Pond Hill Farm. They are working to reduce the inventory of pumpkins and replace them with pine wreaths for Christmas.
Thanksgiving at Torch Lake was a pleasant experience, and on the whole, I think this trip was a success. Now all I have to do is disentangle myself. Of course, there was that minor flap when I stayed at lunchtime at The Bluffs to feed Raven at The Bluffs and Mom lost track of the Plan, but Carla the waitress (she is much more than that- Angel?) took care of the confusion.
Yesterday, we were waiting to go down to lunch when I heard a rustling outside the apartment door. Carla provided a little Christmas tree that is on the ledge outside Mom’s apartment, and looks out for her when she shows up early to breakfast. She has a big heart, like many do Up North.
I had intended to take Mom shopping yesterday, but the description of what was happening at Black Friday at the Big Boxes was daunting. Carla commented on it. She was up in the middle of the night, and decided to venture out. The town was bustling, and the parking lots in front of WallMart and Meyer’s Thrifty Acres were full.
Filled with apprehension at having Big Mama get the vapors at a packed department store, I suggested a trip to Pond Hill Farms, the organic commune on the north side of the Bay, and stock up on some wild honey and some of their dipping sauces.
Big Mama said she would like that, since she had never been there before- another one of those momentary blips of space-time that go along with her universe these days. Pond Hill had always been one of the itinerary items when family was in town.
I also realized that going there meant driving right by Bay Bluffs where we are warehousing Raven, and I kicked myself- any direction would be better than that- but decided I could find Pond Hill without driving directly past The Bluffs.
Mom is much weaker than she was, and I was a little nervous, but this is so much easier than dealing with Raven. We might have been able to do this some other way, but for good or for ill, he is warm and dry, and his needs are being taken care of. There is no constant nag of dread when the phone rings, and that he has committed some act of intrusion on the other residents.
We got Big Mama’s parka and walked slowly through the lobby and out to the Grand Cherokee in the lot in front of the Village. We took the long way to the Farms, heading up through Bay View, the Methodist summer village of more than 150 Victorian fantasy houses.
Bay View Victorian fantasy house. Spectacular in the summer, the village is locked up and empty during the winter since the houses are not winterized and residence is prohibited by the Association.
Adjacent is the Bay View Country Club, which until last month, Raven and Big Mama were still dues-paying members.
Until I called to quit, anyway. They were not making their monthly minimum on food charges, and are never going to again, so we are done with that.
I did not mention it. I avoided the shore drive to Harbor Springs and instead plowed on past the light and up through the sprawl that now continues on to the village of Alansan.
Turning off on a county road to head west, the scenery was marvelous. Riding in the car was of minimal impact on Big Mama, and she chatted away about these places she had never been. When we got there she was mildly interested in the goats and sheep.
“The children must like this,” she remarked. “I have never been here, though it seems nice.” I didn’t correct her.
We walked around the farm store and got the usual stuff, and then she was happy to go back to Potemkin Village. She was visibly winded and dizzy after the walk up from the car through the lobby and to the elevator and down the hall to her unit.
She might benefit from a regular walk, now that she is no longer shackled to Raven, but I have no idea how to manage that by remote control.
I have not taken her to see Raven, and with the exception of the fact that she now thinks I am him half the time, she does not appear to mind at all. For the moment, things see to have stabilized.
Things are so much different this year than they were last year, and I have no idea when we might have a crisis that will require direct in-person attention. So, while it is a relief to have Raven locked down, the next call from Up North could be a really significant one.
We have taken care of all the little problems, anyway.
Copyright 2011 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com