Labor Day

This year was an unusual year in many respects. Every year on Labor Day they have a bridge walk. It is not a short walk, about 5 miles.lol. I asked mom and dad about going and doing the Macinaw Bridge walk. It is an anual event. Even our governor takes part. It starts at 7am and the last group to start their treck is at 11am.When I asked about going, my mom said she would have to talk to dad. She also indicated she was concerned about gas,and about getting up so early,in the morning. I offered to foot the bill for the gas.So I patiently waited for their decision. This was on Saturday. Having not heard anything I inquired Sunday afternoon while at lunch. It was then decided we would go and do it.Instead of going up that night we decided to drive up the morning of. This is a 4 hour treck. so mom set her alarm for 4:00am and finally rose fifteen minutes later,and began to slowly get ready. I've done the walk before so I was the veteran of the group. Neither RuthAnn nor my parents have ever done it. So we left for the trip. We did the walk. It went well for the most part. RuthAnn did amazing. However Grandpa "my dad" carried her some of the way. After we completed the walk we took the shuddle back across so we could get our van. Had we just parked on the other side we would have saved the bridge fare.When we got back to the other side we decided we'd get something to eat. After this we browsed some of the shops. RuthAnn and I tried on some interesting hats, it was fun. We stopped at a t-shirt place and I and Ruthann both got a t-shirt. Mine said "bridge walk 2010 I did it again." on the back it gave facts about the bridge. RuthAnn's shirt showed the bridge and I think it said "Mackinaw Bridge Walk. It was tempting but i didn't give in to buy some Macinaw Island fudge.As the time was getting later we needed to get going because Ruthann had school in the morning. We drove and it began to down pour rain, but we stopped anyway to look at some animals that Ruthann was wanting to see. not real animals,mind you. So mom and her put their jackets over their heads so they could keep some what dry. While dad and I stayed in the van.As we drew near to home we stopped at RuthAnn's favorite place for dinner. where? You may ask. Why McDonalds of course. And on the way home RuthAnn requested to have permission to wear her new shirt to school.Permission granted. The next morning as she got ready she was quick to remember her new shirt and wore it with great pride. The experience was awesome. Fun for all. But next year we'll probably go up the night before, that way no need to get up so early in the morning. to walk 5 miles is interesting and not something I'd do all the time.But I was with family' and RuthAnn seemed to enjoy herself.She'd never even seen the bridge before so it was a double treat.Of course mom took a lot of pictures, so that is where I got the ones you see here.The plan is to make it an anual event to do. I'm all for it. I am a nut everyone knows but I'll admit it and say I've tried to be normal but it was no fun. So I got to be me. a nut just like my parents for sure. After completing the walk we each received a certificate showing we completed. There were thousands of people. Don't know the exact numbers but a great turn out as usual and all had fun. Mom had her concerns and worries and uncertainity but she braved it and did just fine.