As most of you know, I am fond of getting other people to paint the fence around here. One of the people I’ve been trying to recruit for a long time now is young Tommy. He gets out and about even more than I do, and on the evidence, has even more fun. Looky here:
First he got to hang out with Ken, a family friend, at the Mini Pow Wow at the Cherry Festival in Traverse City.
On Thursday night he caught a couple of smallmouth bass in Lake Michigan. His mom says he has now out-fished both his parents.
Having mastered the smallies of Lake Michigan, Tommy decided to try his luck over on Torch Lake. Here he is fishing off the pier at the William K. Good Day Park.
The photos in this post were all taken by Tommy’s Mom, but the memories in this post will be Tommy’s. Don’t you wish you were that age again?
Torch Lake Views 
Kathy
July 11, 2010
Tommy looks like an interesting fellow to know. He sure gets around. He’s making me think that our Pow Wow is right around the corner. Megwetch for this post!
Gerry
July 11, 2010
Tommy is an engaging subject all right.
I have wonderful memories of the Keweenaw Bay Pow Wow. Nahow, Kathy!
P.j. grath
July 11, 2010
That’s why our Minnesota grandsons need to spend a longer vacation with us. Not that they can’t do these things in Minnesota, but WE need to make memories with them. Loved this post, Gerry!
Gerry
July 11, 2010
I’m glad you loved it-the Cowboy is wiggly with delight, as he is very fond of Tommy.
Rob the Firefighter was fortunate as to grandparents, and made many wonderful memories in New York and California. I hope you get to make some special ones soon with the Minnesota grandsons!
isathreadsoflife
July 11, 2010
Wonderful pictures and experiences for Tommy, he sure is enjoying himself ! He´ll cherish those memories.
Gerry
July 12, 2010
Yes he will–and so will Mom and Dad!
Carsten
July 12, 2010
About beeing that age again: I have been there, and I’m not going back. (Hopefully!)
But I certainly like to have some of these young openminded people around. We have no fence needing paint, but there is no need to be bored here. I like hearing their small stories about the world as they see it.
Wow, if I had a picture of myself with Ken!!!
Gerry
July 12, 2010
Just so you know, some pictures with Ken do not feature him in full Pow Wow regalia. Some of them are just, you know, family cookouts on the deck–more a shorts and t-shirt sort of occasion. But you see what you miss by limiting your visits to the U.S. to the eastern seaboard!
Carsten
July 12, 2010
Aha!!
I thought maybe he looked that way all the time. But of course I should have noticed his unusual wig-wam.
Maybe I’ll go into the continent next time. But, just to let you know, we Danes are used to being close to the sea. There are no places in Denmark more than 50 km (31 miles) from the sea. I don’t know how I would feel being 1000 miles from the sea….
Gerry
July 12, 2010
The solution is simple. Proceed through the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes. Once you are out on the inland seas, you won’t be able to tell the difference–except for the nice fresh water of course. Michigan has more than 3000 miles of Great Lakes coastline, not to mention quantities of Scandinavian Americans in various blends. You will feel right at home.
P.S.: I suspect the “wigwam” is a temporary barricade for a Cherry Festival grandstand. I’m thinking Ken lives in a 3-bedroom ranch with a view of Lake Michigan–or maybe a Traverse City condo with a view of the Bay. When you finally attend a Pow Wow you can ask him.
Reggie
July 12, 2010
I so wish I was that age again! Imagine how much fun we would have the second time around, hey, Gerry?
What’s this Pow Wow thing that you and Kathy are on about? I’m curious! And I just love the way Ken is attired – and the peaceful, centred look in his eyes. Beautiful picture.
Gerry
July 12, 2010
This particular Pow Wow was a scaled-down version created for the Cherry Festival by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The big event will be the Peshawbestown Pow Wow in August. It can seem like dressing up in period costumes and recreating bygone days . . . but it’s much more than that.
A Pow Wow is part ritual, part family reunion, part art fair and part community festival. All across North America native peoples gather to celebrate traditions with drumming, dancing, artwork and foods–and to honor present achievements.
One of my favorite Pow Wow experiences was watching the Honor Dance for a high school hockey player. His teammates were invited, too, of course. The teenage-awkward jocks weren’t sure what to do with their feet, but they grew wide-eyed with respect as they understood what it really means to be a member of a contemporary Indian community.
I can see that we must do some Pow Wow posts around here.
Karma
July 12, 2010
I’d never want to be that age again if it meant I would also have to be 13 again eventually! 😉
Gerry
July 12, 2010
Ah. I take your point!