French frogs

[WalnutHill]

Houghton lake is a nice area....when I was younger I wish I would jabs bought a camp. I was shocked at how cheap land was up here...just figured it would always be cheap...and I already lived in the woods. Wish I would have thought that out Better....but of course I got real sick and the rest is history...my life was pretty much catch up since.

We're not near the lake, nor near the town. We're in the Maple Valley area, a place forgotten by time. 318 year round residents in the 36 square mile township...it's my kind of place. Taxes are cheap because services are nonexistent. 80% or more of the township is state forest. Our little square 40 is surrounded on 4 sides by state forest. Private property touches one corner, and the owners use it as a camp.

We have the only uncut second growth timber for a couple of miles, with a few first growth trees still standing. The state lets out timber contracts on the surrounding land so we get our scenic view back as soon as the trees grow enough to block it.

 

[FridayYet]

trust me I know....I've been through some very hard things which required some tough decisions. I may have made some different....maybe not...I mean all those decisions got me here.

That's true. We all have had to make choices throughout our lives, but we we wouldn't be where we are now if we had made different choices along the way.

Live and learn.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

It all gets better once you get north of West Branch.....when I went through my bone marrow transplant...at U of M I told my wife if it wasn't working to promise to get me in the Jeep and let me die above the bridge....I was so homesick and didn't know if I'd ever see the U.P. again.

 

[FridayYet]

It all gets better once you get north of West Branch.....when I went through my bone marrow transplant...at U of M I told my wife if it wasn't working to promise to get me in the Jeep and let me die above the bridge....I was so homesick and didn't know if I'd ever see the U.P. again.

Have you lived in the U.P. your whole life?

 

[WalnutHill]

It all gets better once you get north of West Branch.....when I went through my bone marrow transplant...at U of M I told my wife if it wasn't working to promise to get me in the Jeep and let me die above the bridge....I was so homesick and didn't know if I'd ever see the U.P. again.

That's sad to think of. I am glad you are here. You may not feel great some days, but definitely better than the alternative!

We're west of West Branch a few miles. It's still up north in my book, the soil and trees and weather are up north.

My dad was born and raised in Chassell, his father from Hancock, and his father from Traprock Valley.

I'd love to move to the U.P. but I HATE winter.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

No I grew up in The Detroit Metro area....Not far from Walnut....that's why I ask her questions alot.....because although I'm not homesick I do miss the Motorcity....I was 18 fresh out of high-school and my wife was 16....I moved up here because I was stationed at K.I. Sawyer AFB....(now the airport).
But coming from the city I always wanted to live " up north" so this has been my home since 1983....my kids were all born and raised....unfortunately they move away cuz there's no real money making jobs up here.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

And I actually got out of the air force 28 years ago Thursday.

 

[FridayYet]

It's interesting to hear you guys talk about Michigan. I Google some of the towns you guys mention so I can get an idea of where you are talking about.

Growing up in SoCal, there's a lot of country North and East that all kind of blends together in my head. The West I'm pretty familiar with, but not much else.

Sounds like you had your BMT a long way from home, Phil. That must have been really hard.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

It's interesting to hear you guys talk about Michigan.  I Google some of the towns you guys mention so I can get an idea of where you are talking about.

Growing up in SoCal, there's a lot of country North and East that all kind of blends together in my head.  The West I'm pretty familiar with, but not much else. 

Sounds like you had your BMT a long way from home, Phil.  That must have been really hard.

600 miles....me my wife and my daughter moved down state to Pickney my wife and Kacy stayed with her ain't while I was in the hospital. My boys stayed home by themselves....they were 14 and 11....people from the town checked in on them...my brother checked in on them....but it was the only way we could do it.....they both be up to be awesome young men......

 

[LittleLakePhil]

I just got the new Samsung S7..it's doing the same darn smart phone word changing crap......