Going to Dee-troit City

Sure, I love to drive. That must be why I accepted invitations to both my grandniece's 10th birthday party and a former co-worker's grandchild's christening party for today. The grandniece is one of the ones who come here to visit me with her older sister. I figured I should be on time, since I had to leave in just over an hour after I got there. Unfortunately, it also takes me just over an hour to get there. They live out in the country down some nasty dirty roads where it is really quiet and peaceful and dusty.

So I arrived at 2:10 for a 2:00 party. Too bad the mother wasn't there. She was out picking up the older girl and getting the food. She got back about 3:00, and I had to leave at 3:15. I actually stayed until 3:20 so I could eat a piece of chicken before I hit the road for Detroit. Their house is about 45-50 miles north of where I had to go for the other party. I hugged and kissed all the relatives, apologized, and left. I anticipated a drive of an hour and 45 minutes.

I do not like driving into the city of Detroit. The rules are different there. I finally understand why people from the city wander all over the freeways. Their streets have no dividing lines on the lanes. The streets vary from 1-3 lanes, but no lines. So people just drive wherever they feel like going. There are no left turn lanes. You have to watch to see if anyone is going to turn left at the light. If they are, you have to either wait for them or wander over to the right lane. Or lanes. Whatever. I am used to Michigan lefts. They involved a psychedelic creation on boulevards of going a block or two past the corner and then turning left in a turnaround lane. Don't ask. It is confusing and annoying, but I am used to it. Detroit doesn't have them, or at least I haven't seen any.

The party was held at an outdoor area in a private college. Normally this wouldn't happen in Michigan in September, but we didn't get summer until two weeks ago, so it was gorgeous outside. I apologize to the people who have been having hurricane and tornado weather, but we will get our share of ugly weather soon enough and it will last about six months. The family is Filipino. The food was homemade and most excellent. I can make the rice noodle dish myself, but do not yet know the secret recipe for the meat-filled egg rolls. They are so good that I have seen vegetarians sneak them and drool. I enjoyed spending some time with former co-workers, some retired, some not. The baby is absolutely adorable.

The drive home was a little less harrowing. I found the freeway entrance without much fanfare, used all the lanes like a native Detroiter, and got home without incident. Whew. I guess I am now in shape for the drive to Toronto on Wednesday. Maybe.