Thursday Birthday 2026 and Reunited with Deborah

It was a good day. Not quite like this, but I always like this scene, here.

I started the day by rising not too early. I am still surviving the jetlag, and morning seems too early, and sleep comes hard. But that is the reality of travel and must be embraced, not resisted.

I threw on my swimsuit. Having had two dinners the night before, I was not looking for food but to move. I reached the pool, the heater was set too high, and the room was so misty my glasses steamed up. No complaint from me. The water was wonderful, and I had the pool to myself. I rinsed off at the shower head, and then walked into the pull. I then spent a wonderful birthday, swimming back and forth in the pool for an hour. It was glorious.

I rinsed off again in the shower there to remove the pool water, then dried off. The staff came in, were shocked by the steam, and opened the door to air out the place. I did not need cold air and left.

In my room, I reassembled my bags, dressed in a dress shirt and sweater, and soon started the blog. I had picked up a banana and coffee in the lobby. That was all I needed. I started on the blog now loaded with coffee and just enough food to keep me happy.

My colon was unhappy, and I would spend much of the morning having to empty with some slight urgency. No disasters, but I had to obey and find solutions with some speed. This went on until the mid-afternoon. I was stopping at rest areas, restaurants, and a truck stop on my way to the Detroit area.

I left the Hilton Suites at 10:45, check-out time being 11, and I used the app to check out on time. The Hyundai was loaded up, and soon I was headed North to go South. The best and fastest way is to head 69 to Flint and connect with 75 South. These are 70-75 mph highways, and folks move on them. The Hyundai works well at higher speeds, and I flew.

I stopped at a Wendy’s for lunch. It was my first must-stop moment. It was in an area full of lakes and miles from the exit (?!). I was able to get a mostly cooked chili (beans were still chewy) and a potato. I cover the potato in the chili and add some sour cream. I like it. I got a Diet Coke as I needed something with bubbles but not full of sugar.

I had to make two stops right after that one, to my great annoyance, as things colon-wise started. Part of the joy of being a colon cancer survivor. Glad that it still works down there, and I know to respect it.

I soon arrived, about a two-plus-hour trip with stops, and my room was not ready. I was too early. I sat in the lobby on my laptop, availed myself of the men’s room, and waited. About thirty minutes later, the room was ready (I am a gold member and stay here often; they made an effort to have the room ready for me early).

The colon thing finally ended. Next, Deborah, who worked and taught today, was available, and we spent some time together before heading to her house to feed and care for Trixie and Zelda, her dogs. The dogs were happy to see me. Trixie even shared her favorite toy with me.

We headed to Ernie’s By the Creek for dinner. Michigan is slowly (and not so slowly in some places) flooding from all the rain. It looks much like how I remember it in Aprils of thirty years ago. The creek was more of a river tonight, but not near Ernie’s.

I had the lamb chops, and Deborah had the Lemon Chicken, my second choice. We enjoyed a great meal for my 62nd birthday. The dessert was too loaded with sugar, but still good.

We then walked through the town; I was fading and headed back to the IHG. Sadly, I woke every two hours, but I seem rested when I write this on Friday.

Thanks for reading!