Way tooooooo Longgggg....!!!!!!

I can't believe I haven't written on my BLOG in such a long, long time. Recently, many friends have criticized me for not writing. Thus, I will try to catch up and explain. Basically, I have been so busy living life in the U.P. to the fullest that I haven't had time to write. Between going to football games to watch my son catch his average of 1.5 touchdowns a game and play a stunningly good defensive end position---and then going to work of course----and then catching a few salmon out in front of the house from the boat---and home remodeling----and keeping in touch with my daughters----one in Cinci and one at Interlochen----and then finding time to nurture my relationship with my wife---SHEESH---it gets away from you. So, I resolve to get back into doing some writing.



There is a song by the Canadian Group "Great Big Sea" that I can't stop thinking about. Well, I can't even remember the title, but I do remember this line:



"I got problems and problems and problems and problems and I couldn't get to sleep last night....Laid awake for hours and hours and hours and I couldn't get out of the fight".



Well, it's something like that, anyway. It's amazing at how many days and hours a 51 year old man spends problem fixing. There is the patient population problem fixing---the aging cars we own problem fixing---the daughters away at school problem fixing----the son at home problem fixing---and of course the wife carrying the groceries and me having to go out and help here and wife problem fixing. My favorite T-shirt has this summed up on the front:



"Dad is the name, fixing is the game."



So, I fix things. I lay down tile floors in new additions. I tell my daughter where to go for her physical therapy. I set up physical therapy for my wife's aching shoulder. I keep the first aid kit fresh for the football team. I play music for the "Walk For Diabetes" event. I help my Chamber of Commerce with thier float for the October Fest Parade. I can go on and on and on about how involved I am at Church and in the Community and with my family. That's just what we do, we have to give back. There are so many of my friends who give back so much more than I. I can't tell you how much I admire my friend Ed for helping wounded veterans for example thru the "Healing Waters" Program. However, I have to answer my critics in summing up my life in the U.P.



I know many have said that once my life gets settled here with work and family and Church, etc., that enjoying the outdoors would become a thing of the past. That fishing would slowly become extinct. Such as it is with any move and living anywhere. When we lived in Florida, we used to go to beach every week for a year or so, then, it became a rare event---sadly. HOWEVER, you will be pleased to know that I have fished on almost a weekly basis as the weather allows. On Lake Millicoquins I catch pike, out in front, I catch salmon. I will continute to expand my fishing horizons even if weeks go by without a fish. I will continue to enjoy life despite the problems and problems and problems that we all have to face. Otherwise, we are just the walking dead, the zombie, the purposeless one.



As the leaves become orange and yellow and red and are conrasted against the evergreens, and the salmon start to run up river....I have changed over from brook trout fishing and blueberry picking to enjoying the cool air and ever changing skylines. Wow, that's an understatement---the wind and rain and sun and clouds change in minutes up here----but you can see it coming and happening off in the distance in 360 degrees---unencumbered by buildings and sky scrapers. You can't hear trains or cars or trucks, you can only hear the wind in the pines and you take in so many stars in the sky it is humbling.



I hope you find your day to be as good. I pray that you too can continue to live life month by month without a single thought or feeling of depression. That you can find your Creator in any form that He comes best to you as. Maybe as an "Aunt Jemina" form in the book "The Shack," Wow, what a great book---or maybe He or She comes to you in the endless stars above that I see as I lay on my dock. And isn't it great when He gives you the gift of a perfect day out front catching silvery, hard fighting salmon. I always say a thank you to God when that happens...what a great feeling. What a great feeling that you asked for this humble problem fixer to write some more!!!! Have a great DAY!!!! Always,

Jeff