at my cousins’ home, with my mother and their young son during that visit.
After I married and moved to the Boston area, I stayed away from Detroit for a long while. Once I had children, the urge to share happy venues from my childhood lured me back. My father died suddenly when my second child was just eight months old, on January 3, 1990. We had the unveiling (Jews don’t lay the headstone during the funeral, but sometime later, between six months and a year after death) in June of 1990. At that time, I took my kids on an extended trip back home.
At the beginning of the trip, we stayed with cousins in suburban Birmingham. One afternoon, I visited my Aunt Ann (grandmother of my hosts) in her lovely Southfield high-rise apartment. My mother joined us. We could see the dark clouds roll in, so I kissed my aunt goodbye and quickly gathered up my children; Jeffrey, now 13 months and David, just shy of 5 years old. Mother hastily fled to her near-by apartment.
We only had about a 20 minute drive up Greenfield Road, but the heavens opened up. The Midwest is flat and known for its violent summer thunderstorms. It began to rain buckets. Directly in front of my windshield I could see huge bolts of lightning flash from the sky to the ground, repeatedly, followed by the loud crack of thunder. I tried to remain calm in front of my young children. The sight was impressive, if a bit frightening. I drove cautiously to avoid hydroplaning my rental car. I slowed to a crawl.
By the time I made it back to my cousin’s home the storm had almost passed and my mother’s frantic phone messages were waiting for me. I reassured her. The kids had had quite the light show.
We actually had a wonderful visit with relatives on both sides of the family; were joined later by Dan and my brother’s family for the unveiling. And I began taking my children back to Michigan for several more extended visits.
The four Sarason cousins visit after the unveiling.
Betsy PfauRetired from software sales long ago, two grown children. Theater major in college. Singer still, arts lover, involved in art museums locally (Greater Boston area). Originally from Detroit area.
The ferocity of Midwest storms surprised us when we moved here from Boston, although a display of lightning hitting a crane on the beach in Quincy was pretty impressive, especially since we were parked near it!
Mother Nature does not fool around, Dave.
Betsy I always think of the Midwest and these devastating storms. I truly fear for everyone who live in the sporadic trails of these tornadoes that seem to sweep down from nowhere and cause such damage. Driving with your youngins in that deluge is so scary, I appreciate the photograph too, of your mom and the boys too. Don’t you think it’s strange that this lightning prompt came to us on a day that millions of us are under storm-warnings?
Patty, it seems the weather has caused so much damage lately and just as I read your comment, a thunder storm broke out where I am staying (we are away from home so we can see our son, daughter-in-law and 15 month old granddaughter, who we are babysitting as claps of thunder are heard in the distance). But as a child in Detroit, I remember sitting in a storage room under the basement steps, waiting for tornadoes to pass. The weather may grow worse, but it was always fierce in Tornado Alley.
Brava to you Betsy for driving with 2 small kids thru that violent Midwest thunderstorm.
I’m sure I’d have pulled over at the first bolt of lightning!
Thanks Dana. I thought it was better to push through and get to safety. I didn’t have too far to go.
I too remember Midwest storms and seeking shelter from tornados in the corners of basements. It must have been harrowing driving through the storm. Seeing the lightning bolts strike is sobering. We had a lightning storm in our valley here a few years ago that sparked numerous wildfires in one night—I was driving and saw several start up. On another note—the pictures of the kids are precious!
It was frightening for sure, but my only thought was to get to my cousins’ home and the safety it would provide.
I confess that I sent the photo of the four cousins to my nephews after I dug it out. They both appreciated it too. One is a brand new father, the other will be married in the fall. My brother has two great kids.
I could picture exactly where you were, Betsy. My old stomping grounds!
I knew you could!
Your vivid description reminded me of other epic Midwestern thunderstorms I’ve experienced in Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. Glad you were able to carry out the unveiling after all that tumult and anxiety.
With all that Midwest experience, I’m sure you had your own share of terrible thunder storms, Dale. The good news for me was that the unveiling was almost a week later.
Having grown up in the Southwest, I know how ferocious these Midwest storms can be, Betsy, because we usually got them first. You describe the emotional impact of this one well.
Thank you, Jim. I’m glad you thought I captured the emotional impact for you.