Greetings friends and family,
This story has some great advice and ideas for couples and pretty much anyone with a little curiosity and wanderlust. Dad’s penchant for finding interesting places and activities to do was well-met and sometimes surpassed by mom’s own creative imagination. They loved to travel and explore new places while meeting interesting people and tasting local foods. That curiosity and sense of adventure was embedded in mom and dad’s children and I hope we’ve been able to instill these qualities in our children.
How about you? Do you get a sense of wanting to see or do something different, maybe along with the change of seasons? If the feeling comes over you . . . Just go! Don’t pack anything besides basic needs. Maybe pack a light picnic lunch . . . And just go! You are guaranteed to find something new and perhaps exciting if you open up your imagination and use a bit of your observation skills.
I hope you enjoy this story and learn to sense when it’s time to take a “Not-Give-A-Damn” day.
Love to all,
David T
p.s. Don’t forget that comments are welcome at the end of each story.
“Not Enough “Not-Give-A-Damn” Days”
By Don Tschirhart
Excerpted from the unpublished book “It’s a Wonderful World II: A Retired Reporter Looks At Life“
Not Enough “Not-Give-A-Damn-Days
Margie and I call them “Not-Give-A-Damn-Days,” days when neither of us have appointments, meetings or other commitments and just want to get away and relax with each other.
These are “dates,” something every couple should have, even if they’ve been married less than our 56 years.
Sometimes “dates” are planned. Other times they’re spur of the moment. When you are married so long all you have to do is look at the other and spontaneously say, “Let’s go,” as if we were reading each other’s minds.
That’s what happened one day when we celebrated our wedding anniversary.
First to church for a blessing, and then speaking at the same time, we said, “Let’s go . . . to Bayfield.”
Bayfield? We’ve been there before but never tire of its friendliness and relaxed atmosphere.
It’s a nice drive across the beautiful Blue Water Bridge to Sarnia and then up the Lake Huron coast past Grand Bend.
It’s a homey little village founded in the early 19th century. Most of its homes and clothing, antique, boutique and book shops are a century old.
The Little Inn has been innkeeping since 1832 and has unique rooms and sumptuous lunch and dinner fares. Friends of ours in Lapeer County named Little spent a weekend there and haven’t gotten over it.
Sometimes our “Not-Give-A-Damn-Day” takes us 75 miles north to Port Austin. Often we’ll head over to Sebewaing and up the Saginaw Bay coast. How many of you have stopped at Bay Port during its Fish Sandwich Festival? Fascinating!
If it’s warm, we’ll take off our shoes and walk the beaches at Port Austin dipping our feet into the cold water.
We also like to drive down the Thumb Peninsula’s east coast ending it with dinner in Port Huron.
A short trip to Frankenmuth, the chicken and Christmas capitol for the whole world (it seems), is always welcome.
Working up an appetite is no problem. I follow Margie around as she goes from one shop to another. I’m smart and bring a pocket-book with me to read while she’s inside looking at bargain clothes, decorating ideas or other stuff.
Chicken isn’t always my thing so we usually end up at the Bavarian Inn where I can order a German dish. In the fall, after dinner, we might look in at the Christmas store before heading home.
One of our “Not-Give-A-Damn-Day” favorites is to head to Port Huron, park the car on the St. Clair River front near the Thomas Edison Inn and stroll hand-in-hand along the walkway.
There is something about the fast-flowing water, the few fisher-persons and the passing boats that melts stress and tension. That’s especially true if you are with someone you love.
Spotting a large ore carrier as it plies its way up or down river is a bonus and we wave to the crew persons as they sail by.
An after-walk dinner at a riverside restaurant brings an end to a comfortable day.
There are so many people living in ex-urbia (beyond suburbia) that refuse to drive to downtown Detroit, either out of fear or not wanting to go the distance.
Depending on the time of day it takes a little over an hour to drive there. Most everyone should tour the Renaissance Center complex, take the People Mover train around downtown at a second-story level or have the best bowl of chili con carne and tasteful Coney dog or loose hamburger at the colorful Lafayette Coney Island.
Spend an afternoon at the Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Center or the Detroit Science Center. Stop and walk around Hart Plaza and get sprayed by the Naguchi-designed fountain honoring the Dodge automobile family. If you are in a gambling mood, three casinos that ring downtown would like you to donate your money.
Some may also want to visit the museum and grave of Fr. Solonus Casey on Mt. Elliot near East Jefferson. Casey, founder of the famous Soup Kitchen, may soon be named the first declared U.S.-born saint.
As for those who fear crime in Detroit there is less crime downtown than in most suburban communities.
Most couples are busy with parties and family gatherings and lots of people around.
Margie and I have found that the simple things in life, like being together for quiet walks and talks away from home is very important for any marriage.
Don Tschirhart
