West Michigan ride

We were in Grand Rapids MI, (about 90 miles south of us,)  for the weekend, for a college graduation and Mothers Day.  Got up early on Sunday, and went for a ride.  It was sunny and about 50, nice weather for riding.  Rode 2 miles to the Kent trail, then 8 miles to Byron Center.  Beautiful trillium on both sides of the trail in several places.  Saw people walking dogs, babies in strollers, families walking,  people running and roller blading.  Nice to see them out on such a pretty morning.

 Headed back and made a loop into Grandville, from there we got off the trail and decided to ride through the neighborhood we lived in for 20 years.  Stopped by to see if our former neighbor Freddi was home, thinking she would most likely be in church,.  When she answered the door, she was surprised and happy to see us, she had been to the early service, and was expecting her family for dinner. She had just been thinking of us and wanted to give us a call, but figured we would be in church.  Turns out she was kind of down, and needed a bit of cheering up.  We had a nice visit and a lovely glass of cucumber water.  She had a glass pitcher, with ice water in it and some slices of cucumber.  Not only did it look pretty, but was very refreshing as well.

Freddi isn't just an ordinary person, no, she is a 5ft bundle of energy, who is still going strong at the age of 72.   Next Saturday, she will be running a 15.2  mile, (25K) race in called the River Bank Run.  She and Tony used to train together for it every year.  Freddi  works part time at Curves, has beautiful flower gardens, and once a year, she rents a lawn edger for  a day, and  she and the neighbors edge their lawns.  Freddi does the lawns of the seniors.  She really is the life of the neighborhood, with her "Freddi smile"and contagious  attitude of cheerfulness, she is like  a  cheery cardinal sitting in a tree singing, making life brighter for all who see her or hear her song.  It was a bright spot in our day to stop and have a little chat with her.  She is a blessing to so many, us included.

Rode back to Tony's Mom's, put the trike back on the trailer, and got ready to go out to dinner.   Our daughter  Tracey, went along with us.  We didn't even have to wait for a table, and had a tasty meal, including a wonderful salad with strawberries and pecans.  After dropping Tracey off at her house, we went back to Ton's Mom's and played Yahtzee.  Loaded up and headed for home around 5.  It was a really nice weekend.  Best part of Mother's day to me was our trike ride, it was exactly what  I wanted to do.