Sentimental Stitches

For as long as I can remember the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend was dedicated to the Indianapolis 500. Growing up we watched television here at the lake via the old fashioned antenna. We did have one of those fancy dials inside the house you could turn to move the antenna and picked up the NBC and CBS channels without much trouble. The Sunday morning of Memorial Day weekend was spent with Rob and my brother Paul on the roof, me inside watching the television and Daddy supervising the project. It was our job to somehow get the antenna to pick up the ABC channel televising the race. The picture was never perfect and we usually had the radio tuned in for outside listening but it was the highlight of the weekend. No matter how much we begged, Dad would never hook up to cable service when it was available.

For many years the guys would pile in the motor home and travel to the time trials the weekend before the race. Our son Paul's first motor home trip was to the time trials. He slept in the bathtub as we motored down the road and that was the weekend he learned to "kiss the baby in the mirror". He'd stand on the couch in the motor home and seeing his reflection in the mirror he just had to kiss the baby. The first time I left him home overnight was to go to the race itself. It's an experience (and sunburn) I'll never forget. You can't imagine what goes on during the night before the race in the infield! It was always Daddy's treat and something I know he looked forward to every year.
I'll be watching the race today on cable tv with access to the internet to check on anything I missed or want to watch again. I wonder what Daddy would think about that? Even I feel a little melancholy and miss those days at times.

As for who I'd like to see win the race - I'm rooting for Danica Patrick. I've always loved fast cars and admire her determination in following her dream.

Here's today's block:

Sally Post Floral Sampler Block 25
RETIRED

This weekend is our official kick off for the "season" as we call it. While we have visitors in Traverse City year round, it's the time from Memorial Day to Labor Day that is the busiest. Closing time for the store increases from 5 to 6 to 7 on weekdays and 5 to 6 to 7 to 8 on Friday and Saturday. Sundays closing even extends from 4 to 5 to 6. The downtown area has lots of activities going and there are days you can't even see down the sidewalk because it's so packed with people. Today they announced that Madonna (a Michigan native) will be here in August during the Traverse City Film Festival. Admittedly, I'm more excited about the Blue Angels in July but I'm sure there are lots of Madonna fans. She'll be releasing her documentary film at the State Theatre owned by Michael Moore (a local resident).

I'm heading to work early today. I finished most the things I wanted to prep for the weekend but have something new for the front windows that I need to finish before the rush begins. Gas is $4.00 a gallon and above here so we're crossing our collective fingers hoping it won't keep people home.

If you're traveling later today for the holiday weekend, I wish you safe travels and don't forget to vote for Moomer's in the ice cream shop contest.