President Gerald Ford was onto something here

Today we went on a field trip to Grand Rapids.

Since she is leaving for school in less than a month, I thought it was VERY important for us to get the lay-of-the-land. (Plus, gas was just $3.74 at the station near work.)

Kar and I were on the freeway in "Callie" by 9:30 a.m. Rick didn't go, mostly due to Daddy anxiety.

A few hours later (food/potty stops), we got off the freeway. She was quite impressed that I found my way right back to her school without directions. Not bad, since we hadn't been there since February!

We cruised downtown, stopping at a McDonalds for lunch, which we ate down by the river. We walked around and found the post office, library, clubs and hospital. Grand Rapids has invested in lovely parks and fountains! And they love brick roads! And one-way streets!

I fully expected Grand Rapids to be another Port Huron or Flint. Lame. Decaying. WRONG! Downtown Grand Rapids was more like Royal Oak and Birmingham, but with skyscrapers and a river. It was clean and people-friendly. PH and Flint need to take some serious pointers!

We found the big box shopping area, complete with Salvation Army right across the street from Circuit City and Home Depot! We found the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

"I really like my new town, Mom."

The Last of Sheila (Coburn)