The annual migration of Summer People began on Friday, and boy are we glad to see ’em and be ’em. The parking lot at the IGA filled up with vans and RVs. Dad loaded up on grass seed and softener salt and Mom stalked the hardware aisles in search of paint samples and – oh dear – mousetraps. Carts piled with milk and local asparagus and fish dinners from the deli rolled through the checkouts. “Did you have fuel?” “Nope – can’t afford gas AND groceries!” Half an hour later they were back again for cereal, chocolate covered peanuts, a thingamajig for the whatsis – one just like this – held out for inspection with a hopeful look. By sunset the Township’s population had increased by 75% and grill smoke wafted along the beaches of Torch Lake and the Bay. OK, this is good – looks like we might have a summer this year after all.
On Saturday morning Barnes Park was filled with clowns and juggling pirates and vendors of hot dogs, roasted corn, strawberry rhubarb pies and all things Petoskey – from buttons and drawer pulls to birdhouses and a diadem fit for a princess. Down the road at Pine Hill Nursery gardeners debated the merits of this annual for a shady wooded lot, that one for the sunny beach side – and left with armloads of hanging planters.
Over at the Day Park bright-eyed Ariana Cook celebrated her birthday with a passel of Springstead cousins and her great grandpa, Gunnery Sgt. James F. Cook, Sr., USMC, Ret., in attendance. Nearby, a dozen twenty-somethings played volleyball and grilled their supper. Boat wranglers from Dockworks launched a pontoon boat and delivered it to its summer home across the lake. Two bright yellow jet skis danced over the turquoise water. Next to the beach, a young couple and their German shepherd napped in the sun. A boy in a green shirt shot some hoops. The US and Michigan flags spread above it all, snapping in the breeze.
Kids lined up for ice cream cones at Sonny’s, where the butcher case gleamed with freshly-made whitefish pate and sausages, and the newspaper vending machines emptied out by the middle of the afternoon. Chris opened Schoolhouse Antiques in the morning and moved between there and the Market – how does she do it? Yard sale posters sprouted amidst the new crop of “Waterfront For Sale” signs.
Last night there was a glorious sunset over the Bay, all bright roses and brilliant blues. I started this post and realized I had set the camera wrong and the photos were going to be even worse than usual. OK, not everything worked out. But I am grateful for the sunshine, for the arrival of the Summer People, for peaceful picnics and busy shops. And on this Memorial Day weekend, I just want to say to Gunnery Sgt. James F. Cook, and Don Gould, and Sonny Szejbach, and the family of Tony Sanchez, and many more – thank you.
Torch Lake Views 
chris
May 26, 2008
We saw the sunset! It was glorious and filed it in my memory bank as we too had camera problems.
Sonny got “kudos” from many. As a vietnam vet from an era long ago, he still makes me proud.
Gerry Sell
May 26, 2008
Somehow it makes the sunset memory even better to know that it’s shared.
Thanks for putting Sonny on my thank you list. Vietnam was so long ago, so far away – and only this morning, right here in the drumlins. I’m astonished to think that my grown son can’t have a single memory of that time. But I have enough for both of us.