A Postcard from The Pointes

Since Nancy and I moved to our home in Grosse Pointe Woods, we have traditionally hosted as many friends as we could muster for a picnic every spring. There were actually some picnics before that, at our previous home in Dearborn. But records (and memories) of those times are a bit sketchy (my Franklin Day Planner obsession hadn't yet emerged). So we date the inception of the "Annual Burk Family Picnic" to our first Memorial Day here in GPW in 1987.

In the 33 years since, we've missed only once. That was in 2014 when my dad passed away on the 22nd of May. There was one other year when we postponed the picnic a week due to weather. Not sure when that was, but it was a bad idea. Attendance fell way off. Turns out people have busy schedules (who knew) and those choice spring weekends are usually booked up far in advance. Since that time we've always been prepared to go rain or shine on the scheduled date.

For the first half or so of this tradition we held the picnic the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. But as our own holiday schedules became more complicated (kids, cottages, etc.) we moved the party to the Saturday after Memorial Day. That date has served us well as we no longer compete with holiday plans.

So why am I telling you all of this? Yes. That's right. Sans pandemic, this would have been picnic day. We already miss it. We miss the pleasant exchanges with friends calling to RSVP and plan their food offerings. We miss getting the yard and the deck all spiffied-up, laying in our food and beverage supplies, icing down the pop and beer, and waiting with mild anticipation for our guests to arrive. We'll miss watching Jim W. deftly maneuver his way around the grill. But mostly we'll miss catching up with everyone. And especially watching others catching up with each other. It's a good feeling.

So, because the real thing just isn't feasible or prudent this year I thought I'd provide a little something to help us be alone together. And that would be a quick look at the last few times we were able to gather for beer and burgers, pics courtesy of our resident photographer Quinton A. No narrative. Just memories. Enjoy.

Stay safe. Stay home. See you next year.

The Burks