Time Warp…
The mother road calls me home. As I cruise along heading east on Route 80 the sun gently settling into the west, a warm glow finding its way into my heart. Mama Cass belts out Dream a little dream of me, the song I will forever remember my sister by drawing me in. Dee is with me tonight. Maybe it’s the singular focus driving affords that is so comforting, eyes drawn to the pavement, hands gently steering; it’s the wheel life that seems to simultaneously take me back. Back to my roots, back to a simple time when I was part of a whole, the rumble of the bumpy road’s heart beating…blump, blump, blump, blump.
I draw in a deep breath, Sami laying next to me, co-piloting with her soft fur only a stroke away. Ellie, Natalie’s pup comes for this leg of the trip perched next to Rachel watching the cars wiz by from the wide window over the table. Dad pops into my thoughts, aways ready to bring anyone ready to ride. I am in the zone, suspended, floating through time carried deep into my soul. Oblivious to the traffic building around me, ironically, I feel calm and focused.
Coloma is my first layover for the Memorial Day Weekend with family. Our Michigan escape, a cottage born in 1916 built by the Wick sisters when the Crystal Palace drew crooners to a tiny corner of southwest Michigan by train to escape the city life. The sounds of Ray Charles, Etta James and Nat King Cole echo a simpler time when the words of their songs belted out love longed for. This summer will be our 18th year being transported to this era. Jim sends me a picture of the swans welcoming him to the lake. We pull in late after 10:00 pm but everyone is awake waiting for us all to arrive.
Ava runs out to greet us, “Nana, can we sleep in the camper tonight?” her first pleading. I respond with “Maybe tomorrow night sweetie!” and let the pups out to race across the broad lakeside yard in search of Sami’s sister Truly standing at high alert at the back door. The needed overnight bags across my arm I shuffle Rachel out of the camper. Christine’s family arriving shortly after me, Jim directing them all into their respective numbered rooms. We all chat into the night catching up then one by one drifting upstairs to sleep; to await the morning coffee. The magic of this place never disappoints.