Summer’s parting words

Photo concept and image by Gordon Berg, taken at Frankfort beach in Benzie County.

By Gordon Berg

Whoosh! Just like that, summer’s over. Bonfires on the beach. A slow drift down the Manistee River. Ice cream sundaes from House of Flavors. In a few days it’ll all be another great summer memory.

Maybe you caught a tribute band performance at the Ramsdell. Or perhaps you watched the Ludington High School Jazz Band show off their chops at a Rhythm and Dunes concert. I bet some of you felt goosebumps when the military vets marched by at your hometown’s Fourth of July parade.

For sure many of you went camping. Maybe it was so hot you slept on top of your sleeping bag. Maybe it was so wet you slept in your car. Maybe the fish were bitin’. Maybe they weren’t. The ones that got away always make for a better story.

No doubt someone reading this had their first kiss on top of Arcadia Dunes‘ Old Baldy. Maybe you fell in love. Maybe it’ll just be for the summer. Maybe it’ll be forever.

Did you drive all the way to Traverse City to catch a foul ball at a Pit Spitters‘ game? Perhaps you put the kids in their PJs and gave them their first Cherry Bowl Drive-in Theatre experience in Honor. Hopefully they conveniently fell asleep halfway through the movie, giving you parents some time to feel like you were on an old-fashioned date.

Maybe some knowledgeable salesperson at the Happy Owl in Manistee helped you find your perfect summer read. Maybe someone at the Gasoline ReFind shop of vintage treasures in Bear Lake helped you carry that old bench you’ve always been looking for out to your truck. It’s a safe bet the folks at Kampvilla RV Park and Campground helped make your family reunion one for the books. Perhaps you shared a great conversation with an old friend over coffee and fresh-baked pastries at the Yellow Dog Café. Or, like me, you found the hands-down best chocolate chip cookie in America at the Daily BakeHouse.

Yup, the summer of ’23 is almost one for the books. Now begins the checklist for shuttin’ down the cabin and heading back south. Turn off the water. Turn down the thermostat. Cover the furniture.

But before you go, there’s just one more thing to do …

Remember the workers.

Every one of your memories has at least one person associated with it who helped you make this summer one you won’t forget. A park ranger. The guy at the hardware store who sold you a fishing license. The housekeeper at the Manistee Inn and Marina who made your room feel crisp and fresh. The waitress who gave you a smile along with that extra cup of coffee at the Bungalow Inn, Scotty’s Restaurant or Northern Exposure Cafe.

These folks work hard. Often two, even three jobs just to make ends meet. They may drive from a little community you’ve barely heard of because they can’t afford to live where they work. But here they are. Their joy is helping you remember how friendly and personable small-town life can be. When you smile back at them, it fills their hearts in ways you can’t imagine.

So let me invite you to do something crazy … write them a note of gratitude. Stop by before you pull out of town and tell just one person know how much it meant to you and your family that they showed up every day to help create a great experience for you. Let them know the role they played in helping you make some lasting west-coast Michigan memories.

When you perform that simple act, you’ll give them an enormous sense of pride for the difficult, often thankless work they do. It’ll make you feel good too.

And, when you come back next year and bump into those same people, you’ll find that you’re more than just a visitor. You’re one of us. A neighbor. Even if just for a moment.

“Welcome home!” they’ll likely tell you. “It’s really good to see you again.”

Such a good feeling.

So, have a great rest of your year. Safe travels. Thanks for sharing your summer with us. The Summer of ’24 is right around the corner. See you then!

Gordon Berg is a descendant of Manistee’s Bergs, Swansons and Martinsons. His debut book, “Harry and the Hurricane”, is about his father’s life as a young boy and how he survived the Miami Hurricane of 1926. www.harryandthehurricane.com