and right!

I had made a previous arrangement with my sister that if things didn’t “click”, we would all ride together to the restaurant and back to their house and then I would drive myself back to my mother’s place. I had also made a previous arrangement with my other sister, that if we did “click”, I would invite him to their house to watch a football game the next day. Well—-we “clicked”!

The fact that I was leaving in a few days made this relationship progress rather quickly. I wanted to be with him as much as possible. It was a good thing I was staying with my Mother!

He Said:

I have to admit I anticipated a bit of hopefulness going into the evening. I hadn’t dated for about four months, so I also had a bit of apprehension. Knowing everyone else gave me some solace as I knew there wouldn’t be any undue pressure should Marla and I not “connect”.

As I walked up the driveway at Tim and Sharon’s, I got a glimpse of an attractive blond in a nice red sweater and black slacks. Wow, Marla is ALL RIGHT!!! I expected her to be attractive as both of her sister’s are “lookers”. My expectations were clearly exceeded! Both also have wonderful personalities, so I also expected to be able to spend at least one pleasant evening with Marla. Again there was no disappointment as our conversation effortlessly flowed through our backgrounds, family, interests, and travels.

I drove Marla to the restaurant, which I later learned, involved a bit of behind the scenes planning. After an evening full of laughter, good conversation, a wonderful dinner, it was time to drive Marla to her Mom’s, where she stayed when visiting. I was trying to figure out how I could see Marla more before she left Kalamazoo when, much to my pleasure, and relief, Marla suggested we could watch the University of Michigan football game at Jon and Connie’s the next day! YES!!! And, again, more behind the scenes planning!

We enjoyed an afternoon of football, and munchies. Again, the conversation flowed easily. So easily, in fact, that as Marla and Connie finalized plans for the excursions during their upcoming Caribbean cruise, a major shift occurred. We all viewed the various options, deciding that the sail away catamarans with snorkeling, pristine, isolated beaches and unlimited rum punch were the preferred choice. Also, Connie and Marla discussed the attributes of Marla staying in the suite that Jon and Connie had versus retaining separate quarters. Connie, in the impish manner all of you who know her would be quick to recognize, suggested, of course, there was always the option of Marla taking on a roommate – giving both Marla and I a redness that belied, at least for me, the desire for this to come to pass. Things were moving quickly!

Again, I didn’t want the time with Marla to end. I suggested we stop for a bite to eat at the Oakwood Bistro before calling it a day. Another pleasant meal, and an increasingly, albeit unspoken, acknowledgement that there was a real connection developing led to my suggestion to further continue the evening. “How about we go to my house for a glass of champagne?” was my query. “Sure” came the response. Marla, however, didn’t know I needed to go to the store to get the champagne. I didn’t ask what kind of champagne she preferred, offering , instead, to make the selection. What a surprise for us both when we found Nectar Imperial by Moet and Chandon is both our favorite. How much coincidence could there be? As we shared the champagne, we discussed what to do the next day, Marla’s last in Kalamazoo before heading to Connecticut to visit daughter Heidi and family. We decided on dinner with my daughter Allison, a junior at Western Michigan at the time.

We ate at Martini’s Pizza, a downtown, college type spot near the house Allie rents with seven other girls. While the food itself was not so memorable, the three of us were quite at ease and I know Allie could tell there was something special going on. We had clearly moved beyond polite acquaintances. I could hardly wait to see Marla again when she stopped in Kalamazoo on her way back to Denver. After dropping Marla at her Mom’s, my mind raced into the future, not sure what might be real and what was pure fantasy.

Golf pal Tim and sister Sharon

Jon and sister Connie

Any relationship can be attributed, in some way, to chance. Its just that sometimes its more, or less, obvious. Our meeting was more an arrangement than chance, and here’s our versions of how we came to know one another.

He Said:

A golf pal, Tim, had occasionally suggested for about a year that I should meet Marla, his sister-in-law from Denver. She was originally from Kalamazoo and visited regularly. However, at the time I was in a steady relationship, so I had repeatedly declined.

The idea had lain dormant for quite a while until the evening of Tim’s retirement celebration in August when Tim’s other sister-in-law, Connie, and husband, Jon, arrived at the party. Tim, Sharon, Jon, Connie and I were remarking how coincidental it was that I knew both sisters and their husbands through different avenues. Connie, Jon and I had worked at the same manufacturing plant for about six years and, as I said, Tim and Sharon had the golf connection. Tim then reiterated how he thought I’d be a good match for Marla. She was coming to Kalamazoo for Thanksgiving and this would be a perfect time for us to meet. The gals immediately ran to the phone, called Marla in Denver and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. And, I might add, a blissful history it is!

So, while our meeting was arranged, had I not met Tim and Sharon through golf, or worked with Jon and Connie, I might never have met my lovely Marla! So was it chance or destiny? To me, all that matters is, it happened – and we are now “having the time of lives!”

She said:

My sisters could not wait to call me from the retirement party and get this thing going. Connie and Jon had worked for Bill and said that he was the best boss they had ever  worked for at the GM plant in Kalamazoo (which he later had to close, and they still liked him).

I was at a point in my life when I had lost interest in dating and was just concentrating on traveling to visit friends and family. I was learning and playing the “modern bridge”, and taking classes at the local Junior College in Interior Design.

The retirement party was in August, and they(sisters) wondered when I could come to Kalamazoo to meet Bill. I had other obligations in the next few months and stuck to my plan of visiting at Thanksgiving. I also felt that if this was “meant to be” it would happen, and besides, I was in Denver and he was in Kalamazoo. I guess it was meant to be……