A Perfect (Michigan) Summer

Spring is taking its sweet time to arrive in Chicago. Today, it's somewhere around 2 degrees. Oh, no, wait, my phone says it's 34. On March 23rd. Last year at this time it was close to 80. I had brunch in the Deerpath Inn Garden this weekend last year. But I digress.

Although Spring has yet to arrive, I'm already thinking about Summer. Specifically, I'm thinking about Watervale. Just under 5 months until I'm at Watervale and Lord willing, I'll be there sooner than that.

The 2013 Pure Michigan campaign kicked off this past week and each time I see one of their commercials, I'm immediately transported to my favorite place on earth. In fact, I don't even have to see the commercial. I just have to hear the music that opens nearly all the commercials and hear Tim Allen's voice and I'm there.

You'll appreciate my delight at discovering the 2013 Pure Michigan Summer Playlist on YouTube a few minutes ago. I squealed with happiness.

I love you, so here are my favorites:

Sand Dunes


Lighthouses

Watervale Mail!

You'll never guess what I received yesterday from my friend Shari! Watervale Mail!!! Yay!

Okay, okay. I suppose the title of this post did give it away. Trust me, just because the title gave it away does not diminish the value of Watervale Mail.

You'll recall that a little over a week ago, I posted about how I couldn't go to Watervale this year and made a plea for my friends and family to not only have an extra great time for me (I even gave them a custom Watervale To Do List), but I also requested Watervale Mail in an effort to ease my pain.

Shari came through. She sent me the best letter I've received in ages and it sounds like she had an incredible time.

This is the card Shari sent me. It's a picture of the Outlet looking North to Frankfort.

During Shari's three weeks at Watervale, she hiked Baldy, watched the sunset, canoed to BooHoo and swam from the Point to the Millsite, water skied a couple of times each week, played in the surf, savored the creme brûlée, read, slept, wrote, drank wine, laid on the beach, stayed up to watch the Perseids, enjoyed Honey Oatmeal bread at dinner and toast with blackberry jam at breakfast, hugged many family members and friends, told ghost stories about the Farmhouse, visited Sleeping Bear Dunes. I think she also biked the Betsie Trail to Beulah and around Upper Herring Lake, had a beach fire and at s'mores, hung out at the Outlet (that's not a mall for the uninitiated), climbed BooHoo, hiked Green Point Dunes, and visited the Upper Herring Nature Preserve.

She was busy. No wonder she needs 3 weeks. Maybe I can do some of that when I do the Lake Michigan Circle Tour in October.

Even though I was at home, I had a great week too.

It started with a mani-pedi on Friday. Sunday shifted into high gear when I spent an awesome day with my friend Vincent at the Art Institute's Roy Lichtenstein exhibit, lunched at the Park Grill, had my breath taken away with one of the best secret views of the city, and enjoyed a day full of phenomenal conversation about many topics, including his new play, Venus Envy. Monday evening I attended my condo association board meeting. It was 2 1/2 hours. In the middle of it, my dad sent me a text message saying he was watching a Watervale sunset and my brother called to rub it in. They obviously love me. My work week was filled with alumni events and work lunches. On Thursday, my department enjoyed a summer outing to Arlington Park and I stopped to visit my mom. Finally, last night, I was seranaded by Tony Bennett at Ravinia with my friend Robert and a few thousand of our closest friends. The Chicago Tribune and I agree that he nailed it.

Take a look at my week. I think you'll agree it was terrific.

All in all, a solid week, although to paraphrase myself, the worst week at Watervale still beats the best week at home. At least I've got Watervale Mail to help get me through the next few months. Thanks Shari!

It's Official: I'm Not Going to Watervale

A classic Watervale sunset over Lower Herring Lake.

I've been procrastinating officially making this announcement, but it simply can't wait any longer because I'm supposed to be headed to Watervale in less than 18 hours.

For a variety of reasons, I'm not going to Watervale this summer.

Yes, I know. I've spent at least part of every summer at Watervale for three-quarters of my life. That's right, I've been going to Watervale for 30 years. And I'm not going this year.

This summer has flown by and although I haven't been able to get away, I have had quite a bit of fun. An awesome Cubs game rooftop party on Memorial Day. A great dinner cruise on Lake Michigan on my birthday. Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw concert at Ravinia. Kenny Loggins concert and fireworks in Lake Forest for the 4 of July. The Blues Brothers movie at Wrigley Field. An amazing evening at Place de la Musique where I even rode the carousel! James Taylor concert at Ravinia. Fabulous lunches, dinners, and movies with friends. This weekend I'm going to the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit at the Art Institute and next weekend I'm hoping to see Tony Bennett at Ravinia.

It's been a good summer. But it won't feel complete because it lacks Watervale. Watervale is my touchstone. It brings me back to me. I arrive stressed out and leave rejuvenated. I sleep. I read. I write. I swim. I hike. I play in the surf of Lake Michigan. I lay on the beach and let sand run through my fingers. I drink wine with friends. I watch sunsets. I kayak. I stay up late hoping to see the Northern Lights. I count the meteors I see each night during the Perseids Meteor Shower. I swing on the swings. I eat good food.

So why am I saying all of this tonight? Am I complaining? No. I'll take a vacation later this fall, but it won't be the same as going to Watervale in August.

I'm writing this tonight because I need your help.

How can you help? I'm glad you asked.

You can . . .

• hike Baldy
• watch the sunset
• swim to BooHoo
• kayak daily
• play in the surf
• see a movie at the Cherry Bowl Drive-In or at the Garden Theater
• savor the creme brûlée
• read, sleep, write
• drink wine
• lay on the beach
• stay up in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights or the Perseids Meteor Shower
• enjoy an extra piece of John Hultman's Honey Oatmeal Bread for me (preferably toasted with cherry jam and no butter)
• hug your Watervale friends and family for me
• tell ghost stories about the Watervale Woman
• visit Sleeping Bear Dunes

You can also do one more thing for me . . . send me some Watervale Mail.  That's right. Fill my snail mail box with Watervale postcards. Need my address? Ask my dad for it or send me a message on Facebook and I'll send it to you.

Above all else, savor your time at Watervale for all the poor souls (like me) who can't be there this year or who have never experienced it for themselves.

Sleeping Bear Dunes - Starry Nights

I found this video the other day thanks to Pure Michigan on Facebook, I think.

Sometimes people ask my why I love Northern Michigan so much and I often just say "Sleeping Bear Dunes." Its beauty is second-to-none. Now all I'll have to do is point them to this video.

Enjoy!


Sleeping Bear Dunes - Starry Nights from Kenneth Snyder on Vimeo.

As always, if you read Little Merry Sunshine via email and the videos don't come through, visit the site and watch the video. Trust me, it's a little slice of Heaven.

Runners Get "Runners High," But What Do Swimmers Get?

Whatever the swimming equivalent is to "Runner's High," I experienced for the very first time today in the pool.

It was kind of strange really. You'd think I might have experienced it last week when I was at Watervale and swimming across Lower Herring Lake. You remember the saga from last year. Last year, I struggled physically and in my head to swim from the dock to BooHoo. It took me an hour just to get there and then I had to kayak back. Last year, I couldn't swim a straight line to save my life. Rather than swim from Points A to B, I swam it via points Q, R, and S. That is to say, I swam completely out of my way...multiple times. Although Dave didn't have to pull me in the kayak, I did have to stop a lot and hold onto the kayak while I caught my breath and tread water.

This year, I swam to BooHoo like a champ. Rather than taking an hour to get there, I swam round trip in an hour. Round. Trip. In other words, I swam each way in 30 minutes or half the time it took last year! Swimming round trip to BooHoo in under an hour was a goal I'd set last year and I did it. And then I did it again two days later. On the first swim to BooHoo, I did have to stop and hang onto the kayak twice, but those times were only to de-fog my goggles. Thank goodness for my Watervale swimmer friend Craig who clued me in about licking the inside of my goggles to prevent fog. That man is brilliant. How no one else told me that previously is beyond me, but I digress. I didn't have to hold onto the kayak on the way home or on the second trip two days later.

Back to tonight. I hopped into the pool, licked my goggles, which, as it turned out, were full of Watervale sand and headed out. Let me just say that swimming in a lap pool no deeper than 5 feet, where I can see the bottom of the crystal clear, chlorinated water, and with stripes on the bottom and lane markers on either side felt like I was swimming with training wheels in comparison to the treacherous waters of Lower Herring Lake.

In the wild open waters of Lower Herring Lake, I bravely fought off speed boats, survived strong currents, huge waves, 50+ foot depths, an internal GPS that worked sometimes and was on the fritz the other times, the voices inside my head (and a rather unpleasant conversation with Dave once when I needed a break), the Lower Herring Lake Monster, and very uneven water temps. I even got cramps once. But I swam it. Round trip. Twice.

Tonight I powered through my swim with a new-found vigor. I swam with power and strength I didn't know I had. I even had speed that I've never had before. I cut 30% off my best time. The voices telling me I couldn't do it, that I'm weak and slow were gone. Instead, they were replaced with "How much faster/further can I go?" and "I'm done? Oh crap. I could go another 15 minutes or so. Too bad there's a bunch of people waiting." I ran into the wall a couple of times not because I wasn't paying attention, but because I thought the length of the pool was a whole lot longer than it actually is. In short, I felt exhilarated.

I can't wait to get in the pool tomorrow. And next year? I'm gonna swim round-trip to BooHoo each day in less than 45 minutes.

Laughter is an Instant Vacation

I'm just back from Watervale and too exhausted to put the week into words, although I can assure you I've got some good stories for you.

In the meantime, take three minutes out of your day and take a little vacation of your own. As one of my favorite inspiration websites, Simple Truths, points out, Laughter is an Instant Vacation.

The Watervale Man

Watervale guests are known for their creativity and devotion to Watervale, so it was truly a matter of time before someone wrote a song. A friend of mine posted this video to Facebook a few weeks ago and I thought I'd wait to post it to LMS until I was at Watervale.

This song and video really do give you a good idea of what Watervale is all about and why I love it so much, so make sure you watch the video. Honestly, if you're reading this via email and the video didn't come through, visit LMS to watch it.

If You Need Me Next Week . . .

I'll be....

Savoring the last little bits of Summertime


while I'm (Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay,

With my Toes in the water, ass in the sand,


Having my own Barefoot Blue Jean Nights,


and keeping watch for the Southern Cross.


I'll also be wishing this slice of heaven lasted All Summer Long.


So leave me a note and I'll get back to you when I return from Watervale.

Pure Michigan...Sand

On my way to the vet with Betsey tonight, I heard a Pure Michigan ad on the radio and, as they almost always do, it brought tears to my eyes. I don't know if I'm just overly tired from working late 2 nights, Birthapalooza celebrated over 3 nights, and a Lake Forest College alumni Architectural Boat Cruise last night or if I'm just missing Watervale, but as soon as they said those magic words "Pure Michigan," I got all teary.

A little while later, as I was waiting on the doctor to bring Betsey back to me after performing various tests, I was checking Facebook on my phone and discovered that my friend Christie from Watervale had placed this amazing Pure Michigan "Sand" ad on her Facebook page.

Just what I needed in that moment.

The beach and the sand and the water bring me peace. Digging my toes in the sand, listening to the waves crash, and feeling the sun beat down on my skin is better than any form of therapy I could possibly find. Watching the ad, I was instantly taken to Watervale. Even if it was only for 30 seconds, those were the most peaceful 30 seconds of my day.

Enjoy.



Because I love you, here's another brilliant Pure Michigan ad, Perfect Summer.

Can You Do Nothing For 2 Minutes?

When was the last time you simply did nothing for two minutes except breathe? Unless you regularly do yoga or meditate, it may have been awhile.

I found this cool site a couple of weeks ago on Huffington Post and I love it. I know a few of you will think there's a catch to this website, but I haven't found it yet. The entire purpose of the site is to encourage relaxation. I make myself go there a couple of times a day and just listen to the sounds of the ocean. Sometimes I almost get convinced that I'm sitting on the beach at Watervale.

Try it. You'll love it. If you can make it through two minutes of doing nothing.

Click on the picture and you'll be taken to the website.

picture from Huffington Post

Friday Favorites - Ice Cream Shops

Welcome to a new feature here at Little Merry Sunshine called "Friday Favorites." I'd call it a "regular" feature, but Lord knows, there's no telling if anything around here will happen on a regular basis. Not sleeping. Not eating. Not blogging. You get the picture.

Anyway, I have no idea what made me think of this, but after a number of days feeling tongue tied, I'm just grateful for anything to write about. Don't ask why I feel tongue tied, the story is too long and well, it's just one of those things that needs to stay private. Let's just say I've been stuck in my head and leave it at that.

So without further ado or excuses, I bring you my Favorite Ice Cream Shops. Note that they are in no particular order. I love them each for a variety of reasons and cannot possibly rank them. Just don't take me elsewhere for ice cream.

1. The Cool Spot in Frankfort, Michigan
2. Capanarri Ice Cream in Mt. Prospect, Illinois
3. Dairy Queen on Sanibel Island, Florida
4. Sweets in Lake Forest, Illinois
5. Strachan's Homemade Ice Cream in Palm Harbor, Florida

Next Year's Watervale Goal: Climb Baldy at Night

The view from the top of Baldy would be 1000 times better than this.

Over the last few years, as I am planning my Watervale trip, I have developed the habit of challenging myself physically. In 2004, I climbed Baldy for the first time in almost 15 years. In 2008, I learned to kayak and kayaked from Lower Herring Lake through the Outlet and over the dam to Lake Michigan and back. This year, I climbed Baldy and swam to BooHoo. Accomplishing each of these goals makes me truly proud and confident in myself.

And now, thanks to my friend Benny Jay*, who I have known for close to 20 years because he and his family have the great sense to vacation at Watervale, I know what I'm going to do next summer . . . I'm going to climb Baldy at night.

Benny Jay's daughters climbed Baldy one night while we were there. (Go read about their adventure here). Now, I will grant you, these amazing women are half my age and they run Baldy everyday, but I can do this too.

I've always wanted to climb Baldy at night, but never really let myself entertain the thought for more than a few fleeting moments because I didn't think I could. But that's the benefit of making the decision to do it now: I've got 11 months to get into shape for it and all the exercise will help me in my plan to lose weight before I turn 40 (see Bucket List Item #22).

I can only imagine the sight of a sky with a full 360 degree view of stars without the glare of lights or trees blocking the way. Maybe I'll see some shooting stars or even the Northern Lights.

Plus, I think that climbing Baldy at night may be a terrific way to celebrate my 40th birthday.

*Benny Jay is the best writer in Chicago. Seriously. He keeps all the politicians on their toes with his work for The Reader and his exposure of Mayor Daley's favorite slush fund: TIFs. In his spare time writes for the second best blog in the city, The Third City. If you're not already doing so, you should read Benny Jay's work every day.

Watervale Withdrawl Disorder

I was running an errand early Friday evening when right in front of me appeared a beautiful sunset. The setting sun, unencumbered by clouds, was filling the clear blue sky with red and orange afterglow. It was stunning. Not Watervale stunning, but nice for Chicago.

My favorite Watervale 2010 Sunset picture. Nothing in Chicago compares.

As I continued to marvel at the beauty of nature, my body broke out in a cold sweat and I started to shake. My heart began to race. I started to hyperventilate.

You may be thinking that I was having a heart attack or having a seizure, but I assure you this was nothing new. This happens each time I return home from Watervale and it has a clinical name: Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™ (WWD). Anyone who's been to Watervale at least once knows what I'm talking about.

Watervale is an addiction and a heck of a habit to break.

What is Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™?

It's the whiff of fresh bread baking in the Inn as you walk through your kitchen, even though you've been home a week and haven't used the oven. It's the sight of Crème Brûlée on a restaurant menu and knowing it won't live up to Watervale Crème Brûlée (and that you don't have an awesome waiter named Pat who held one aside just for you for dessert, even though they ran out in the 6:00 dinner seating).

Not actual Watervale Crème Brûlée, although it looks very similar.

It's the feeling of sand between your toes, even though you live in a concrete jungle and never walk barefoot.

Toes in the Watervale sand. Easter Weekend 2010. Believe me, this doesn't happen in Chicago. The "sand" we have here doesn't feel as good under your toes. I don't know what it is, but it's not fine like the sand I'm used to.

It's the realization that not only do doors have locks, but you best use them. It's the phantom sound of waves lapping on the dock even though the only body of water you see is in your morning shower.

It's the throbbing and burning you get in the back of your calves when you're on the Stairmaster from Hell without the reward of the view from the top of Baldy to make the pain go away better than any pain management drug known to man.

Lake Michigan (left) and Lower Herring Lake (right) from the top of Baldy taken in April 2010. When you see this sight, suddenly you forget the burn in your calves and you can't wait to make the hike again. It's kind of like how I hear your body forgets the pain of childbirth so you'll do it again.

It's the tears that run down your face when you realize you can't go back for 11 1/2 months AND you have to make it through another Chicago winter first.

Chicago Winter, 1967. From the Chicago Tribune.

It's finding a rock that has the telltale signs of a Petosky Stone, licking it and realizing it's just a regular dirty rock.

The Petosky Stone Dave found on the face of Baldy and gave me. It's between the size of a golf ball and a baseball.

It's walking outside around midnight to stargaze and realizing that not only is Cassiopeia (aka the Watervale W™) not visible in the northeast sky, you can barely see the moon.

Cassiopeia, also known as the Watervale W™, for obvious reasons.

It's being confused when a friend invites you to go to the Outlet and you grab your bathing suit because you think you're going to the Outlet (and are pissed when you realize you're only going shopping for last season's discount clothes).

Nebraska Crossing Outlets in Nebraska (pic from Wikipedia) are definitely not . . .

. . . The Outlet.
Taken by Shari Noble, Aug. 28, 2010. Click here for another of my favorite Outlet pictures. It truly illustrates how the Outlet links Lower Herring Lake and Lake Michigan. If you look closely, you can see Lower Herring Lake peaking out between the trees in the right half of the picture.

Unfortunately, Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™ is not curable. Of course, it's not terminal either, so there is some good news. I have found a few ways to deal with WWD including staying in close contact with Watervale friends via Facebook and in person, writing about Watervale on Little Merry Sunshine, drinking Michigan wines whenever possible, telling Watervale stories to anyone who will listen, curling up in my Watervale sweatshirts, displaying the collection of rocks I've found on the Big Beach, filling hurricane vases with Watervale sand (that I often run my fingers through) and a candle, wearing my charm bracelet filled with charms I've bought in Northern Michigan, and flipping through old scrapbooks.

Of course, the best cure for Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™ is to return to Watervale as soon as possible, which I've been trying to do a couple times a year since Dave now lives there permanently.

How do you cope with Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™?

The Coolest Week Ever and It's Only Wednesday

As you know, I do a lot of volunteering for and writing about my alma mater, Lake Forest College. I don't do it for the recognition or the fact that the president now knows me personally or even the super-cool friends I've made, although those things are nice. I do it because I love the College, I'm forever grateful for the education and life-changing experiences I received, and I want to help enable current and future Foresters to have their own ah-ha moments that stay with them forever.

Once in awhile, I get invited to participate in programs or events that I would never be able to participate in if I didn't volunteer so much. This week has given me two of those opportunities.

When I returned from Watervale last week, I received an email from Grace Groner's attorney. You remember Grace Groner. She left Lake Forest College $7million and her cottage earlier this year. Back in March, when I wrote about Grace's generosity and how much I was touched by it, Grace's attorney, Bill Marlatt commented on my post. In his email last week, he invited me to tour Grace's Cottage, as it is now known. Mr. Marlatt has updated Grace's Cottage and it will be lived in by two Groner Fellows each year.

Upon entering Grace's Cottage, I was completely humbled. As Bill and I walked through the modest (by any standards, not just Lake Forest standards) home, I could feel Grace's love and spirit in every nook and cranny. I was struck by just how modestly she lived, yet what a truly rich life she had. Although Grace never married or had children, her generosity will not only affect generations of Foresters, but her legacy will pass to the thousands (millions?) of people they will help along the way. Grace Groner is literally changing the world.

Bill shared many stories about Grace with me in the short time we were together and I was struck by how much she and I share similar values of giving back to those who helped us along the way, a love for Lake Forest College and leaving the world better than we found it. Bill told me she even had a strong interest in politics! I wish I had known Grace because I'm certain I would have loved her and she could have taught me a lot. Simply knowing about her and seeing the lives she has changed, makes me want to be a better person.

Tonight I had the opportunity to represent the Alumni Board and speak at Matriculation. It was quite a moving ceremony with numerous awards presented for student leadership, academic achievement, and faculty excellence, in addition to officially inducting the first year and transfer students into the College. It was especially honoring for me to have been asked to be the Alumni Board speaker because my cousin was sitting in the audience, as the third Gardner to attend the College. Lake Forest is truly a family affair.

Here's the text of my remarks written for me by my good friend Tim.

Greetings to the Class of 2014 from the Lake Forest College Alumni Association. My name is Jessica Gardner, and I'm a member of the Class of 1993. On behalf of the some 13,500 alumni of the College, I welcome you to our family. We take great pride in Lake Forest and the personal and academic experiences gained here. I made life-long friends during my four years here and sitting amongst you are likely to be yours, as well.

Alumni support the College with their time, talents, and gifts. You will meet many of us as you participate in Homecoming, Reunion, & Family Weekend, the Mentor Program, and the many other events in which Alumni play a crucial role. It is my hope that you will view this evening as the beginning of your life-long relationship with Lake Forest College. The Alumni will be watching your progress and cheering you on every step of the way.

Thank you.

I am so honored and humbled to have the opportunity to have these experiences this week because in my wildest imagination when I was a student, I never imagined this amazing path with the College I'd still be on almost 20 years later.

Bucket List Item #61: Swim to BooHoo!

First, let me say that we need t-shirts for those of us who swim to BooHoo*. You know, like the t-shirts people have that say "I Survived the Bush Administration 2001-2009." Well, okay, not exactly like that. Swimming to BooHoo is a good thing, but you get the idea. Swimming to BooHoo is also hard work; don't listen to the folks who say it isn't. They lie.

You may recall that in my Watervale To Do List, item number 2 on my list was "swim from the dock at the Inn to BooHoo." It's also item number 61 on my Bucket List. From my very safe seat in my kitchen, this seemed like an easy and fun idea. When I arrived at Watervale and looked across the lake, however, I began to question my sanity (please keep your comments on this matter to yourself, thank you). It was much further than I remembered it and certainly appeared to be much further than the 328 yards (0.18 miles) I had heard it was. In fact, it looked to be about 10 miles. Depending on where you plan to arrive, it's actually about 1/4 mile to The Point and more than that (but less than 1/2 mile) to BooHoo. I asked Jennie and she'd know, so those numbers are as close to official as you can get.

The Point. About 1/4 mile from the dock.
(Taken from the dock with the zoom lens).

See that little sand peeking out from the trees? That's the bottom of BooHoo. Between 1/4 and 1/2 mile from the dock.
(Taken from the dock with the zoom lens).

I'm standing on the beach looking at The Point and at BooHoo. See, it's really really far - probably about 10 miles.

By Wednesday, I had worked up some of the nerve to attempt my swim and Dave agreed to spot me in the kayak, but I still wasn't sure. I had been a pretty strong swimmer as a kid, but somewhere along the way, I developed a slight fear of water that was not chlorinated or see-through and more than 12 feet deep. Lower Herring Lake definitely does not fit into that category and is 50 feet deep where I planned to swim. But I'd been talking up my swim all day, had tweeted about it and had told all of you I'd be swimming to BooHoo, so I felt some obligation to at least give it a shot. If I died or quit midway there, at least I would have tried.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I was. I wasn't convinced I could make it without Dave pulling me a good part of the way and, of course, I had a small worry that I'd drown. About an hour before my scheduled departure time, my dad suddenly announced he didn't think I could swim across the lake. My already fragile confidence took a nose dive, especially since he said it in front of friends who'd been trying to build me up. Continuing his monologue about why I shouldn't even attempt to swim across the lake because I wasn't my brother (the super athlete), I finally turned to my dad and said "How would you know? You never let me play sports when I was a kid. I have to do this. I'm tired of living life on the sidelines and in Dave's shadow." It felt good to stand up to my father, something I rarely do.

This swim was about so much more than just swimming. It was about me overcoming fears, stepping outside of my comfort zone, proving I could achieve my goal, discovering that maybe I do have untapped athletic ability and living life fully.

I got in the water and after about 10 minutes of hemming and hawing, I was off. Most of my friends make this swim in far less than 30 minutes. It took me an hour. I'd swim awhile and then need to stop and rest. I'm not really sure how much resting I did though since I tread water the entire time. I did hold onto Dave's kayak a few times, but he never towed me. I'd just tread water and we'd talk about whatever popped into my mind. Then after a few minutes, I'd start swimming again.

The funniest part of the swim came when a woman on a paddle board almost took my head off. I was treading water, chatting with Dave, when all the sudden this paddle board ran into me. We all laughed as I darted out of the way, but Dave said he had seen it coming for a few minutes. . . the two slowest things in the lake were drawn together like magnets.

Finally, I arrived at BooHoo on my own power (as opposed to being towed in by Dave). About 50 feet from shore I had a slight panic when I developed a cramp in my chest. I stopped swimming and breathed through it until I could swim again and then I finished. The important thing is that I made it without drowning or being decapitated. I heard the song Gonna Fly Now in my head as I emerged victorious from the lake. I think I even may have imitated Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but I can't be sure because it's still a little fuzzy. All I know for certain is that the grin on my face and pride in my accomplishment hasn't yet been wiped off my face.

Below is a self-drawn picture of my swim. As you can see, my internal GPS was a bit faulty and I swam way out of my way. But I did it. I wish I could say I swam back, but I didn't. I took Dave's kayak and suggested he walk or swim. He chose to walk. Next year my goal is to swim both ways in under an hour.

Click on the picture to be taken to a clearer and larger version.
Yes, I'm a natural artist. Thank you for noticing.

*BooHoo is a sand dune just across the Lower Herring Lake from the Inn at Watervale and on the way to the Outlet (the Outlet being the place where Lower Herring Lake feeds into Lake Michigan). I believe that it's officially part of Watervale property, but I'm not 100% certain. It's my understanding that BooHoo got its name from Vera Noble who, as a child would climb the face of the dune and would cry as she climbed from the sand burning her feet. Although from the dock, BooHoo is difficult to see because of the trees that have grown around it, here's a picture of what it looks like from White Owl Road.

Special thanks for believing in my ability to swim to BooHoo goes out to one of my Forever Friends who sent me a text telling me that he believed in me and knew I could swim to BooHoo. His words stayed in my head for the entire swim and kept me going when I wanted to quit or thought I was about to drown.

M-22 . . . It's A Way of Life

A few years ago, I started seeing all sorts of paraphernalia including stickers, t-shirts, and sweatshirts sporting the M-22 road sign shield. Mostly, I was seeing it all in Northern Michigan, but every once in awhile, I would see it in Chicago and I'd just smile to myself and wonder where people were getting it because I'd never seen it in stores.

For those of you not in the know, M-22 is a state highway in Northern Michigan. It starts in Manistee when you turn left off of M-31 at the Little River Casino and continues north through many of the towns I love finally ending in Traverse City. If you've ever been to Sleeping Bear Dunes, you've driven on M-22. If you're part of the Watervale family, you know M-22 intimately and could drive it in your sleep (but I would strongly recommend against doing that).

Turning north onto M-22 means I've got about 30 minutes until I pull into Watervale. I can always instantly feel my blood pressure drop significantly as I make that turn. My stress level becomes non-existent. The air is lighter, clearer, and just smells better. Being on M-22 means I have spotty cell phone reception and have left the big city far far behind. It means dark nights lit only by God's natural nightlights, the stars that seem so close I can pull them out of the sky. It's a refreshing lack of McDonald's, Starbucks, Walmart, and chain movie theaters in favor of mom & pop restaurants and coffee shops, roadside farm stands, and the Garden Theater. No matter where you are on M-22, you're never more than a few feet from Lake Michigan, even if you can't see it.

What I've also learned about M-22, since first spotting the road sign on t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc., is that the M-22 shield was adopted as the company logo for Broneah Kiteboarding based in Traverse City. In 2006, the owners wore one of their M-22 t-shirts on the cover of Traverse Magazine and their phone started ringing off the hook by readers wanting their own M-22 gear. The rest is history.

While kiteboarding isn't my thing, M-22 is. As Broneah Kiteboarding says, "M-22 is not just a road; it is a way of life."

I'm Back

Watervale was spectacular. I relaxed and enjoyed just being for a few days. I tried to stay out of touch, but I couldn't. I even managed to do 9 of the 10 things on my Watervale To Do List and the one thing I didn't do was entirely out of my control. Frankly, I'm surprised I couldn't get the Universe to cooperate and give me some Northern Lights, but I couldn't. I also didn't see the Perseid Meteor Showers, but I did sit up and watch the stars a couple of night, so that counts.

I'll write about my trip in the next couple of days. Believe me, I've got quite the tale of personal triumph to tell.

So stay tuned and tighten your seatbelt. I'm going to have quite the adventure on Sunday and I can't wait to share it with you!

In the meantime, go read the posts I wrote while I was gone . . . Breaking Boy News: A Review, Watervale 2010 Soundtrack, and The House That Built My Mom.

Watervale 2010 Soundtrack

This week needed a soundtrack and these are some of the songs I sang loudly as I drove to Watervale on Saturday morning. I wake up hearing singing them and fall asleep humming them. If you read Little Merry Sunshine via email, click here to visit the blog and watch the videos.

Toes by The Zac Brown Band


All Summer Long by Kid Rock


Summertime by Kenny Chesney


Water by Brad Paisley


Southern Cross by Jimmy Buffett


American Honey by Lady Antebellum


'Til Summer Comes Around by Keith Urban


Smile by Uncle Kracker


Hey Soul Sister by Train


California Gurls by Katy Perry

Katy perry - california girls music video
Uploaded by tevochannel. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Watervale To Do List

Someone asked me today what I do while I'm at Watervale, so I rattled off my Watervale To Do List and thought I'd give you a peek too:

1. Read. I'm taking 5 books: The Help by Kathryn Stockett, True Compass: A Memoir by Ted Kennedy, Best Friends by Martha Moody, Conservatives Without Conscience by John Dean, and The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.
2. Swim. I'm going to swim from the dock at the Inn to BooHoo (a very large sand dune, although not as high as Baldy). It's only 325 yards (0.18 miles), but it's in water where I can neither see the bottom nor touch the bottom. I'll probably swim back. I may also climb BooHoo while I'm there.
3. Kayak. I'm going to kayak from the dock at the Inn to the Outlet like I did in 2008.
4. Hike Baldy. Click here for the most recent Baldy hike story and pictures.
5. Sleep on the beach.
6. Watch sunsets.
7. Watch the Perseid Meteor Showers.
8. Hopefully see the Northern Lights.
9. Hang out with friends and family.
10. Drink some wine.

As you can see, it will be a very busy week. Before I can begin to really think about my Watervale To Do List, I have to get through this week's to do list, which is far longer.

I've got some blog posts in the works, but it may be a couple of days. Don't go anywhere.

My Bucket List

Do you have a Bucket List? You know, a list of things you want to do before you die? I've always sort of had one, but never written mine down. But then I got to thinking that if I didn't have it written down anywhere, I might not actually ever do the things I dream of doing.

Without further ado and in no particular order, here's my Bucket List.

1. Write a novel and have it published.
2. Travel to 6 of the 7 continents (I have no need to visit Antarctica).
3. Kiss the man I love at the top of the Eiffel Tower (sure, it's cliche, but so what).
4. Marry the man of my dreams (and never get divorced).
5. Be a mom (being a step-mom or adopting kid(s) would be perfect).
6. Visit New York City. (I've actually been there twice for 2 1-day business trips, but I want to really SEE New York City - Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, tour the United Nations, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, see a Broadway show, etc.)
7. See a baseball game at every major league stadium (I've been to two - Wrigley Field and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, well, three if you count the Old Comiskey Park).
8. Attend the Cubs World Series Championship Victory Parade.
9. Have my gardens featured in a Garden Walk.
10. Create a scholarship at my alma mater.
11. Visit the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian Pyramids, and Stonehenge.
12. Read the Complete Works of William Shakespeare.
13. Tour the Sistine Chapel and attend mass at the Vatican.
14. Take the ferry to Muskegon or Ludington (rather than drive all the way to Watervale).

15. Cook every recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
16. Attend a Democratic National Committee convention as a delegate.
17. Be an extra in a movie.
18. Run for public office.
19. Drive from Chicago to LA on Route 66.
20. Learn to snow ski.
21. Run and complete a half-marathon.
22. Lose 100 pounds by my 40th birthday. I've got 10 1/2 months.
23. Visit the Grand Canyon and Mt. Rushmore.
24. Sky dive.
25. Learn to scuba dive and dive the Great Barrier Reef.
26. Learn how to shoot a gun.
27. Ride a motorcycle.
28. Have my picture taken with a sitting President.
29. Have front row seats for a U2 concert.
30. Saber a bottle of champagne.

31. Ride a camel.
32. Sing karaoke (I even have a song picked out).
33. Learn to play tennis.
34. Cruise the Greek Islands.

There are quite a few additional To Do's on my Bucket List, but seeing as how Little Merry Sunshine is a family blog (well, at least my family reads it), I must keep those items private. :)

What's on your Bucket List?