Memory Lane - The Honeymoon Continues (August to November 1980)

When I left off on this tale, Nancy and I had just returned from my first visit to the Toronto relatives in early August. But the summer - and our extended honeymoon - was far from over. There was lots more fun to have before we settled into our marriage groove.

First up was a trip to the Detroit Zoo. Here was our upbeat crowd at the outset of the day. Note the many happy faces.

Kneeling in front is my sister Wendy's daughter Jennifer. Sitting in the strollers from left to right are Wendy's niece Heather, Wendy's daughter Melanie, my son Ted and Wendy's son Tristan. Standing in the back are Wendy, Nancy and Wendy's hubby Dick M. 

Zoo visits were always one of the kids' favorite outings. They loved riding in the strollers (in which they in turn liked to push us), the snacks, the train rides, and the extraordinary animals - like these.

Of course, all this activity would take its toll, as demonstrated by this pic taken later in the day. Fewer smiling faces.

Except for this little guy, who usually found something to be happy about.

Next up was a visit to my parents' home in Linwood. Sometime during that weekend Nancy and I donned our party clothes for some reason that I can't remember. But here's the proof. Perhaps we went out for our two-month anniversary.

But most of the visit was quite informal. On Sunday we were joined by my sister Cindy, her boyfriend Mitch, and my brother Jeff and his family for a backyard picnic. Here are some scenes. First, my dad with Ted on the front stoop.

Here we have Mitch, Cindy and Jeff out by the garden.

Brother Jeff and my dad de-silking corn on the cob for dinner.

My Bride was caught off guard for this rare shot of her in a Michigan State sweatshirt. It had become unexpectedly chilly, I'm guessing. 

And can't forget our little canine charge Heidi in what was likely her first visit north.

After the Linwood trip, we spent a few days at home (and at work) and then headed back up to Ipperwash for a more extended vacation and more time with the Canadian relatives. This trip also marked the beginning of my one and only venture into bearding. More on that shortly.

Pics from our times at Avon Rae cottage will be plentiful throughout this extended saga. So I will opt to share only those pics from each of our visits that have become memorable over time, or that capture classic moments in cottage life. Like this one of Uncle Ken. Pretty much every afternoon Ken would make it down to the beach about 4:00, take a dip in the lake and assume this position.

During those early years Uncle Ken had arduous bartender duties at happy hours. This is how he charged up his batteries to get through the ordeal.

Another relationship that was emerging at the time was my son Ted getting to know and becoming family with his new cousins, from both the American and the Canadian sides of the family. Here's a picture I've had on the wall at home for 40 years now of Ted and Nancy's brother Dave's son Brian. They are only three months apart in age and have shared many adventures over the years. I believe this is the first picture we have of them together, at four years old playing on the beach at Avon Rae.

After cleaning up the dinner dishes at the cottage, it was common to go for a family walk. The beach at Ipperwash is Carolinian in character and at that time was wide, long (three miles or so between two points) and comprised of very fine gorgeous sand. Here's a shot of a few of us out for one of those evening walks. From left to right are myself (not sure what's going on with the OSU tee), Nancy's brother Dave, Dave's bride Barb holding six-month old son Matt, with Ted and Brian in front.

 

Another common activity at the cottage was sailing on the family Bayviewer, a small single-sail craft about ten feet long. I was never much of a sailor, but I took this opportunity to look like a beach bum hanging on his ride with a bud. Note the beginnings of a little scruffiness. Dude.

Can't forget a shot of my Bride with her new family, enjoying the surf and the sand.

Another cottage ritual at the time was to bring Nancy's maternal grandmother Edna out from her assisted living quarters in London for a day at the beach. The sons-in-law, Rae and Ken, shared the privilege of sponsoring this visit with one conducting the pickup and the other the return trip. Here is Edna in all her glory (95 years old at this sitting) enjoying a rare glass of wine. Note the chair she is sitting in. It now resides in the family room at Wiser Times.

By the end of our week-long stay at Avon Rae, we had settled in to a pretty smooth cottage vacation routine. And I would say, we're still in it. Also, note that my new beard is trying to emerge.

Before I joined the LeRoy family and became a cottager of sorts, I was a camper. Through my late teen years and twenties I frequently roamed the State of Michigan with one friend or another, staying mostly in state parks but also in the occasional state forest campground. As a result, one of my contributions to the marriage was a raft of camping equipment. This included a large blue wall tent, a sizable screen porch and all sorts of sleeping, cooking and dining paraphernalia. So for Labor Day weekend that first year Nancy, Ted, Heidi and I went camping at one of my favorite spots - Traverse City state park. 

Let me say at the outset that in my view there is a world of difference between camping and cottaging. As a matter of fact, I would say with a level of confidence that the only real similarity is that neither is as convenient as just staying home. With effort, and a bunch of money, one can upgrade a cottage to approximate home comfort levels (Wiser Times a case in point). But camping is camping. If you don't love it, you shouldn't do it. 

I know, some of you have taken to fancy motor homes, deluxe travel trailers or elaborate pop-ups. Those are all great ways of getting out and enjoying nature. But none are truly camping. Camping involves tents, air mattresses, sleeping bags and a lot of full-body contact with good old Mother Earth. Also you need to be proficient with stake hammers, taught-line hitches and entrenching tools. Suffice it to say that over the years the demands of camping have led our family to lean more toward cottage life, and to place our camping equipment into secure long-term storage. In 1980, however, we were on the front end of this learning curve. Take a look.

First a shot on the road. Not that easy to stow all the required camping equipment in a Chevette. But a snowmobile trailer converted into a mobile shed with a tarp? No problem. 

Note the fancy tie job on the tarp. That's another one of those important camping skills.

Below, a couple of moments from the set up which is always a messy process. Here Ted is wondering what he has gotten himself into.

Here's a shot of me mid-pitch. I think this was about four hours in.

Things took a little longer than planned as one of our crew kept taking "chew" breaks.

But eventually, camp set up was complete. Even picturesque.

With "big blue" in all her quiet glory.

The work done, we settled in for a long weekend of enjoying the park. First a dip in Grand Traverse Bay.

Some stops at the playground.

And of course, some of that "close to Mother Earth" time. Here, the evening bedtime rituals.

Our first family trip to the great North American forest was a success. We made it home safe and sound with a commitment to do it again sometime. 

Through September we continued our honeymoon "tour", visiting old friends and participating in traditional social events as a new couple. One of the highlights was Nancy's inclusion in the first women's foursome to ever play in the IRS's annual fall golf outing. Below is a pic of these gender-barrier breaking pioneers. They were all Collection Division managers. From left to right is Gloria Jean Boyd, Nancy, Claire Brooks and Patti Cooper.

 

In this pic I have joined Nancy for the post-golf clubhouse party. As I recall, the pioneers made it in just before moon rise, having been assigned the final tee time of the day. I guess there was still a way to go on the gender barrier thing.

October saw two big family events. The first was Nancy's birthday which included a gathering of more LeRoy family members. Like Uncle Bill (Nancy's dad Rae's brother) and Aunt Jeanne shown below.

And Aunt Inez (pronounced "eye-nez", Rae's sister).

Of course, we held the traditional ceremonies including the blowing out of candles assisted by experts.

And the paying of tribute.

Note Ted's footwear.  This was during what we referred to as his cowboy period.

The other big October event was our first Halloween. 1980 was rather low-key compared to Halloweens of later years. Still, even then Halloween was the Number 2 day in the kid year. So it required its due. Here's a shot of me with Donald Duck - as portrayed by son Ted. Note that like all serious trick-or-treaters, Ted is packing a primary and backup candy receptor.

One other October event of lesser note was the receipt of my first managerial performance award. I was happy to get it as it was my first year as a manager. Here is a pic of me with my boss Roger L. (on the left) and our division chief Dick H. I think it was the beard that clinched the deal. 

I didn't hold on to the cash very long. It turned out that the amount was just enough to cover a brand new 20" Sony Trinitron television, a fancy rig in 1980. My "deward" TV" (as Ted called it) was ensconced in our little Harper Woods house den by dinner time.

As we entered November, it began to feel that our months-long honeymoon run might be winding down. We were thoroughly oriented to each other's families, had met most of our respective close friends, had settled in to a comfortable routine, and had worked through our first series of compromises about living together (chores, menus, fiscal priorities, control of the stereo - the important stuff). But there was one more event before our total shift to a new normal. That was my birthday.

It was a quiet affair held in our Harper Woods house. Nancy's parents Rae and Marge attended, as well as son Ted who was with us for his regular every-other-weekend visit. Here I am with Ted about to make it official.

 

With Nancy and her folks looking on.

Let me close this episode of "Memory Lane" with one last shot of the birthday boy - 33, newly married, doing well at work and optimistic about the future. I call this my "one happy dude" pic.

So the honeymoons came to an end, and the serious business of growing a family was at hand. Next time, we'll move into that chapter.

Till then,

Grosse Pointe Charles