This week brought an unusual confluence of events.
First up was a fast-moving storm that came through late Thursday night; high winds and a tornado warning mixed with the emergency siren going off had lots of us scrambling into our basements. Fortunately, no tornado was actually sighted but the ferocity of the 60 or so seconds of incredible winds left lots of us in this part of Michigan without power.
That evening we joined several of our neighbors outside to review local damage damage and we were amazed at how many large branches had been ripped down. One tree at the entrance to Eaglecrest Drive actually ripped up and fell over on the power line but the line itself remained intact.
While we were pretty unscathed a trip around nearby neighborhoods -- in search of a charging station -- revealed the extent of the storm's damaging winds. Several houses had trees down on the, power lines torn down, and as seemingly endless variety of detritus littering streets, laws and even rooftops.
The power finally came back on at little after 1pm Saturday.
The second and by far more pleasing event was a Van Halsema cousin get together out at the old Overview house, now the Great Lakes House, on Lake Michigan. Susie and I picked up her mom about 3pm and met up with cousins Laurie and Jen and the five of us drove out to the get together.
The drive took only about an hour or so. For me, an only child (more or less) it was grand to see so many cousins renewing their bonds of family relationships, recalling with obvious fondness times spent growing up together and visits to Overview, all the while catching up on the details of all their various extended families.
One person was responsible for setting all this motion, Dick Van Halsema. It was his idea and he spent no small amount of time coordinating the arrangements and providing drinks and food, with some assistance from a few cousins.
And to top it all off the day, 25 August, happened to be the 50th wedding anniversary of Jack and Wilma DeKorne. And Bernice got to see and catch up with so many of her nieces and nephews, most of whom she had not seen for far too many years.
It was a truly special day. . . Plans were laid to repeat the event on August 24, 2024.
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| l-r: Helen Sterk, Laurie Ten Have Chapman, Dick Van Halsema, Dave DeKorne |
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| Jack and Wilma |
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| Barbara Jean DeKorne |
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| Laurie Dick, Dave Clark Van Halsema, Jen Galloway |
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| Tess Lindholm, her daughter-in-law Laurel, Susie |
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| ruins of the original Overview cottage |
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| 113 steps to the beach |
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| Dave and Jen |
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| Jen and Susie |
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