Snow Snow Go Away!
To say the last week has been depressing is a slight understatement. We were slated to fly back to Detroit on Monday to spend the first Christmas we’ve celebrated there in years (literally!). It was also the first opportunity for D to meet his cousins, aunts and uncles. When last weekend arrived, we knew things were not looking good (4,000 people stranded at Seatac on Sunday night).
We crossed our fingers and woke at 4:30a on Monday morning to a call from my mom that the flight had been canceled. Meh. We were totally unprepared to spend Christmas here, no plans, no presents. We had assumed that D would be playing with presents received from the family and that we would get his presents when we came back. And then add in the fact that it just kept snowing and snowing and snowing. After a few days I think we were all (dogs included) getting a bit of cabin fever (not the horror movie kind, mind you). We did venture out here and there but the roads were such a mess it was more trouble than it was worth. In case you haven’t heard, Seattle is NOT prepared for snow. In Michigan, the roads would have been plowed (and not just a few major ones), sidewalks shoveled (businesses take note!) and parking lots cleared. In the land of 12 snow plows with rubber plows and sand instead of salt, things were a bit different. Even the “I can’t WAIT for it to snow” people were a little discouraged after having to dig their cars out with garden shovels. Thank goodness for 4-wheel drive and the internets. Yes, I meant that to make that plural.
We did manage to sneak out and pick up some presents for D. When we arrived home, he managed to grab a hold of one before I could squirrel it away and followed me around the house with a plaintive “pease! pease! pease!” until I finally gave in and cracked it open. Our friends Peter and Kyla were stuck here as well after their flights to the east coast were canceled and we drowned our misery together in pizza and egg nog gelato. And though our short-lived Christmas Day plans fell through, we were able to have our neighbors over (they were stuck too) for a really lovely dinner and playtime with D. Yep, we have good neighbors who love kids and dogs. How lucky is that?
Last night we went to Heff and S’s for a super delicious dinner and present exchanging. It was nice to get out of our hood for awhile and head down to White Center. S unveiled some really exciting plans (that I won’t out here) but suffice to say we’re totally excited for her and are looking forward to helping her with the endeavor in any way we can. The other surprise? They bought us a Wii for Christmas. No, really. I was totally stunned and had to scold them for spending too much money on us. I was reassured that it would get good use when Heff dog sits … but still. It was a HUGE surprise and a really generous gift. It was a very relaxing, enjoyable evening spent talking, eating and watching H entertain the Dooz all night.
And so it wasn’t so bad. We really did miss seeing the family, but are thankful that we have friends and family here to spend the holidays with.
Winter Wonderland
I woke up this morning to 4-5 inches of snow on the ground on top of what we already have. The news is now reporting freezing rain on top of it. It’s beautiful and dangerous for the area. Not only are people not used to driving in the snow, the hills here make everything treacherous.
Tomorrow, we’re due to fly in to DTW where there is a huge storm as well. Sigh.
Today Is The Day
Today is a day I’ll remember for a lifetime. Here’s to the next four years.
Adult Angst
It’s getting hard to type on this keyboard. Why, you ask? Because Dooz has plucked no less than seven different keys off. I’ve replaced them, but things still seem a bit askew. But, I digress.
I’ve been thinking quite a bit about our trip to Detroit this December. Although I’m looking forward to seeing our family (all of Mark’s family live in the general area) I can’t help but feel anxious about the trip. And, it would seem absolutely normal to worry about the plane trip with a 19 month old child, but it’s really not that. It’s more about a condition I typically become afflicted with after a couple of days … something I refer to as the “homesies” whereabouts I have an uncontrollable urge to get on a plane (no matter the cost) and fly directly home back to my safe little family nest. It seems totally unreasonable. We are, after all, seeing family and friends yet I can’t help it. It comes down to the fact that I associate the Detroit area with unhappiness.
The time I spent in Hamtramck was a very dark period in my life. At the time my entire life was centered around self-destruction, living in a strange underworld that seemingly existed only at night. The days were hazy and forgettable. Drinking too much, staying out all hours and essentially just wasting time. It was a directionless time in my life and though I don’t regret any of it, really seems now like a blank space. What really set off the downward spiral was my childhood best friend dying after a long battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
And now, years later I still can’t seem to escape the return to that time whenever I drive up I-75.
I hope that things will be different as we return for the first time with D. I’m trying to focus on the things we want to show him, to make sure that his routine is preserved and watching him spend quality time with his grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins. I am looking forward to spending time with my in-laws because I really do like them (lucky huh?). I’m looking forward to an opportunity to change what it means to return to the Detroit area. To be continued …
Weekend Relaxers
This weekend flew by and made me wish that someone would pay me to be a full time wife and mother. There, I said it. Alas, we’ll have to be content with weekends. This Sunday, we took the boy out to breakfast and then for a little play while we picked out a present for our expectant friends. We’re secretly hoping that they’ll start a baby blog … but, we’ll see. We came home for a long nap (myself included) before heading over to Suz and Mike’s for the baby shower. D had plenty of kids to play with and a good time was had by all.
Coincidentally, it was also my birthday. I don’t mind the birthday, but really was feeling a little low key. The husband surprised me with a lovely necklace from Lucca (my favorite boutique!) and The Gormenghast Novels. There are few things that truly delight me more than a surprise book that I’ve never heard of, but has all kinds of excellent reviews. Seriously, it’s the best thing EVER!
And today, at work, my fantastic co-workers (they really are) surprised me with an ice cream cake, a random singing of Happy Birthday (it was an email generated sing-a-long) and … get this … an iPod Nano! There is no way the people you work with are this awesome. I didn’t even mind when I registered it and realized that I’d moved into a new demographic category (yep, I had to select the 35+ from the drop down). That’s technology’s way of saying … hey, you’re getting older. It was such a sweet gift and a total surprise.
It can be my Apple fix for now to keep me for wanting to run out and buy a new Macbook Pro. I actually might have made an “O” face. After perusing the pics, I uttered a “That’s hot.” which made my husband laugh in a way that said “That’s NERDY.” It cracks him up that I can be so in love with technology. I like to think he finds it endearing. Sigh.
A Cat Named Simon
Once upon a time, in a state shaped like a mitten I worked as a barista in a little cafe called Javasphere to support myself while going to school. One day on a particularly busy day, a customer came up and said “Um, excuse me, but did you know that there’s a cat in here?” Sure enough, a ginger cat was creeping along the wall. I picked him up and set him outside the door. Five minutes later, “Is that your cat?” Again with the cat in the cafe. You have to admit, he was persistent. After about 4-5 runs in with this cat, I called my best friend Heather to have her come and witness the cafe crasher.
She drove right over (she’s a sucker for pets) and I’m fairly certain he was sitting out front when she pulled up. He looked a little skinny and had no collar, so we were pretty sure that he was a stray (plus, he was clearly very hungry). Heather (in typical H fashion) points out that there is only one way to find out whether he’s a stray, walks over to her car, opens the door and says “Cat, would you like to come home with us?” And I swear that this cat looked at us both, hopped in the car and sat on the back seat. True story.
He made himself at home right away and seemed really mellow, until H took him to the vet and found out he had a respiratory infection. As soon as he recovered from his kitty cold, he made it clear what he liked/disliked. He was very dog-like, trotting around with plastic milk rings and hiding them in secret spots. When our lives changed and H and I ended our adventures as roommates (that is a whole different story!) he went to live with her in Dearborn.
And so, years passed. I’ve seen him often over the years and he’s always part of our conversations. He moved everywhere with H and Brian from Salem, MA where he acquired his best friend (aptly named Spooky) and back to Michigan where he finally settled in a big comfy house on the lake shore.
A week or so ago, Brian told me that H had woken up and found poor little Spooky in their kitchen which was sad enough. Then, yesterday, H texted me to tell me that she was at the vet with Simon and that things didn’t look very good. I sent her a flurry of texts last night, hoping that maybe things were not as grim as they seemed but knowing that he turned 14 this year. And this morning, they took our friend Simon (who was really suffering) to the vet and said goodbye. I just can’t believe it. He’s been such a fixture of all of our lives and a grounding force at that. He’s sort of like a furry touchstone. He’s witnessed so much of H’s life, that it’s difficult to think of him as not around. What’s crazy? He’s been alive for just about the entire time that H and I have been friends. He knew all the secrets 
My favorite memory of Simon (besides the finding story) was in Salem. I have always been allergic to cats, but Simon and I have always managed to work it out. Even though H asked him to stay out of the bedroom, he kept sneaking in along the wall to sit at the foot the bed, say hello and rub his cheeks on me. Goodbye Simon. I’ll miss your plaintive meow, your old man grumpiness and your general kitty friendship throughout the years.
Shocktober - 1, October - 0
I love fall and especially Shocktober. It’s the perfect time of year. School is starting and you cannot deny that ingrained feeling of clean white notebooks and fresh possibilities (I know, I say it every year). Besides that, it’s that perfect time in the year when it’s cold enough to wear sweaters, but warm enough to do so without coats. Pumpkin patches, cinnamon doughnuts, cider and Halloween decorations … shall I go on?
Aah and so here we are again. The absolute best month of the year, Shocktober! Although just to teach me a lesson, Shocktober charged in this year with a sickness that has kept me horizontal for almost a week. My co-workers believe it’s the plague, but I think it might be the worst sinus infection EVER. My sinuses have taken on a life of their own. Despite that, we’ve still managed to usher in the month with a couple of horror movies already and as usual, our Netflix queue is stocked. And I have to say I’m impressed by the fake enthusiasm the husband has managed to muster up. When he inherited this ritual (my best friend and I owned it for years before) Mark was pretty in to it … but over the years (and I do mean years) it’s lost its allure for him. As this year approached, he even said he wasn’t going to participate but at the last minute decided that he would make it work because THAT’S what kind of husband he is.
And so, we’ve managed to watch The Midnight Meat Train, based on a Clive Barker story (from the Books of Blood, I believe) that ended a Barker binge I was on because it was THAT disgusting. Seriously, it made me feel physically ill. The movie was okay for what seemed like a made-for-cable movie and it had Bradley Cooper (of Alias fame) and the silent guy from Gone In Sixty Seconds (yes, I know, it’s a guilty pleasure okay? I have no defense). Tonight it was From Beyond (based on an H.P. Lovecraft story) which was super 80s and so bad it was fun to watch anyway. Who can fault a movie with brain sucking through eye sockets? I also watched Tell Me Something, a well done (though predictable) Korean horror movie with a great soundtrack littered with the likes of Nick Cave and Placebo. And I almost forgot, The Descent was the pre-Shocktober warm up. We also watched Vampyr, which was is a fantastic and legendary horror movie made way back in 1932 and it still manages to be creepy! See, we’re making the first three days count.
Next up? I’ve got Devil’s Backbone from Guillermo Del Toro (of Pan’s Labryinth fame … and weirdly enough the writer for The Hobbit) which is a bit classier than most of the movies we’ll see this month, but we’re not discriminating I saw this movie when it came out and really loved the cinematography. All of the usual suspects will be covered (Prince of Darkness, 28 Days Later, Return of the Living Dead, Day of the Dead, The Beyond, etc.). I’m looking forward to watching Dog Soldiers (from the director of The Descent) and the Day of the Dead remake (with Mena Suvari … really?). I’m searching for more to add to the old Netflix queue, so by all means send recommendations my way.
Ubiquitous Sunday Post - The Wedding
Well wishers blow bubbles to the bride and groom.
Thankfully, amidst the chaos, my sister and I managed to steal an hour or so of solitude up in her room. I have to say it’s funny how easily we slip into our younger selves. When we were younger, we would spend hours lying in bed together laughing at things that no one else would think were funny. Our father died when I was young (12) and she was clearly younger (6), so we spent a lot of time leaning on each other. My sister is a very private person and has always struggled with talking about deeper feelings, but this is something she has always done with me. And through the years, though we’ve changed and we don’t spend as much time together, the talking and the laughter is something we continue to do. It’s a connection we have that says more than just the topic we’re laughing about. In many ways, it’s an understanding and acknowledgment of how well we know each other.
And so we found ourselves lying in the giant bed together, talking and laughing about the days events and pretending that she wasn’t going to get married in one hour’s time until her friend Jessica (her other bridesmaid) joined us and continued in the laughter. If it hadn’t been for the fact that time was whizzing by, I do believe we would have laid there for hours. Instead, I did her hair and makeup while Jessica and I both fended off random questions and well-meaning photographers (”No, you will not photograph her in her underwear.”). There was quite a bit of running back and forth and a little bit of eyelash application under pressure (which is a lot like parallel parking … if you don’t get it right the first time … it can be the death of you). And suddenly, voila, it was time and we were all standing on the patio waiting for our cue to walk down the aisle. I have to add in that as I walked down with Nathan’s brother, D (who hadn’t seen me all day) had yelled out a very plaintive “Mama!” to the amusement of the guests.
Sunni and Nathan walk towards their new life.
The ceremony was quick and charming and the reception was filled with dancing, speechmaking (myself included!) and the general enjoyment of celebrating together with family and friends. And now, my sister is officially a married woman!
First Things First
IMG_3068, originally uploaded by MarianneSp.
I have many a post swimming around in the gray matter, but first things first. Tune out now if you are not interested in yet another post extolling the virtues of BRMC. It’s sickening I know, especially for someone who’s apparently arguably old enough to be a cougar (more about that later).
I digress.
A couple of weeks back, the husband and I hit the town for the first time in a very long time … okay it’s SAD how long it’s been. We picked up our friend Professor Griff and headed down to the ol’ Alibi Room for drinks with friends before walking over to the Showbox. There are few things I enjoy more (these days, at least) than arriving at a show at precisely the time the headlining band comes on stage. Seriously, this is going to sound lame and old (especially when I’ve seen bands like The Flaming Lips as an opener) but I do not have the patience for opening bands. I’ve sat through about a million and I think exactly 5 of them were actually good.
There I go again. I really am turning into an old lady.
Must focus. Oh right, the UBER AWESOME FANTASTIC-NESS of the show! They played much of the latest album (Baby 81), some old favorites (Spread Your Love) and a cover of the Dylan song Visions of Johanna. Their music is sometimes bluesy, sometimes folky and always really raw rock n roll. Robert plays the bass like a lead guitar player (see how I say his name with intimacy like I know him?) which I really love. Their vocals go together in a really interesting way, similar but still distinct and often alternating. They’re definitely one of those bands, I’ll always see (unlike the way I’m failing my long time love, Nick Cave tonight). Sigh.
Oh … on the cougar tip. There was a discussion at work (yes, at work … it gives a good indication of the kind of place it is) about the finer points of what constitutes a cougar. Now, I always thought it was a 40s and up woman … but a gay friend seems to think it starts in the 30s! (Or maybe to gay men, 30 year old women ARE 40 year old women). My straight friends assured me that it’s 40s and up. Whew.
Summer’s Over
Gray Seattle, originally uploaded by SLV Native.
“Andy … the summer’s over. I never noticed. Did you really think you’d leave so fast.”
This isn’t exactly what it looked like today, in fact there were a few sun breaks, but it wasn’t that far from it. The last couple of days have been rainy as we seemingly move towards the closing of summer. I can’t say that I’m all that sad. I do love the fall and even the winter.
The best thing about both? It’s excellent book weather. While this summer I finished The Other Boleyn Girl (a guilty pleasure read) and Among The Thugs (about the hooligan era of football in England) and the second and third Sandman volumes (excellent!), I’ve put myself in the mood for fall by beginning the Twilight series. On Sunday, I had gotten Twilight from the library and read it all which then prompted a book emergency that required a late afternoon drive to the store to pick up the next book, New Moon. Thank goodness they had the book! I spread that out over a day and a half (by purposefully saving the last chapter for yesterday evening). Now, here I am … having an awful craving for the third in the series of four books.
Set in Forks, WA, it’s just the kind of book that sets the tone for fall reading with descriptions of drizzly, misty days and the lush forests of the Olympic Peninsula. These books definitely combine the allure of the un-dead (that’s right, I said allure!) with experience of being a teenager and all of the feelings that come along with it. I cannot wait to pick up the next book tomorrow. I’ll do my best not to call in sick to hide at Elliott Bay all day reading and sipping coffee!
Starts With Black
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Furia Sound Festival, Cergy-Pontoise, 28/06/2008., originally uploaded by DPC?313.
It’s been a year of no shows due to preoccupation with the boy. We’re finally breaking that with the first show we’ve been to together in ages early next month. I am UBER excited to see Black Rebel Motorcycle at the Showbox again. The last time I saw them I annoyed everyone around me for weeks after going on and on about it. Their musicianship and the raw rock n roll power of their music is totally displayed on stage. I actually squeal when I talk about it.
And speaking of excellent shows, our friend Heff also bought us tickets to see the Black Angels for a Halloween show. How good will that be?
Binge Reading
Finished The Road this evening and it was totally heartbreaking. I really need to lay off of books involving children in unbearable places. Although it was a tough read, the painstaking detail of the day-to-day activities of the father and son kept me reading on. That and the want/need to have the end of the story be at least a little hopeful. The movie version comes out at the end of November from the director of The Proposition and stars Viggo Mortensen with small appearances from Robert Duvall and Michael K. Williams. That last name should ring a bell if you watch The Wire. He plays Omar Little on the show (it’s a fantastic show, if you haven’t seen it) and I’m looking forward to seeing him out of his Wire character.
Next on deck? Twilight from Stephanie Meyer in hopes that I can have a little fun and then maybe some Neil Gaiman after that. It’s good to be back on the reading wagon where the only problem is finding what I’ll read next.
The Road
Desolate Landscape, originally uploaded by Caro Wallis.
Reading The Road for a book club and I have to admit this is a nice palette cleanser after the decadent, wickedness of The Other Boleyn Girl. This photograph was the first after a search with the keywords ‘desolate landscape’ and nicely encapsulates the feel of the background described.
Newly Minted Web Site
The husband and I just started a new blog over at Doozlife to provide a home for all of the baby-related information filling our heads. It’s a tragedy really, I had to get rid of all of the INXS lyrics, how to play the flute and the words to It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) just to make room for it. Don’t worry, I kept the random fantasy movie related information (”They looked like big, strong, hands.”). It doesn’t mean I’m promising not to talk about the boy here. That would be silly.
Small Man Walking
The days are finally warm(er) and the boy was finally able to enjoy some time in the pool. As you can see, he’s very busy. Busy digging, busy investigating, busy pointing at just about everything (especially lights and dogs).
To add to the busy-ness, he just started walking. And by just started, I mean he literally started taking steps today! For a few days now, he’s been feeling a bit more daring … practicing moving from the couch to me. It was super exciting to watch the joy on his face when he actually stood on his own and took a few steps. He’s officially moving on to being a toddler. Sniff. I have mixed feelings about that. I’m of course so excited to see his personality grow, to see the kind of little boy he’s becoming. But at the same time, I’m going to miss the baby he was. Being able to hold him with one single arm or swaddle him into a tiny little bundle.
Um, okay, let’s just ignore the sleep deprivation, sore breasts, pumping at work (oh joy of joy), post-partum depression and did I mention SLEEP DEPRIVATION? I think this may be what’s known as the “fog” wherein parents have enough distance (and enough decent sleep) to think that having another baby might be a good idea. Now, don’t get any ideas. We’re not ready for that yet. Let’s suffice to say we’re reflecting on where’s the boy’s been, where we’ve been and where we’re all going together.
Photoshop Love
It’s been so long, that I almost forgot how much I enjoy hours spent in Photoshop with an idea and my tablet. Today, thanks to some serious napping on the part of the D, I was able to spend a few hours playing around in PS. I’ve realized a few things during this mini sabbatical.
- I really love time spent figuring out how to approach making the design you have in mind real.
- I need to do this more often.
- My version of PS is really getting to be unusable (in my mind at least).
I never said they were earth shattering. I just wish I had more time to spend playing around with designing things, reading tutorials and generally building some real skill. It’s been so long that I did this on any sort of regular basis that I actually had to brush dust off of my Wacom tablet. Sigh. The project the husband and I are working on together is at least getting me thinking about things. Whether I can execute them is another thing altogether, but hey, it’s the journey right?
Love/Hate, Love Wins … Today
My relationship with the online world is one of love and hate. There are so many things I love about it … inspiring people, beautiful images, amazing communities of creativity. And then so many things I hate … the idea that there is such an increasing loss of real world connectivity. The potential to miss those small day-to-day interactions that form so many little pleasures in life.
But, that said, I’ve been a reader of Alex the Girl for years and always find myself glad that I visited the site. Her most recent post is a nice little dedication to the doing of things. At first glance, you might think she’s a bit PollyAnna, but don’t be fooled. She’s just made a commitment in her writing to continue to living life in a very present and active way. If you’ve read her long enough, you’ll see she has the same doubts and challenges, but she never seems to be afraid to make mistakes and I love that about her writing.
Working On Stuff
How’s that for a title? Besides changing up the theme to something a bit more basic (I’m a big fan of Chris Pearson’s themes). Tomorrow (hopefully, best laid plans and all) I’ll update the theme with some images of my own. I’ve been totally inspired by some of the simple, straightforward recommendations he makes on the use of categories, commenting and SEO within Wordpress. If only it wasn’t so difficult to find a reliable pocket of time. When faced with the prospect of messing around with code vs. playing with the boy … there’s no contest.
The husband and I have also been working on a little project together. It’s a secret for now, but we’ll let you in on it in the next week or so. Sssshhhh …
Freaky Friday
It’s not Friday anymore and I’m not superstitious, but I do enjoy blaming any abnormality on Friday the 13th when I can. For example: a friend and I drove to a fabric store at lunch for a 10 minute peruse of their selection. I found some fantastic vinyl backed fabric (to use for an all purpose bag and to practice my sewing skills) and some projects to earmark for future. We walked out to the car, turned the key and … nothing. Nada. Not even a cough from Gordy to pretend he was trying. (That’s right, my car’s name is Gordy. Judge away.) A quick call to the husband, a phone call to our insurance company (who actually were very nice) and a tow later, we’d confirmed that not only did we need a new battery, but the alternator needed to be replaced as well. If you know anything about cars (or at least paying to have them fixed) you’ll know that there’s a charge for merely whispering the word alternator. And so hundreds of dollars later, I’ve vowed to stay home the next time around.
I suppose it’s not totally fair to call it a bad day. The husband made his semi-famous pulled pork for dinner and later in the evening I received a beautiful little arrangement of flowers which just happened to contain my favorite of all … creamy, pink peonies. They were sent as a very nice gesture from a company I had interviewed with. A nice touch to the whole experience.
And today, we took the boy up to Bella and Max in Bothell for his first haircut ever. I was tempted to do it myself, but the wiggle factor proved to be more than I could handle. Instead, he sat inside a miniature Blue Angels jet with a basketful of toys, waving to himself in the mirror while also watching Elmo’s World. The Elmo part was especially fascinating to him because a. he’s never seen Elmo before (and therefore has no idea about his fetish for being tickled) and b. he doesn’t see much TV. As with most things, the boy was an excellent sport and came out looking quite handsome. Post cut, the men took a miniature train ride through the little village area the store is located in (they give you a free train ticket with every haircut). A good time was had by all.
And now, I’m poking around Quillpill after just registering with them for beta. The idea is of course, Twitter-esque, but really seems suited to process of writing. Especially if you’re like me and ideas often come in bits and pieces that don’t make sense alone but when placed together start to form something.
Hope your Saturday is relaxing too.
The D
detroit skyline, originally uploaded by ryan.s o u t h e n.photography.
The husband and I have been having an ongoing conversation (for many years) about Detroit, from its rich history to the continuing saga of its present. It’s a conversation that ultimately leads to the topic of resurgence and more importantly if that can ever happen for D-town. And, big surprise, I believe it can. As with so many other things in life, hope is in the small things.
Since leaving Hamtramck, I’ve always believed that the people making an effort to be downtown, to hang out at places like Zoot’s, the Cass Cafe, artists, students and other creative types who made the downtown area they’re own, would be the people that could help turn things around. Not the automakers … or the unions.
And where does that begin? With people like Sweet Juniper, living in the midst of the larget collection of Mies Van Der Rohe architecture that also happens to be in the heart of Detroit. With the advocates who are living there, creating things and supporting the people that live there (nevermind the corruption in government). I admire these people.
But as we speak about all of these things, inevitably the husband asks a very obvious and important question. How do you actually live there? He asks, because we have a family and Detroit can be dangerous and limited in the things it can offer. I’m not just furthering a stereotype here, we both have multiple stories of first hand experience with the crime and lack of resources. In the case of Sweet Juniper, living in Lafayette Park, the husband (knowing the area well) says, “Where do these people buy groceries? Where do their kids go to school? What do they do?”
It’s a tough conversation because any thought of returning to Michigan has many implications, not the least of them is the economy. I don’t remember a time when our family and friends there have all been so unanimously despairing of the economy. They all tell me that it’s devastating and no one seems to know how/when it will end, only that its depressing.
I believe it will. I believe there is hope for Detroit and for Michigan. And here’s why.
The people who care about culture and creativity there really care about it. In other big cities, it’s easy. In Detroit, because the resources may not be as vast or diverse as in other places, the people you see out and about are people you feel connected to. You can feel it. When I lived there, I would go to the Detroit Film Theatre often and I’d always see the same people there and it was a real sense of community. Not that I’m saying it doesn’t exist here in Seattle. Of course, it does. It’s evident by the SIFF just kicking off. It’s just, well, different.
All said and done, talk is cheap. And that’s what we have right now, just talk. I’m not certain if we would ever move back to Detroit, or Michigan for that matter. If you asked me right now, I’d say no. But it’s hard to say what the future might bring. Maybe one day we’ll change from believers into doers.