Returning to Michigan this year was an apprehensive move. My wife wasn’t sure I was up to the long drive, it’s 1,500 miles. When we left the Florida Keys, temperatures had been in the 90s daily for a couple of weeks. We had delayed arriving in the Keys for three months so we wanted to spend a few extra weeks to see how June was.
WOW is all I can say!
We had been told June is a great month in the Keys and we were, we thought, ready to experience it.
The main thing we learned was that those people who told us it was great in June had been left out in that torrid sun way too long. I don’t consider conditions with temperatures above 95 degrees as “great.”
I just call it REALLY HOT, especially when the thermometer reads in the high 80s at night.
I suspect our next electric bill will be similar to the national debt — the AC ran around the clock, seldom cycling. It just ran and ran and ran.
We kept getting calls from our Michigan friends telling us how great the weather was in Michigan. We just ignored them, after all every year for the last 25 we had returned to snow or at least brown fields and trees with only a few buds on them. How different could a delay of three weeks for our return be?
A lot! Michigan was beautiful this time of year.
I was certain I could handle the drive and as we departed the Keys was certain the traffic would be much lighter than other trips. I was mistaken on the second count; traffic was bumper to bumper in both directions — on a Saturday. So much for the idea all the snow birds were off the road. I have no idea where all those people were headed.
The 90 degree weather (and a reading of 100 in Georgia) stayed with us all the way to Ohio where it dropped down into the 80s. As we drove through Ohio we noted the extensive amount of road repairs underway. Actually, it seemed like I-75 was being rebuilt all the way from the Florida line. While in Ohio, we gazed at the statue known as, “Touchdown Jesus” just outside Cincinnati. We were saddened to see on the news it was struck by lightning and destroyed the day after we viewed it.
As we traveled we turned on the radio to keep up on the latest reports on the Gulf disaster. My last three columns had focused on events there and it was never far from my mind and I’m sure the minds of most of my readers. Whenever we stopped along the route home we heard people talking about the Gulf. Many had their own ideas on how to solve the problems and all were saddened by the loss of wildlife and their habitat.
The assault on the environment of the Gulf is great enough to upset a whole nation. I’ve seen so many teary eyed people talking about how they feel, and I admit to tearing up also.
As I see it, these are very sad times. I can only imagine how hard it is for the fishermen and shrimpers with thousands of dollars invested in boats and equipment — and no place to fish. The problem is made greater by the fact they have no idea when they may get back to work.
We made it home and are in the midst of unpacking, such an ugly job. We had the TV on and heard the coverage regarding BP’s meeting with President Obama. The President said BP had agreed to establish a $20 billion escrow fund to pay loses resulting from the Deep Water Horizon oil spill. BP also agreed to set up a fund of a $100 million to pay for losses to those unemployed by the halting of the deep water drilling. There was no mention of when the oil flow could be expected to be stopped or brought under control.
Every estimate of oil volume pouring into the Gulf waters seems to be larger than the last. I find it amazing that each day the estimated amount of oil being recovered by BP also increases. Every day they are processing this oil and profiting from this well that is harming everyone else — this does not seem right.
Taking into account all of the facts, I have one question.
Do the people at BP who called the Gulf folks “small” really want to stop the leak?
As we viewed the Gulf oil leak coverage on CNN in Florida, we got homesick when the Pure Michigan ads aired. I know those ads were designed a couple of years ago but they sure fit in right now.
Let’s hope they prove to be a boost for Michigan’s economy this tourism season.