A bit of levity, Muskegon...

In the Battle For Cheetos, safety in numbers does not appear to hold up to Swedes.

We've covered some pretty heavy stuff the past couple days, so today we're gonna go with the whimsical ... As always, add any thoughts or insights you'd like :)

Why is the icon of Plumb's grapes?

Some math: Metro Muskegon, excluding Fruitport, has four large lakes, a handful of beaches, two state parks, five cities, and The Coffee House. 

Who's more important, Norton or Mona?

"So, the major highways are I-96 and US-31 ... I-96 turns into Business 31. If you're coming from the north or south, take US-31 to Business 31, which is the end of I-96..."


Why is there no South Muskegon?

Muskegon Heights is no higher than Muskegon ... just sayin'.

Muskegon Brewing has 3,000+ friends on Facebook. Where do they all drink beer?

"Toastmasters? No, in Muskegon, we have the Crashmasters..."

If Muskegon Community College was designed by a protege of one of the most famous architects in history, why is it nearly impossible to find your way around?

Irony: One of the best trails in Muskegon skirts the prison ... which has land that would be amazing to hike...

When it's extended into Grand Rapids, will the Musketawa trail become the Musketawent trail?

You can send an out-of-towner on a large wild-goose chase trying to find Seyferth Park, just so ya know.

Seriously, what's crackin' on McCracken?

"No, the Getty 4 Drive-in is not on Getty Street..."

Where's the beef on LeBoeuf street? 

Irony: The townhouses downtown are surrounded by grass and empty space.

What are the odds that Joe Austin went to Austin?

No, really, you go to McDonald's to buy gourmet candies.


In a city full of water, Seaway Drive does not lead to any type of sea...

So, the world's largest (talking!) musical fountain is in Grand Haven and the world's largest weather vane is in Montague ... yup, Muskegon is in the world's largest sandwich of weirdness.

Ever wonder if a certain superstore hires greeters to put you in the frame of mind that no matter what happens, it's better than when you walk in the door?

If you type "Muskego" into Google, you get a city in Wisconsin with three lakes, including a Muskego Lake, and a recreation trail. It once had a Muskego Beach Amusement Park and at one time it had a trolley line. Muskego High School's logo is a dark-red-and-white "M" with an Indian arrowhead. Okay, I'm freaking myself out. There are no images I can freely use here, but you're going to Google it, anyway. You know it, and I know it.


Have a happy, thoughtful, and humorous Thursday, Muskegon and others ;)


--Imaginer 

On your part in making it better...

Yes, you create your own fortune ... a recent gem from Chan's in Spring Lake.

"Luck is preparation meets opportunity." --Seneca (There's some luck right there; I looked up who said this, and it happens to be the same person I quoted last night.)

So, Muskegon, and all of my readers (and myself), now that we know it does get better, we can move on to the natural next question: How?

Well, there are myriad ways, of course, depending on your situation and what you want out of life, but the one true path I've found is the one you make yourself - and that starts with your thoughts and dreams of the future. No, this is not some b.s. answer, and no, it's not some silly thing. It works. Take it from a former, very unhappy skeptic. You do need a big backpack full of patience and some tools for frustration, but the right path will be there if you lay it out in front of you, first in your mind...

Let's say you want to be paid more for your work. Okay, the first question is, why? What do you want to do with that money? Buy a better house or fix up the one you're in? Go on a much-needed vacation? You've got to take it beyond "I want more money," or you'll focus on the negative and bring more of that into your life. Let's say it's the house. In this case, envision the house you want. Get it down to the details. Dream about it whenever you have a free moment - not only is it fun, it will take your mind off of the fact that you aren't getting paid what you think you deserve. Then, when you've got your vision of the house you want down, you can start talking about it with the people around you (or maybe they'll be along for the whole process) ... and you can start taking steps toward making it happen, like getting that raise.

Will it happen right away? Doubtful. Will it take a couple tries? Maybe. Even if it seems impossible? That's the thing: Once you start thinking about what you want in your life, you will start to see the possibilities, instead of just the obstacles, no matter how big they seem. Maybe you'll find a better job, maybe you'll even start your own business ... but that will never happen if you just focus on what's missing.

This works in all areas of life, even the most difficult ones. Maybe you want stronger friendships. Start thinking about what type of friendship you want, again down to the details, and you will start finding the energy to make it happen, whether it's transforming existing connections or finding new ones. Perhaps you want to be more active. Again, why? Do you want more energy? More fun? Picture yourself joining a cooking class or knitting club or group sport you've always wanted to try, and the opportunities will come eventually. 

I have seen this happen over and over in my life. Here is one powerful example: One summer during my college years, during a trip abroad, I fell in love with coastal living and, specifically,  sunsets over water. I decided I wanted to experience more of this lifestyle and changed my focus from moving to the biggest city I could find to moving to a coast. I thought about this a lot, about watching sunsets over water, going to the beach, hiking coastal areas ... I also was pursuing a career I was passionate about and looked forward to getting an internship in it the next summer ...

So, when the next summer came ... I didn't get to go anywhere. No big city, no coast, no mid-size city in the middle of the country. No internship. What did I end up doing? Stayed at the same job and took some more classes in the same place. Every night, I would watch the sun go down over some random field or, more likely, parking lot, as I'd be in-line skating ... I'd picture water instead of grass or concrete. It was just more fun and I enjoyed it. Fast-forward to the next spring: I'm still not sure what I'm going to do for another summer, not really excited about any of the potential job prospects, when an email about a job comes through touting the "finest beaches, best hiking, and coastal living" in Michigan and comparable to anywhere in the country ...

Yes, that's Muskegon. No, I had no idea that the dream I'd been dreaming was going to happen in my home state ... or even could. (Really. As someone from Oklahoma once remarked while watching the sunset at Pere Marquette (to me, ironically - maybe so I could share it with you all one day), "You guys have no idea what you have here" - and neither do many of us from other parts of the state.) Yes, I had hoops to jump through and yes, I almost didn't get an interview due to a scheduling snafu. But that's part of the process, at least in my life: Whenever you decide you really want something, life gives you a series of tests to prove it. Best to be prepared and know exactly what you need to prove ... to life and to yourself.

That email wasn't exaggerating, Muskegon. That summer was a dream. This place can be a dream. You just have to let yourself dream.

See you on your path...

--Imaginer

I really need you to know...

Just keep walking the path...

"The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity" --Seneca

Muskegon, and anyone else reading this: The interview for the event I'm going to write about had to be pushed back - I will put up a post this weekend (sorry, I hate to promise something and not deliver, but circumstances were not under my control). But it works out, as I have something more important I feel I have to write about tonight.

It gets better. It really, truly gets better. Recently, I saw a high school girl listlessly shuffling along the bike path, her head hung very low, her backpack half falling off, the weight of the world - or maybe crushing loneliness? - on her shoulders. I had the chance to observe her for several moments, as I came up behind her on my in-line skates and then glided slowly past her. She seemed to have trouble even putting one foot in front of the other, as it was just too painful...

Maybe she's afraid to go home. Maybe she doesn't connect with anybody at school. Maybe she failed a test and got dumped by a boy she really liked - or loved. Maybe the demands and pressure of teenage life just became too much for a young girl, so she needed to wander aimlessly along the bike path...

I wanted to talk to her, to find out what was wrong. I wanted to tell her I've been where she's at - and that it's just a stop along the path (though maybe a long one, as it was for me). To cheer her up. To let her know that it's going to be okay. There will be friends, and love, and successes, and laughter...

All I could do in that moment was say, "It gets better!" and slow down a little bit as I passed her ... I turned my head and watched as she slowly, ever so cautiously raised her head. As I rolled farther away, I stretched as big of a smile as I could across my face and said, "It does!" ... The sides of her mouth curled up ever so slightly, then she hung her head again.

In the three weeks since, I have happened to come across many stories, including one yesterday very close to home, about depression, bullying, and teenage suicide. About the horrible economy. About people of all ages at their wits' end...

We all live such fragmented lives these days. Sometimes it's hard to feel real connection to your friends, your family, let alone the people at work or school ... If you even have a job or can get through the school day. Maybe we all just need to reach out to each other a little more, show support to strangers, help each other keep the faith...

I haven't seen the girl on the bike path since I happened upon her three weeks ago. I hope she's doing okay. I was grateful to have the opportunity to help her out in just the tiniest way, as I myself was struggling with my own problems and outlook that day. It was just the reminder I needed that yes, it does get better.

Keep the faith, Muskegon, and everyone. Thanks for reading and imagining.

--Imaginer

P.S. I wasn't even thinking of this project when I spoke to the girl on the bike path, but this is an amazing and exceptionally important undertaking: http://www.itgetsbetter.org/

Happy Sun(set)day, Muskegon ... Inside scoop on an Awesome event coming tomorrow...

The sky is on fire, Chicken Little!

 “Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” –John Ruskin

You will treasure this, Muskegon ... and it was once literally trash...

From a dump to this...

"The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man."  --Author Unknown

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."  --Albert Einstein

"The earth laughs in flowers." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

So, Muskegon, North Muskegon has got it goin’ on, pedestrian-wise. The city just keeps adding accessibility to its urban offerings and abundant natural beauty…

Some years ago, while visiting in between moves, I in-line-skated the new Muskegon Lakeshore Trail from Lakeside to the causeway bridge, where the trail ended. A couple years later, I found I could take a left into a stunning nature preserve. A year ago, I had the choice of continuing on to the Four Corners and Ruddiman (the paved trail had been extended), and this year, I found more paved trails in the nature preserve itself.

Today, the focus is on the nature preserve: its offerings, its beauty, and its inspiring background. This little corner of Muskegon Lake is like a hidden 3-D painting, with several nooks and crannies to explore. Its offerings include the paved trail, a boardwalk, and a river trail. Grassy trails lead into more woodsy areas, and the boardwalk boasts seven fishing platforms. The boardwalk skirts Muskegon Lake and then hovers over wetlands. Diverse wildlife is on display, as well as a variety of flora and fauna…

It wasn’t always so peaceful or beautiful.  The land had been, literally, a dump. It held piles of fragmented asphalt and concrete. Its transformation began with the vision of one man named Mike Hayes. A newly formed community group, Muskegon Environmental Research & Education Society, (MERES), part of the Muskegon Conservation Club, put its energy behind the vision and made it a reality. It raised money from community groups and foundations, and put in thousands of volunteer hours to complete the nature preserve.

Along with the trails, benches and picnic areas adorn serene, charming areas for those who want to take a rest or have a bite to eat. A formidable observation deck with spectacular views of the area was burned earlier this year, but MERES is looking to rebuild it …

Check it out, Muskegon. Walk to it from the Four Corners. Bike to it from the Muskegon Lakeshore Trail. Drive to it and park in its parking lot. You truly will be glad you did. Not only is it a beautiful place, it’s a perfect example of what can happen with some imagination, faith, and working together…

Now, go on, get going. Maybe I’ll see you there … or on the way…

--Imaginer

Unique scenery.

Muskegon wildlife...

Take a load off, Muskegon...

Wild decorations.

Natural sculpture.

I'm checking you out, Muskegon ... Do you see what I see?

A random neighborhood sidewalk? Not bad, Muskegon, not bad.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” --Marcel Proust

So, Muskegon, summer has come early, but the water’s still too cold to swim and there aren’t any big events planned for this weekend. Maybe your friends are busy, or maybe you don’t have the time or funds to go anywhere yet...

This is where living in a beautiful place full of distinctive neighborhoods comes in. I know, I know, you know your neighborhood inside-out … but do you really? Have you stopped to admire the flowers blossoming or talk to the neighbors out and about? Have you walked the back roads – they’re really quite gorgeous here (no, seriously) – or wandered into a nearby park?

Chances are, you haven’t done much exploring of your own neighborhood of late. Maybe you walk the dog or take jogs, but when is the last time you noticed something new, whether it’s nature, people, or activities? I have recently been discovering many, many things I overlooked in both of the area neighborhoods I lived in, each for years …

It’s just human nature to seek out the bigger, the “better,” the more well-known, the different … but this is what I’ve learned after more than three decades of chasing the most exciting places: They all get old, if you let them. The grass really isn’t greener – it’s just different. Sometimes it isn’t even grass. Yes, no doubt some big event is going on in New York City or Chicago this weekend. But guess what, Muskegon? Odds are, the people who live there aren’t even going to go. They’ve seen it, done it, and the only way it stays fresh and interesting is if they put the energy into making it that way…

So, Muskegon, go explore your neck of the woods this weekend – and I mean really explore it. Look for something new, talk to someone new, take a different path or road or alley. After all, all of the festivals around here – or anywhere – started out by celebrating something homegrown. Make your own festival this weekend, Muskegon. Your neighborhood awaits … Happy exploring.

--Imaginer

A question and a challenge for you, Muskegon…

Good place to plan an adventure ... and to catch a glimpse of the Lake Express.

"A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town." –Henry David Thoreau

“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.”  –Frank Herbert

If you’ve been anywhere near Muskegon Lake or Lake Michigan, chances are you know the Lake Express has started its season. The familiar toot of the horn, the bulky blue-and-white shape out on the lake, coming closer, until you can see the people on deck, waving …

I spot the Lake Express!

When they set foot in the Port City, many of these travelers want to check it out. Where would you tell them to go, Muskegon? Besides Pere Marquette? What would you tell them to do? And please don’t say go to the mall or a chain restaurant. Nothing wrong with those – they serve a lot of people, and they often do it well – but Milwaukee has bigger malls and better chain restaurants. What does Muskegon have that Milwaukee doesn’t? That Detroit doesn’t? Even Chicago?

This is just a very rough list, but here are a few things, mostly between downtown and Pere Marquette:

• PJ Hoffmaster State Park
• Muskegon State Park
• Mia & Grace
• Curry Kitchen Indian Cuisine
• Century Club shops
• Continuity
• Sun, Wind & Rain
• Lake House Waterfront Grille
• Dockers Fish House
• Getty 4 Drive-in

What about downtown Norton Shores? Muskegon Heights? Roosevelt Park? Where would you direct someone in those areas? And while we’re at it, when’s the last time you’ve been to any of the places I mention?  I ask because I know how easy it is to develop a pattern and stay in it day in and day out. I myself haven’t spent much time in Norton Shores or Muskegon Heights since I’ve been back, and they both have much to offer.

So, here’s my challenge to you, Muskegon: Think about a handful of places you’d tell an out-of-towner to go, then make plans to go to one yourself. Preferably one you haven’t visited in awhile, or, even better, at all. Not only will it give you a new experience, it will make you a better tour guide for when someone asks something like, “So what’s so great about Muskegon?” … or, when fresh off the Lake Express, you're chosen to answer, “What should I check out here?”

And yes, I’ve been asked these questions, and yes, they get harder the longer you live here (or anywhere) and the more time accrues since you’ve explored your city. And, yes, I’m taking my own challenge. See you somewhere new...

--Imaginer