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Mission 2022 November

In 2022, I’m combining lessons from the heart with some –cough cough – goals.

But I don’t like the word goals, so it’s a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined.

So how was October?

October’s Tarot Card

I did a tarot spread for the full year and October’s card was One Ring Circus which celebrated independence and boundaries – and the need to let go of control.

October started with a big bang and lots of fun. There was the fabulous escape to the North of Michigan with the Lost Lake Writer’s Retreat. There was a book sale and the final weeks of the CSA for the year.

But then, on October 19, I learned that a dear friend passed away on the 15th – the very night I had felt an overwhelming pull to have a really nice dinner at a local restaurant. It’s fitting, I suppose, because Michelle loved good food. I’m working on a tribute post; I think it will be ready by next Monday.

Write 250 Words A Day, 5 Days A Week

Not happening. I wrote the first draft of a novel and went to the Lost Lake Writers Retreat instead.

Revamp WordStorm Casserole Poetry Book

Not happening. I lowered the price, though!

Post Twice A Month On This Website

Yes! I did publish two times in October. There’s the October wrap up of September and the post about Lost Lake Writers Retreat.

DeGoogle, deApple, deMicrosoft – embrace Linux!

Why? Because Google, Apple, and Microsoft all track your every move online and that’s wrong.

In October I carried on using my Linux machine most of the time for personal use: checking personal email, watching YouTube videos, checking social media.

Have Fun

October started with a bang with the local library’s annual book sale. Then I went on that fantastic writer’s retreat to Lost Lake. I had a fabulous dinner at a local restaurant on my own, met with meditation friends, and caught up with my sister at yet another yummy dinner.

And then, as I said, it went downhill. A close friend tragically passed away and that shook things up. Then I got sick at the very start of November and had to cancel a massage, hair appointment, meditation, and coaching call.

I’m better now but man, the last part of October and first part of November really sucked.

Big Secret Goal #1: Finish the first draft of a novel.

I turned in the first draft of my novel into The Write Practice over Labor day weekend. My reward was attending the Lost Lake Writers Retreat in October.

Big Secret Goal #2: Backyard Landscaping.

This goal is done and dusted! Check out the big secret goal reveal that goes into a lot more detail about what was completed in the back yard this year.

What I’m Reading

On GoodReads, I have a 2022 Reading Challenge goal of at least 50 books. Since the last update I’ve read a lot. I was sick so I read and read and read. Some of these were finished more in November than October, but oh well. Here’s what I’ve been reading.

The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames.
Secrets of the Tides by Hannah Richell.
Groupies by Sarah Priscus.
Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama
The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Poor Man’s Feast: A Love Story of Comfort, Desire, and the Art of Simple Cooking by Elissa Altman
The Little Lady Agency in the Big Apple by Hester Browne
The Falcon’s Eyes by Francesca Stanfill
Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan
Memoir of the Sunday Brunch by Julia Pandl
Fire Monks: Zen Mind Meets Wildfire by Colleen Morton Busch

How About You?

How was your October? Heck, do you even remember October now that Thanksgiving is staring you in the face?

Lost Lake Writers Retreat

Having finished the first draft of a novel this summer, I promised myself my reward would be a weekend getaway. On a whim I searched for writer’s retreats in Michigan and found the Lost Lake Writers Retreat. It was the perfect way to nurture my writing soul.

The Lost Lake Writers Retreat is presented annually by Inspiration Alcona and Springfed Arts with grants from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Art Works. The retreat is held at the Lost Lake Woods Club on the sunrise side of the state of Michigan just north of the small town of Lincoln.

Grab a coffee – this is a longer post with pretty pictures and interesting stories. 🙂

The Past Circles Back Again

In August I attended an event to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the pop-rock band Bay City Rollers appearing in their namesake city of Bay City, Michigan. That weekend was an absolute blast and had me remembering things left and right for weeks. This weekend was no different – but for different reasons.

Like any introvert, I was hesitant to attend an event where I wasn’t going to know anyone and had to do any socializing. I kept browsing both the Inspiration Alcona and Springfed Arts websites until lightening struck. The director of the event, John D. Lamb, was a musician that I’d seen back in the 80’s in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Back then, I was in college and John (going by the moniker Johnny D) was playing solo acoustic at the Foolery (now known as Rubbles) downtown. I’d go with a couple friends and we’d dance to this guy singing Springsteen-y kinds of songs with lots of lyrics and plenty of chutzpah. Here’s a poster from those many years ago.

These days John is the director of Springfed Arts and hosts songwriting and writing retreats and events throughout the year; he has a whole lot of music available, too. He’s also an amazing, gracious host and made this introvert felt loved and appreciated. His music is available at all the normal places, so go buy some today.

Here is the John D. Lamb website and Bandcamp sites. I immediately grabbed all of the CD’s (because I’m old school like that) and they arrived with a hand-written note from John.

Lumberman’s Monument

I promised myself when I moved back to Michigan a decade or more ago that I would get to know the state more. I’ve failed miserably at that, but have really enjoyed watching a load of TikToks by Michigan creators that celebrate the state. For the drive to the Lost Lake Writers Retreat I decided to wander the byways a bit… Err, I drove some roads I’d never been on before.

One of those roads led to the Lumberman’s Monument just west of Oscoda. The fall colors were already popping and the overlook of the Au Sable river was stunning – especially just after rain – look at these clouds!

It had rained on and off as I drove, and the rain let up long enough for me to walk around the monument site. It was quiet, too, with only a few other visitors in the area. I didn’t take the steep walk down to the waterside.

The monument commemorates workers in the logging industry early in the history of Michigan.

Lumberman’s Monument is open daily throughout the year and there are walking trails and a camping area, too. The site is maintained and staffed by the USDA Forestry department. There is a small gift shop and bathroom facilities.

Trip To The Beach

No trip to the northeast side of the lower peninsula could be complete without a walk on the beach and so I stopped into a roadside park and wandered out onto the beach. Once again Mother Nature held off on the rain just long enough for me to enjoy the view and the sounds. But once I was back in the car the rain poured down.

Lost Lake Woods Club

Just north of Lincoln, Michigan, the Lost Lake Wood Club boasts more than 10,000 acres of private, members-only grounds for hunting, fishing, shooting, horseback riding, golfing, and more. There are five lakes, ample walking trails, a large lodge, and dining/banquet facilities. Plenty of people have summer homes here and some have year-round homes at the ninety-six year old club.

All retreat activities were held in the Lost Lake Lodge which is a sprawling hive of activity for the entire club.

I walked in and almost immediately got a fabulous bear hug from John. Then I checked into my room and settled in.

Most meals were in the dining room overlooking the lake. Portions were huge and I often felt like I would drown in the dishes.

I mean, look at this is sweet potato fries topped with barbecue pork and coleslaw. It’s not a bad way to drown, mind you, but there was no way I could finish the whole thing. On the other hand, it was so tasty I might have to try to recreate it.

One night, there was a spectacular sunset.

And I went for a long walk part of the way around the lake.

It was hard to get a bad photo, though I did manage to get quite a few with my thumb or finger.

We left the property one night for dinner at Rosa’s Lookout Inn just up the road in Spruce. Voted the best Italian restaurant on the sunrise side of the state for ten years running, the food lived up to that honor.

Writers Retreat

Ultimately, the weekend was about words and writing, and really knowing in my bones how important writing is in my life. I think I’ve run away from words as much as I’ve run towards them.

For the longest time I’ve struggled with feeling like I belong somewhere, with trying to identify who I am as a person living mostly alone in the world.

Even when setting up this website, I tried to follow the marketing law of focus on one thing… Any online business course I’ve ever taken has admonished students to focus on “one thing” that you do well. But I’m not just interested in one thing: I am multitudes.

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)
Walt Whitman – Song of Myself

(And yeah, Song of Myself is as much about Whitman as it is about America, but that’s a digression I won’t go further into now.)

At the BCR weekend I knew that those Roller fans were my people, my tribe.

I have no doubt that my meditation friends are another part of my tribe, too. That spiritual tribe has ties that quite literally transcend time and space.

My tribal triumvirate is complete with writing friends. These are my people, too.

And metaphysically, I could go into the three in the one and the one in the three, but that’s not what this blog post is about.

Poetry is Life!

Just as the world shut down in the spring of 2020, I self published a collection of poems. (FYI, any link to Amazon is an affiliate link.)

This is a collection of poems written from 1976-2006. Some were published elsewhere, many were read at open mikes over the years. But none had found a permanent home and – to be honest – I hadn’t worked at publishing. I’m happy to have them all gathered in one place.

I recently lowered the price of both the Kindle and the paperback on Amazon. You can also buy the book directly from me and get an autographed copy)

The Kindle eBook is free October 17 to October 21!

This retreat brought home to me how important poetry is… I’d forgotten again. Sigh.

This weekend was about learning new techniques and sharpening up those old skills and this weekend fit like a delicious pair of jeans. This weekend was about talking shop and life and influences. This was a weekend that nourished my writing soul.

In a conversation over dinner at Rosa’s I asked John about future retreats and suggested bringing someone to talk about self-publishing. Through that conversation it became very clear that his focus for the retreat to nurture writers; he does the same thing with songwriting retreats.

The Lost Lake Writers Retreat weekend wasn’t about learning the latest and greatest, but rather about celebrating the heart of the writing life.

This retreat is fertilizer, this retreat is food, this retreat is everything about supporting you right where you are on your writing journey. It was a perfect match for me.

Poetry Game

The poem below appeared through “The Poetry Game” an exercise taught to us by poet Leila Chatti. If I heard the pedigree correctly, it was first taught (created?) by Ruth Stone who taught it to Sharon Olds who taught it to Dorianne Laux, who taught it to Leila Chatti, who taught it to us.

Poets love playing with words and this game began by people offering up random words and then adding additional rules:

Include something blue but don’t use the word blue
Include a lie or a lie revealed
Include your name or the meaning of your name, or a word that sounds like your name
Include the phrase “you can feel it now.”

From there we were instructed to set a timer for twenty minutes and use as many of these words and follow the rules as much as you can. It took more than twenty minutes to polish this, but I got it done – and used all the words and rules!

Lost Lake Writers Retreat, Refrain

Saturday night after dinner each attendee read some of their work. I read two older poems from my book; it’s the first time I’ve read in public in – what – maybe ten years?

It felt like it, too, because I was nervous, shaky, and -let’s be honest- it was kind of hard to read from my book. Thank goodness I knew those two poems (almost) by heart. Even when I was co-hosting the poetry slam back in the day, I never could manage to memorize poems.

And it felt good, too, because by the time I was into the third or fourth stanza, my performance legs were back and functioning. My voice rose and fell. I slowed down to draw out the feelings behind the words and to give the listeners a chance to process the images that “Write A Poem And Call Me In The Morning” and “Starvation” offer.

Sunday morning we did a reading all over again, sharing work written during the weekend. And then, just like that, it was over and I was back in my car, a solitary traveler, on the lonesome highway heading south towards home.

On that long drive, though, I kept thinking about how much I’d enjoyed the weekend – the escape, the camaraderie, the memories. And especially how much I’d enjoyed jumping back into writing.

I’ve already started dreaming about what my “mission” will include for next year. I’m confident there will be writing involved. And I’d like to think I’ll be back to the Lost Lake Writers Retreat, too.

Your Turn

Is it too tacky to say I found myself at Lost Lake? Maybe. But it feels like I definitely reclaimed something I’d lost or set aside. I “re-membered” that writerly part of myself.

What parts of you have been lost along the way? How did you reclaim them?

Mission 2022 October

In 2022, I’m combining lessons from the heart with some –cough cough – goals.

But I don’t like the word goals, so it’s a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined.

So how was September?

September’s Tarot Card

I did a tarot spread for the full year and September’s card was Metamorphosis suggesting that there may be some loss. As a result of that loss, though, I will love who I become. The card said, “even with temporary discomfort, beauty is revealed.”

Sitting here the evening before this post goes live, I’m not sure what the loss or discomfort was in my September. There was finishing up the first draft of a novel, meditating with friends, a craniosacral massage, a book sale, and a good visit to the dentist, too.

One Friday afternoon there was a work party at a nearby park; it’s the first time we’ve all been in one place since before the pandemic nonsense.

I was also on Jury Duty in September; my main responsibility was calling into a phone to see if I needed to appear at the courthouse for anything. And the only thing I physically did have to do was show up for a training on how to be a good juror.

I got my hair cut and colored; it’s now the natural dark brown and sparkly white plus purple, blue, and green. Think a purple teal party and that’s what the top of my head looks like. I even thrifted a pretty fuchsia blazer from the 80’s that -when worn in combination with a blue scarf- got multiple compliments. All that color!

My HelloFresh deliveries continued as did the weekly CSA pickups. The CSA is ending for the season in a couple of weeks, so most likely I’ll increase the number of meals I get in HelloFresh. It’s become an indispensable part of my life now.

See, no loss? Only warm sunny days.

Still, September is the 9th month of the year. It’s the month people return to the school year routine, and the air is definitely crisper hear in central Michigan. I finished bringing in house plants for the winter; they’re always sad to have to come into the house – most would rather be outside, except they’d all die if left outside over the harsh winters. Loss of summer and warmth, perhaps?

The 9 of September has a finality to it, an ending before October. That’s 10th month, the 1 and the 0 combining to create a new level. So I suppose things did ‘close’ or come to an end in September. October is always when I start thinking about the next twelve months.

In fact, the Mission 2022 emerged last year about this time. So you’d better believe I’m already thinking about next year. And I believe I’m gonna need another mission: this was fun, and gave me a sense of purpose.

Write 250 Words A Day, 5 Days A Week

Definitely didn’t happen in the month of September. But it did other months because I finished the first draft of a novel!

Revamp WordStorm Casserole Poetry Book

Not happening.

Post Twice A Month On This Website

Welp, that didn’t happen in September. But at least there was September’s Mission post!

DeGoogle, deApple, deMicrosoft – embrace Linux!

Why? Because Google, Apple, and Microsoft all track your every move online and that’s wrong.

In September I used my Linux machine most of the time for personal use: checking personal email, watching YouTube videos, checking social media.

Have Fun

You did read the summary of things I did in September, right? It was a good month for fun 🙂

Big Secret Goal #1: Finish the first draft of a novel.

I turned the first draft of my novel into The Write Practice over Labor Day weekend. As a reward, I’m going on a writing retreat in October.

Big Secret Goal #2: Backyard Landscaping

This goal is done and dusted! Check out the big secret goal reveal that goes into a lot more detail about what was completed in the back yard this year.

PSST: I added two Asian pear trees and one dwarf mulberry to the back yard.

What I’m Reading

On GoodReads, I have a 2022 Reading Challenge goal of at least 50 books. Since the last update I’ve read:

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie. Not her usual sci-fi, but darned good writing. Who knew stones were gods and could talk?
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Even though the main character was more of a Harry Potter (err, Simon Snow) fan, it gave me all the feels given the re-emergence of the BCR into my life.
Super Host by Kate Russo. I technically started this in September and finished it on October 1, but anyhow…close enough. Good character study of one man’s journey to finding his way in midlife.

I’m at 30 out of 50 books this year. That tells me working full time and putting hours into writing a novel every night seriously impacted my ability to read and read and read.

I have 20 more books to read to conquer this challenge… That’s 6-7 books a month in the next three months and (at least until snow flies and temps make it unbearable to be outside) I’m not sure I’m gonna make it. Thank goodness there was a library book sale and I bought all the books!

A Spell Is Broken

Going to the 45th Anniversary Celebration of Bay City Roller Day in Bay City, Michigan has me thinking of circles and cycles – endings and -by the same token- beginnings. By attending that event in August, I feel like a spell has been broken.

I feel like I spent forty-five years trying to be “cool” and forget that I ever liked that “uncool” band the Bay City Rollers. I was under a spell cast by society, cast by the pop culture that was unavoidable in my formative years.

Cool is now a state of mind for me, a way of being. If I want to bop to the Rollers I darn well can. In other places and times in this life that would have been (or would have felt) downright impossible.

Feel is everything to me. I feel like I’ve closed a loop and re-united a piece of myself that I tucked away in a dusty corner of a very deep closet in my soul. And now I can get on with what I want.

Which I’ve always done, of course. But knowledge gained from the experience guides my way. That, and spirit / god / the Universes as my co-pilot means it’s gonna keep getting more fun and interesting. October’s tarot card was “One Ring Circus” so whoa boy, what’s gonna happen?

How About You?

How was your September? What big dreams and projects are you working on for this year?

Mission 2022 September

In 2022, I’m combining lessons from the heart with some –cough cough – goals.

But I don’t like the word goals, so it’s a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined.

Let’s start by reviewing last month. How was August?

August’s Tarot Card

I did a tarot spread for the full year and the August card was Unexpected Visitors. This card asked me to expect the unexpected and the synchronicity that that can bring. There’s a reminder to adapt to shifting conditions by flowing, not forcing.

Whelp, that was definitely the theme of August – especially the very last week of August! I swear it was like the heavens aligned or something. I’m so grateful that I got over my reluctance to admit, indulge, and celebrate my teenage boy band: the Bay City Rollers. Attending the Bay City Roller Day celebration seemed to have unlocked a whole new level of excitement in my life, but more about that in the months to come.

August had me canning food, too – something I’ve never done on my own. I’ve canned carrot relish and a carrot cake jam so far. Beets and more carrots are next!

August had the first phase of a multi-phase change in my back yard, too. That’s made a huge difference when it rains: water collects in rain barrels that I can then use to water plants. And I worked in the back yard several times, too. More of that to come in September and October… Hint: because this work is done I can plant more stuff!

August also found me finishing up the first draft of the novel, which frees me up to work on other projects. So August was endings and beginnings…

September’s card is Metamorphosis – some loss but with the loss I will love who I become. To put it another way, even with temporary discomfort beauty is revealed. I wonder what this month holds?

Write 250 Words A Day, 5 Days A Week

This goal is happening thanks to Big Secret Goal #1: write the first draft of a novel. It already has tapered off because I’m not actively working on the book. But it will ramp back up again when cold weather sets in and I start on the second draft.

Revamp WordStorm Casserole Poetry Book

Not happening.

Post Twice A Month On This Website

Nailed this in August. There’s the August Mission Update, a post that revealed backyard changes, and a post all about the Bay City Rollers Day celebration.

DeGoogle, deApple, deMicrosoft – embrace Linux!

Why? Because Google, Apple, and Microsoft all track your every move online and that’s wrong.

In August used my Linux machine most of the time for personal use: checking personal email, watching YouTube videos, checking social media.

Have Fun

Looking at the calendar, most of August wasn’t that different from any other month. I got a couple massages, went to the dentist, meditated with friends. But the BCR Day Celebration was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Go read the blog post and learn why.

Big Secret Goal #1: Finish the first draft of a novel

I turned in the first draft of my novel to The Write Practice over Labor Day weekend! Yeah me! And as a reward I get to go on a weekend writing retreat in October.

Big Secret Goal #2: Backyard Landscaping

This goal is done and dusted! Check out the big secret goal reveal that goes into a lot more detail about what was completed in the back yard this year.

What I’m Reading

On GoodReads, I have a 2022 Reading Challenge goal of at least 50 books. I snuck a couple of books in during August:

The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal. This is the third in the Lady Astronaut series and I could gobble more up on a regular basis.
Don’t Stop The Music: The Bay City Rollers on Record by Hannes A. Jonsson. Finally a compendium of all of the recordings of the group and various offshoots. There’s far more to this group that S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. Night! I do wish the author had added a table of contents and index; a slightly different organization would helped, too, but I’m so happy to see this!

How About You?

How was your August? What was the best part of your summer?

Bay City Roller Day Celebration – Update 2

This past weekend I attended the 45th Anniversary celebration of the day that Scottish pop-rock band Bay City Rollers appeared in their namesake city of Bay City, Michigan.

This poster from 16 Magazine graced the walls of many young girls. But I was at the event, sitting/standing/shouting to the right of Eric (he’s the guy on the right.)

This weekend was filled with meeting new friends, Roller games, and so much more; this is a long post with a lot of pictures, so get comfy.

Bay City Roller Day Celebration Back In The Day

I was there on August 24, 1977 when the Rollers signed the mural, put their hands in cement, and were awarded the key to the city.

At the time it was an absolutely momentous occasion: I’d never seen any of my teen idols in person and here they were all the way from Scotland and practically in my own back yard.

Bay City is about an hour from where I grew up and, although bands definitely came to the area, it’s mostly rural with farms and fields within easy reach of any town.

Bay City Rollers at the mural in Bay City, Michigan – August 1977 (Photographer unknown)

So I was there with my friend, Gena, and her mom and little brother. We sat outside in front of city hall all day waiting for the Rollers.

We were there with an estimated 3.000+ fans and the band was at the height of their US popularity. The song “You Made Me Believe In Magic” was running up the charts.

Fans chanted “B-A-Y-B-A-Y-B-A-Y-C-I-T-Y with an R-O-double L-E-R-S, Bay City Rollers are the best” and “S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT,” “We want the Rollers,” and more.

Then, after what seemed like forever, they were in front of us, live, almost so close you could touch them. Or, could try to touch them – they were on a raised platform and security was very tight.

I don’t remember much of what actually happened that day. To be honest, sitting in the hot sun with a crowd of people is one of my least enjoyable activities ever. We did see the newly signed and painted mural on the way home.

The mural tagged by fans back in the day. The building the mural was on was eventually torn down. 🙁

A couple days later, my parents took Gena and I to see the Rollers at the State Fair in Detroit. And, after that, I went home to that tiny town and blue bedroom, and kept writing letters to Roller fans around the world.

The Rollers quickly dropped from the charts and from most people’s minds. And, to be honest, they were out of my thoughts for a long time, too. Definitely by the end of college I’d found other musical interests and the pen pals had dwindled.

Still, that time being in love with the boy band from Scotland has never left my tartan heart. And this weekend at the Bay City Roller Day Celebration, it all came roaring back.

BCR Fan Events

I learned about this weekend because I follow the most excellent BCR Fan Events. This group offers “internationally fan-driven, fan-funded, and fan-produced events that celebrate the Bay City Rollers and the lifelong friendships that have resulted and endured for nearly fifty years.” Here is their Facebook group.

The group also is behind the podcast, “Dedication – Fans Remember The Bay City Rollers.” Hosted by Suz and Laura, the podcast has featured original Rollers Derek Longmuir and Nobby Clark, other key people in the history of the Rollers, and (oh my!)- fan stories.

This Bay City Roller Day celebration weekend was not hosted or sponsored by BCR Fan Events. However, without that group, I wouldn’t have learned about this weekend.

Rebel, Dawn, Cathy, Becky & Jan

This weekend organized and hosted by the amazing

Rebel D’Elia,
Dawn Scroggins,
Cathy Rice,
Becky Hall, and
Jan Zalewski.

The weekend was held at the Comfort Inn, Bay City, which is right by the events of the Bay City Rollers day in 1977. That also makes it just a short walk from downtown Bay City with shopping, food, and more.

Walking into the hotel I was greeting almost immediately by (I think) Jan who said, “You must be here for the Roller event.”

How could she tell? Any Roller fan could because I had on a tartan shirt, was carrying a tartan purse, and was wearing a t-shirt from Bay City Roller Fan Events that says, “Girls Gone Plaid.”

Right away, this introvert felt welcomed and appreciated; those awesome feels kept coming all weekend.

Those tartans are for the “classic five” line-up of Eric, Alan, Derek, Woody, and Les!

Bay City Roller Day Celebration – The First Day

I checked into my room, unpacked and made myself comfortable. Then I scooted downstairs for the first (non-Roller related) event: a walking tour of Bay City’s historic “Hell’s Half Mile.” A good size group of Roller fans participated in this walking tour.

The history of the Saginaw valley is rife with stories from the lumbering era. Lumber was big business back in the 1850s-1890s and this area boomed because of the vast expanse of old growth forest.

Rugged men spent winters chopping trees in tea-totaling camps and then, come the first spring rush, delivered the felled timber to sawmills that lined the Saginaw river. Then, as it were, they’d party like it’s 1999 – or maybe 1899.

The Historical Museum of Bay County; the city hall is in the background.

Seriously, though, they’d whoop it up like something you probably can’t imagine. Bay County Historical Museum educational coordinator Sam Fitzpatrick gave us an absolutely fascinating peek into that raucous history. Just think notorious, dirty, robberies, fights, stabbings, and vile wickedness and you’re about halfway there.

Sam kicking the tour off on the steps of the museum.

The Bay City Antique Market is in the old Campbell building – one of the oldest buildings in the city.

We stopped across the street from St. Laurent Brothers to learn more about Hell’s Half Mile. In lumber times, this was one of the most notorious locations even known as the toughest place on the Saginaw River.

Several streets in downtown Bay City are blocked off for the summer and designated pedestrian zones.

The tour led us through alley ways and boy, the back of the buildings are just as interesting as the front.

The tour ended in downtown Bay City at the corner of Saginaw and Center streets.

The Hell’s Half Mile refers to an area of downtown Bay City that run along Water and Saginaw Streets. These days it’s a lovely area for shopping and dining.

There was plenty of free time this weekend, and I spent more than my fair share at the superb My Secret Garden and clothing store Uptown Girl. Of course I bought a fluffy tartan shirt for winter.

Dinner the first night was at Tavern 101 where more Roller fans joined, and then we all went back to the hotel for fun and games.

Bay City Roller Day Celebration Party

So imagine your teenage bedroom filled with all sorts of Bay City Roller stuff: pins, shirts, tote bags, albums, fan magazines, pictures, and posters – oh, the posters. Now turn the volume up and that’s what walking into the party room at the Comfort Inn resembled.

(You might need a Bay City Roller musical background to accompany the next part. Go find them on Spotify or here’s my playlist on YouTube. I’ll wait…)

Here’s a quick video of the room as it was being readied for the party. It starts with a BCR shower curtain (yes – shower curtain) that was auctioned off later in the night.

There’s another shower curtain (don’t you just love these men in kilts?)
Then you see a prize table,
a participants table,
some yummy snacks,
some of the organizers,
the auction table,
one of the posters we all had in our rooms,
and a memorial table for Alan, Ian, and Les.

Cupcakes!

Sally of Hope and Help for Sal’s Tribe and Bay City Rollers Memorabilia Auction (and a former pen pal of mine) organized an amazing auction. Look, if you were a Roller fan, you’d be drooling at all that was on offer!

I won a tartan tote bag and, while playing a game, won a Eucalyptus candle. Other goodies that all attendees received:

And this t-shirt!

Bay City Roller Day Celebration Games

You had to be quite the Roller fan to play any of these games, let me tell you. And I was so busy talking, laughing, and eating a cupcake (and turning my mouth blue) that I wasn’t playing to win. I don’t think anyone really was: this weekend was all about comradery.

I mean, how could it not be about fun and friendship if both Woody and Eric knew we were gathering in Bay City? Woody posted a picture of his key to the city and wondered what the key opened. Eric wrote a note on a post-it that said,

Hi, Hope that everyone heading to Bay City, Michigan this weekend has a great time – well done Rebel, Becky, and all the organisers. As I’ve got the key to the city and if you are locked in – I’m your man.”

So those games I mentioned… there was:

Roller bingo,
name that song based on a super short music clip, guess the BCR song based on lyrics,
a word search,
and even a “Spot The Errors” copied from 16 Magazine back in the day.

Another game was “What’s in your phone” where each participant received points for things like

a Bay City Roller lock or home screen,
a contact named Alan, Derek, Leslie, Woody or Eric,
a photo of the Rollers or a Roller,
a Scottish recipe, a selfie in Roller gear,
a Roller Pinterest site,
and for every contact beginning with a B, C. and R.

Here’s a glance at the prize table and some of the games. I found that last word in the word search (Arista -as in Arista Records-) just after I snapped the picture.

There were FOUR PAGES of “Guess The Song!”

Bay City Rollers Celebration Day Two – City Hall!

Day two of the celebration weekend we gathered on the steps of the City Hall of Bay City. That’s where the Rollers put their handprints into cement and where they were granted the key to the city (and that’s where I was that day in 1977.)

Just look at the inside…and imagine the Rollers walking through here in 1977.

We took several group shots then moved over to the historical museum to tour the Michigan Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit. Founder of the hall of fame Gary Johnson gave us a brief introduction to how the exhibit came to be at the Bay City museum and talked a bit about some of the things we were about to see.

I spied a pencil drawing and postcard of the City Hall nearby.

This is the front elevation of the city hall in Bay City.

And then we climbed these steep stairs…

And turned to the right.

Bay City Roller Day Celebration – The Handprints

For years, Rebel d’Elia had been working to get the handprints on display somewhere in Bay City. The handprints were on display years ago, then disappeared, then historical society members just didn’t respond…the usual drama.

But through the years, Rebel has persistently called and finally – finally! The handprints are on display!

When you turn to the right at the top of the stairs there is a blue hallway. And along the right side of that blue hallway is the Rollers.

There is an autographed photo, an album cover, Derek Longmuir’s key to the city, the official proclamation, and the poster from 16 Magazine.

Below that black and white photo are the handprints. You’d better believe many a Bay City Day celebrant held her hands up to her favorite Roller’s hands – and yes, they sure would fit together nicely.

Left to right the handprints are Les, Derek, Woody, and Eric.

Woody’s handprints. He also wrote “Woody was here.” That symbol above his name means Keep On Rollin!

We were all in awe.

After spending time looking at other exhibits we had plenty of free time. Some of us went to have lunch. My new friend Jan and I went to Gatsby’s (and ended up seeing other Roller friends there, too.)

Later that day some people went to a Rick Springfield concert while others hung around the hotel or went to eat. I had a delicious dinner and conversation at Old City Hall. There was also tiramisu, too.

Bay City Roller Day Celebration – Goodbyes

All too soon it was Sunday morning and we said goodbyes over breakfast in the hotel lobby. On the way home I reflected on the weekend.

I spent so many years trying to forget that I’d ever been a fan of the Rollers – being cool and liking cool bands was more important. And it’s a shame, really, because the women I met this weekend were incredible. Some of them have been friends since waaaay back in the day. And the stories?

Oh my! The stories they could (and did) tell. Some had met the Rollers multiple times, Many had never seen the Rollers in concert. Some were pulled into the phenomena of Rollermania by friends and others, like me, saw them on Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell and were smitten. Lord knows it was a bad show, but the Rollers were on twice and I was glue to the TV both times.

Pen Pals

The other very cool thing about liking the Rollers was having pen pals. And I mentioned that Sally (at the time going by “Sunshine”) was a pen pal of mine…but I had pen pals from around the world. Here are some of them:

Pen pals opened the world for me. I’d get a letter from Japan, one from Germany, and another from California on the same day. A week could bring twenty or more letters.

We shared news from our lives and -of course- the Rollers. We shared cassette tape recordings of the radio, clippings from teen magazines, photos, photo negatives – so much.

At this Roller event, I took a big book of letters that I’d saved. And several people sat down and looked through those letters and look at the names. Those names brought up memories and sure enough, I was reconnected with THREE of old pen pals. That’s just amazing after 45 years!

This was such a fun weekend and everyone – and I mean everyone – was so warm and welcoming. I’d love to come to other events in the future.

Maybe someone will bow out of the Tartan Day event next year so I, too, can march up Sixth Avenue in NYC with a whole slew of other Roller fans. I’d have to be sporting both Wallace and Leslie tartans, mind you.

Your Turn

Did you have pen pals? Were you infatuated with a boy band?

P.S.

The main character in the novel I’m working on loves the Bay City Rollers!

Update 1

After this post was out in the world, I was contacted by one of the organizers of the event. I quite literally did not realize that the event hadn’t been sponsored by Bay City Rollers Fan Events, and have changed the post to reflect my new understanding. My apologies for the confusion.

Update 2

A spot opened up on the Tartan Day walk, and I will now be going to New York City in April! I’m so excited about this and already starting to think about how to represent Clan Wallace and Leslie. I may even throw in something for Cameron as that’s my great-great grandmother’s Clan on the paternal side of the family.

BCR Fan Events had their original Facebook group taken down for copyright infringement; in what sounds like a personal vendetta, one of the organizers also had their personal page and more removed from Facebook. This is wrong. I’ve updated this blog to show the NEW link for the new and renamed group and I fully support BCR Fan Events.