Hoping For You

My story...
Part 1 Part 2
Part 3 Part 4
Part 5 Part 6
Part 7 Part 8 (Addendum)

The day I left Texas, it was 112 degrees and we hadn't had rain in a month. Huge oak trees that had been around forever were withering and dying. The grass was scorched brown. Animals and people languished in the heat and retreated to air conditioning or shade as soon as possible. Earlier that month, I drove my old car with broken A/C to an interview at 8:45 in the morning. By the time I had driven the 14 miles from our house to town, my white shirt had huge sweat rings under my arms and my entire back was soaking wet.

Needless to say, I didn't get the job...as a bank teller.

Which set me up nicely to come to Michigan..."This damn heat! I'll never get a job in the state of Texas unless "Wet T-Shirt Model" is an occupation! I can't breathe! I don't have air conditioning! And I want to see some cotton-pickin' SNOW!"

So we loaded up our cars and left.

It was late evening July 3oth when we reached South Haven, Michigan. I remember how the fading sunset blushed the growing darkness while the silhouettes of the "Tall Ships" bobbed against the sky. The sound of the waves lapping against the wooden hulls and the sound of the fabric of the sails seemed ghostly - like whispers from the ancient world. I remember the sand of the beach - how it was soft and cool - and I remember the water of Lake Michigan - unbelievably cold! I remember the moon and how it hung with the promise of romance, and how the pier offered to take me closer to the heart of the lake.

And I remember the town, and how the old people wandered slowly and the teenagers jostled about laughing loudly. I remember the blueberries and how we celebrated them and the wooden planks that lead from one shop to another and the flowers - so many flowers still living! Not brown and dead, but full and vibrant!

And I remember having to wear a sweatshirt in July.

I remember hoping.

I was hoping for you.

Hoping For You

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