These pictures represent a spring break trip that our family took around 1990. Most folks plan a trip to warm places like Florida, Myrtle Beach or even Jamaica for spring break - a little get away from the winter forces. And this was the argument we all presented to Philip (my husband) when he got the big idea for us to go north - yes, north, to Holland, Michigan for our spring break.
Philip told us that Holland, Michigan holds a huge Tulip Festival every spring. He told us this in mid March, not knowing that the Tulip Festival in Holland, Michigan takes place in mid May. So we set out for the Dunes (which Philip loves) and the tulips of Holland, Michigan.
We arrived in the afternoon to beautiful, sun filled streets but no people anywhere in sight. Once we got out of our car, we knew why the streets were deserted. And knew instantly where the people were - inside! The lake effect winds (and Holland, Michigan sets right on the lake - on the front lines of lake effect anything) hit us like stinging bees! It was cold! I don't think the temperature got above 20 degrees for the entire time we were there.
Did I tell you that there was not a living tulip in sight? Just lots of posters about the coming Tulip Festival, many weeks away. So we made the most of it and drove around town to see the sights. One of the coolest attractions in Holland, Michigan is the Big Red Lighthouse.
Yet the main memory that sticks with me about that trip was the bitter cold. Wet, piercing cold. And then that fog that set in at night. It was like a scene from The Shining. The scene where Jack Nicholson's crazy character (wielding an ax) is chasing that young child through the streets. We'd decided to walk from our motel to a restaurant which was about 100 yards away. The parking lot was empty. The thick, soupy fog blurred the light from the street lights and the wind came at us like razors. When you're wearing gloves and keep thinking that you need to put on gloves (over your existing gloves), it's cold! It would have been a perfect time to pierce our noses. Ah, good times.
This particular spring break trip was also one of the last, if not the very last trip that our daughter, Kora, took with us as a complete family unit.
And I write about it now in honor of her upcoming 40th birthday. Let's all get together one of these years and go to the actual, Holland Michigan Tulip Festival. Like your Dad told us then "It'll be fun."
