Noticing

Recently, I saw someone open carrying a handgun - for the very first time. I was on the mainland shopping and popped into McDonald's to grab a cup of coffee, and there he was - right in front of me. I'm not suggesting I felt unsafe or that he shouldn't have the right to carry, it just really caught me off guard. And it got me wondering about gun laws in Michigan. You know - nerd...

I learned open carrying is legal in Michigan, if you are older than 18 and the firearm is registered in your name. But, you can't open carry in a vehicle unless you have a concealed weapons permit (which requires training and that you be over 21.)  Without that permit, all firearms in a vehicle must be unloaded and in a case. So then I wondered - what if this guy was heading over to the island? Is a ferry boat considered a vehicle?

That's when I went down a rabbit hole. The short answer is yes - but of course, like all issues it's way more complicated than a simple yes or no.

Mission House, 1909

This antique Mackinac Island post card is one of my favorites. The Mission House is now owned by the Mackinac Island State Park and they use it to house their island employees. Some of my most treasured memories are from the seven summers that I worked for the fort and lived in the Mission House. 

This card from September 22, 1909 says:

Dear friend, 

I hope you arrived home safe and you enjoyed yourself very much. Mother said the next time you come up you must stay with us for a meal at least. She give me the deuce for not bringing you here on Sunday for dinner. I hope you will come up again as we all like you very much.

From a friend, Evan

I had to Google the meaning of "give me the deuce" since I had never heard that expression. Apparently, in the 1920s, it was an idiom that meant to give someone a sharp reprimand.  Now, if I could only discover who Evan and Blanche were!

Pleasantly Surprised

I don't know if you can see the price tag on this little bowl or not, but it cost me $1.99. I picked it up at the Salvation Army on my drive home from Maine. (We flew to Maine, but I drove to Indianapolis first.) I saw this sitting on the shelf and instantly knew exactly what it was - Waterford Crystal!

I have a soft spot for Waterford (thank you Grandma Mary) so when I see it second hand I tend to add to my collection - especially when it's dirt cheap! Originally this little jam bowl had a lid, but for $1.99 I can find lots of other uses for it. Currently it's a perfect vase for a hydrangea blossom. If you have any other ideas on how I can use it, be sure to let me know!

Delivered

Things take longer to get to Mackinac Island that they do to other places. Take these refrigerated groceries for instance. They traveled by truck to St. Ignace. Then, just like tourists, they had to ride on a boat to get over to the island. (The photo below actually shows the delivery trucks heading back to the mainland. The morning freight boat often arrives before dawn.)

Once the groceries are on the island, they get loaded onto horse-drawn drays and delivered to individual businesses. (Sometimes, large items, such as the coolers pictured above, have to be delivered by forklift.

All this extra travel helps explain why prices on Mackinac are higher than they are on the mainland. Every island business has to pay two additional delivery charges, on top of regular delivery fees. Thankfully, that isn't the case for UPS or Amazon delivery, at least for individuals. For us, "quick" Amazon shipping is four days, but I can't complain. I've lived on Mackinac Island long enough to remember the days before we had Amazon. Four to six days is still faster than having to go over to the mainland to pick something up!