Mike's Birthday

Today is Mike's birthday. I have invited to the forum but he hasn't dropped by yet - but that does not mean we can't share stories about him.

One the time Mike and I drove out to Whitefish (this must have been during high-school or not long after). We went to the back deck and there has a HUGE owl sitting on the railing looking back at us. We both stared in awe as it stared back.    

I'm sure my memory has embellished the size of the owl but that encounter left a deep imprint.

Beverly, Mike's oldest daughter, was on an owl kick this year so we got her some owl-related stuff (an owl call and owl pellets to dissect) for her birthday. I've always considered that owl we saw a kind 'totem animal' that Mike and I shared and I'm glad to see the interest in owls is continuing on.

Well Happy Birthday to Mike where ever you are!

I remember we figured out where the ignition charge was for sonic boom fireworks and we were trying to come with a way to light them from a distance.  Mike came up with the idea to use a cut extension cord, matches and copper wire to create an ignition for the charge we placed inside a santa.  He also sewed santa back up with the charge inside of him.  It worked!  There was a brief second after we plugged in the cord that you could see a flare of fire inside santa and in that second it was unclear if it would work.  It did and it blew off santa's head.  In fact that santa went through a series of explosions that night and is the santa's face that was found in the spring and is attached to some other figure who is dangling near the stairs going upstairs at grassy.  

There are countless stories that Mike has been an integral part of and his influence has helped shaped those stories into some fantastic memories!

So happy birthday Mike!  

Happy Birthday, Mike!

I remember a few years back, we were all standing around a good fire at Grassy while we took turns opening up about a personal struggle we were overcoming or had overcome.

Mike shared something which I thought was rather private and/or personal and that struck me in two ways. One, he was comfortable enough with everyone present to share something like that, and two, he was not afraid to reveal a darker side or moment to us all.

I sure wish I'd seen Santa's head blown off, though!!