My grandfather suffered from terrible allergies, especially in the spring. This was in the days before air conditioning so it was difficult for him to get relief. His answer was to buy a summer home in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, on Lake Superior near Copper Harbor. The air came off the lake and was generally pollen free, allowing him to breathe freely.
The UP – yoo pee – yooper – is a beautiful place, but it is hard to live there. The winters routinely set records for snow. Air conditioning is usually not necessary since it’s only needed several days out of the summer. Best yet are the flies – every size, every shape, every type and they love human blood.
Lake Superior itself is a treacherous lake, from the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975 and the sinking of a Coast Guard cutter in 1989 as well as many other boats.
My favorite boy toy and I went up there when we lived in the Midwest. One year was typical Yooper weather – rainy and cold every single day. We did all the tourist things, then went home early. According to the family neighbors, it still rained even after we left.
Do you like this postcard? The family was surprised by it too when they saw it for sale. That’s my uncle’s car and my cousin is hanging out the window to point at the black bears. The bears were at that time a common form of entertainment – all you had to go was go up to the garbage dump for the nightly show.
Word for tomorrow – CONTEMPORARY. If you prefer to work ahead, see the list for the week under “A Word A Day”.
A Daily Life 
August 16, 2011 at 7:45 am
Ah… makes me miss home (MI), but I sure don’t miss the bears or any other creatures. We have plenty here in New Hampshire too!
August 16, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Small world!
August 16, 2011 at 8:33 am
Just returned from the UP on Sunday! We had fantastic weather! The first week….HOT! The second week perfect! It was beautiful! I looked all over for that post card, nowhere to be found. Probably took it off the market because, what stupid idiot feeds bears out of the window of the car?! I still love it up there! We saw a bear as we were coming back from Schlatters Lake up past Copper Harbor. I also saw tracks down on the beach near the woods. So they are still there just not as easy to find since the dumps are gone. J caught a nice 30 inch Northern. My mom is up there till sometime after Labor day. Our family had alot of memorable summers up there. We all love it. My mom and dad met there. Many great memories are our summers in Michigan!
August 16, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Thanks for the note! That was too funny. I’d say you probably wouldn’t feed the bears like that anymore, but I’m not so sure – you’re always up for adventure.
The UP really does have a lot of memories and of course, the graves as well.
Thanks for the comment.
August 17, 2011 at 12:46 am
idiots (and i’d be one of ’em)…who know how to have fun…that’s who!!! ha, ha. :)
August 20, 2011 at 9:49 pm
It’s amazing the things we do and still live long enough to grow up,although my cousin has always been up for adventure and still is. I envy her joy of life.
August 16, 2011 at 11:21 am
Jaimie loved the photo of the bears. :)
August 16, 2011 at 12:14 pm
I’m glad she enjoyed it! Thanks for checking my blog each day and letting Jaimie enjoy the pictures.
August 16, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Awesome picture :)
August 16, 2011 at 12:17 pm
It really is a great picture. Your great-uncle had no idea someone took it until we saw it on sale. Check the blog post again – my cousin wrote about it too.
August 16, 2011 at 12:13 pm
a little too close for comfort…the bears i mean… ;)
August 16, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Check back when you have a chance – my cousin left a pretty funny comment about it.
August 16, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Wow, about the photo.
August 20, 2011 at 9:40 pm
It’s been a family favorite for years. My cousin thinks she was feeding the bears, but my recollection is that she was pointing at them.