Sunday, 7/3: Detroit
Sunday afternoon we headed down to Eastern Market (Detroit's downtown farmer's market).
We drove through Detroit through some cool neighborhoods [I like this picture and the contrast between the old church and the mural painting. It's so Detroit.] driving through to my current beautiful school.
Our driving tour took us to Southwest/Mexicantown where we ate at our favorite pupuseria. Gorging ensued.
Naturally, that was followed by a tour of our favorite museum here in Detroit: The Motown museum. We have been regular patrons of this place since our first visit in 2015 with my mom and dad, and it feels like a sacred site to me.
From reading this, you know how lazy this day was. Somehow, Chely and Dee were tired and fell asleep sitting up. Naturally we took a photo.
We took Kingsley on a walk around the neighborhood and then we headed to Bailey's to play pool and ping pong, and eat dessert reminiscent of (but not equivalent to) that of The Chocolate. We were in rare form and caught the attention of most people in the bar as we goofed around and played the longest game of pool because we simply aren't good...at all.
Monday, 7/4: Ann Arbor - University of Michigan
We spent July fourth walking around University of Michigan's law school where I will study next year. Forgive me for the unreasonable number of pictures. It is beautiful. I was only half sarcastic when I consistently whispered, "learning happens here," to Ben as we walked around. The quad feels like a Harry Potter set.
Tuesday, 7/5: Riverfront Detroit
We had the Detroit version of a beach day. We went to Belle Isle, walked around, and sat in the sand. Then we crossed the bridge and walked along the Detroit riverfront.
We then dropped off Kingsley at the babysitter's and drove up to northern Michigan right across from the ferry. In classic style, we stayed in a motel on the lake that hasn't been renovated since...I don't know. The bathroom had both wallpaper and paneling and a really old floral shower curtain. I struggled to photograph it in all its glory. But in all honesty, what else do you need when you are only sleeping? (I guess the risk of bed bugs was probably significant, but the risk paid off!)
Wednesday, 7/6: Mackinac Island
After taking the ferry to Mackinac, our first course of action was to rent bikes. We rode the 8.1 miles around the whole island singing Motown (our road trip theme song (a tradition stolen from Meredith and Steven), was "Aint No Mountain High Enough" which often evolved into a full-blown Motown singalong. And yes, the island was crowded)
We stopped multiple times for views and for snacks on the beach. Building this "D" felt like a very John-family thing for me to do. I remember spelling out Boston in pebbles and participating in other unusual beach projects as a kid. It felt right even though Ben mercilessly mocked me before passing out on the beach.
We also did some hikes for views from the top of the island. So beautiful!
Then we went to this restaurant in an old historic hotel where you had to take a carriage ride through the woods to get there. It was beautiful, fun, and delicious for a one-time thing! This is also the infamous location of Chely's cell phone death. Death by extended residence in a toilet. We were all laughing and making jokes about it. Chely is such a good sport and a good person to have around in a crisis. [In the second picture, I was jokingly taking a million pictures of Dee's appetizer since he was the only one with food at the time.]
We took the carriage ride back, past the grand hotel, to the shopping area for some last minute fudge samples and a goodbye to the island.
The ferry ride back was a pretty sunset ride. And as a bonus, I didn't vomit at all. Not even a little bit.
This picture documents several things about this trip
1 - It poured in the morning right before we left, forcing Chely to purchase the most hardcore raincoat from True Value (as it was the only option in town). It promptly stopped raining after we left the store.
2 - But it was cold enough from the wind that we all wore our raincoats on the ferry for warmth
3 - We were once again being very goofy. Dee started a game where we bribed each other to do ridiculous things. The first thing I did in town (in order to win an ice cream cone) was to take a stranger's bike from the rack, ride in a circle in downtown Mackinac and yell "Viva la Mexico!"...Ben was shocked I would do this, and I think it brought up the larger (and more concerning question) of what else I would do for free ice cream. In this picture Chely was wearing her raincoat backwards and walking off of the ferry. I was guiding her (and teasing her).
After getting off the island, we drove several more hours along the lakeshore to get to our hotel for the night!
Thursday, 7/7:Wisconsin
We drove down the west coast of the lake to Chicago and made a few stops including an airplane museum in Osh Kosh, and my personal favorite, a cheese house in Wisconsin. This is obviously the cow who they get all their cheese from.
Friday, 7/8: Chicago
Ben left us to fly to New Mexico. Chely, Dee, and I stayed right next to Navy Pier so we could walk everywhere. We walked along the lakefront and enjoyed the extremely humid, 90 degree weather. And we commenced doing all the things tourists have to do in Chicago
1. We sampled the local fare at the Taste of Chicago in Millenium Park downtown. We got to purchase tickets and use them to get little tastes of different foods from chefs (and small-time pop-ups) in Chicago. We sampled so much food and you can't beat the view. We also enjoyed free bags, sunglasses, and granola courtesy of the businesses desperate enough to pass them out.
2. We made an embarrassing amount of attempts at 'The Bean' picture. There were many more for me to choose from. Feel lucky I chose two. You were spared.
3. We walked around admiring Chicago's architecture and canals. Chely and Dee did some dancing with a street performer.
4. We ate lots and lots of Lou Malanati's deep dish pizza. Despite what you may assume from this picture, Chely did share. We ate it in our hotel room and soothed our aching limbs.
Saturday, 7/9: Homebound & New Mexico
Ben left Thursday night from Chicago for Albequerque, New Mexico to attend one of his best friend's graduation from pararescue training. He joined his friends there. They went biking, rode the gondola to a scenic viewpoint, did a lot of dancing at one point. Ben had an amazing time, and we were both so glad he went. It meant a lot to both him and Carlos.
Here is what Ben wrote on social media about Carlos and his graduation:
"So I just got back from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I went there to attend
JC LaVerde’s graduation from the 2-year training program for the United States Air Force’s Pararescuemen (mostly known as “PJs”). Before I get started I think I should explain a little bit about what a PJ is, because, most likely… you don’t know.
A PJ is a highly trained, special operations military operator that is tasked with going into basically any scenario with the objective of rescuing those who have gotten into a pretty bad situation. Whether that situation involves natural disaster, a combat zone behind enemy lines, a crash of some sorts – it doesn’t matter, a PJ unit is called to come in and get those people out. These guys are on par with some of the most fit, best-trained, and baddest dudes on the planet – I’m talking Navy Seals, Delta Force, Rangers, you name it. So you might be asking yourself: ‘why haven’t I heard of them?’ Well, after learning a bit over my short stay in NM, hearing from a few of the PJ school leadership, and knowing my friend, I think I have an answer:
1 – These guys are extremely rare, of the ~310,000 active duty Air force personnel, only about 450 are PJs (that’s .14% of the Air Force, and just .02% of the overall US military).
2 – It is extremely difficult to become a PJ, the training school Carlos just completed has an attrition rate nearly 80%, that’s amongst the highest of any special forces in the world.
3 – They have a culture of deep and utterly sincere humility, they call this “quiet professionalism” – they don’t beat their chest and they don’t show off, in fact, they seem to play down how intense and insane their jobs are.
So those are the reasons why you might not have heard of them, but now you have… and I don’t have to be humble or quiet, so I will brag on behalf of Carlos.
I felt/learned/heard a couple of things while watching the various presentations and ceremonies in NM. Here are a couple of my thoughts:
PJs – to my knowledge – are the only unit of the military that is nearly if not completely 100% selfless. Their function is to rescue, they have to go into impossible situations, so yes, they also can probably kill you with their pinky.. but their objective is to save. The PJ creed says it best:
“It is my duty as a Pararescueman to save lives and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things I do, that others may live.”
The training PJs go through is… insane. These guys basically have to be as physically fit as a triathlete, and then also be an elite weapons/combat expert, and then also have the medical skills and knowledge to care for mortally wounded victims in the most chaotic of situations. Their 2 – year training is amongst the longest and hardest training on the planet. They jump out of planes, dive into the depths of tumultuous waters, repel off mountains, climb up glacier walls, they even assist NASA when astronauts come back home. They very much fit the nickname “jack of all trades.” If you want a small sample of what they go through in training look up “surviving the cut – air force pararescue” – it’s a pretty good look.
As I sat listening to a presentation given by some of Carlos’ leaders and instructors I was blown away by these guys. They seemed so evidently strong, but not just physically, it was a lot more than that. It was clear – to me – they were strong in character. They were tough in spirit, in their will and desire to help others. They were proud, but in the most righteous sense – they were proud of their responsibility and calling to help others. This is a more ‘fluffy’ observation, much more of a feeling, but man, I felt it.
PJs are known in the military as the “Guardian Angel Weapon System.” How frekkin cool is that? First off… to be called a weapon as a human is always pretty awesome, but additionally, I can’t think of a better-fitting name. Could you ever imagine an angel bragging or showing off its sweet wings? Maybe this is part of the reason this culture of humility is so prevalent. Guardian angels are often pictured as silent warriors, keeping watch, waiting for their moment to help, swooping down to save a life when they are needed… pretty fitting if you ask me.
I could go on, because my pride for my friend is endless. He has and continues to truly inspire me. He is everything a PJ should be and has been for a while. He is incredibly hard-working, diligent, tough, kind, giving, selfless, caring, strong, and brave.
Growing up with Carlos it was always abundantly clear that he was one of the most stubborn, persistent people on the planet. I never would have guessed these traits amongst others would have lead him to become one of the world’s toughest, coolest, (cover your eye-ears Mormon friends) most bad-ass guardian angels on the planet. I am so proud to call him my friend, so happy I was able to witness a great moment as he officially became a PJ, and so excited for what the future holds for him. The world just got a little safer, and a little better.
Congratulations Carlos."
