Trip to Dearborn, August 2010
Quick trip to Dearborn
In a previous life we used to live in Dearborn Michigan. In fact our two oldest children were born there, so I have some fond memories of my time there. Every time I travel to Dearborn I make an effort to revisit some of the old "stomping grounds" and see how things have changed. Often when you've not been somewhere for a long time and then see the changes it is sad. So it was for me this time. The city of Detroit decided some years ago to allow gambling casinos, which brings lots of money to the city, but also some less desirable aspects.
I can remember arriving Detroit as a college graduate in 1985 and seeing a city that was partly on the verge of dying, but also on the verge of a renaissance. Back then there were many efforts to revive the city, which resulted in lots of clubs, restaurants and places for entertainment. Now it seems that casinos and all that accompanies them have taken over the city. Sad really.
This trip over was with Delta Airlines, which is not yet world class. Seats not flat, service ok, planes pretty old.
Stayed in the Dearborn Inn, which is a Marriot property, but does not seem to have been kept up to modern standards. Rooms are ok, but that's about all. As it was August the weather in Michigan was fantastic. This is something we definitely miss from living in Detroit. The other thing we miss are the lakes. Summer and water just seem to go together. Difficult combination to find here in middle Germany!
This trip I also visited an old friend and colleague. Back in 1985, having both newly graduated we started to work for Ford, and coincidentally lived in the same apartment complex back then. Our kids are about the same ages and we had a nice evening with some beers and reminiscing. These things are miss also.
Before returning I took a long drive through the city and then on through Gross Pointe. What a nice place. It does invoke some doubts in me as to whether we should have stayed in Michigan so many years ago. Prompts thoughts and questions about how are life would have been. Our children, now very Germany, would be completely American. Would we have kept up connections to our families in Germany, or settled in to only an American life.
Mute questions, but interesting to think about.
In a previous life we used to live in Dearborn Michigan. In fact our two oldest children were born there, so I have some fond memories of my time there. Every time I travel to Dearborn I make an effort to revisit some of the old "stomping grounds" and see how things have changed. Often when you've not been somewhere for a long time and then see the changes it is sad. So it was for me this time. The city of Detroit decided some years ago to allow gambling casinos, which brings lots of money to the city, but also some less desirable aspects.
I can remember arriving Detroit as a college graduate in 1985 and seeing a city that was partly on the verge of dying, but also on the verge of a renaissance. Back then there were many efforts to revive the city, which resulted in lots of clubs, restaurants and places for entertainment. Now it seems that casinos and all that accompanies them have taken over the city. Sad really.
This trip over was with Delta Airlines, which is not yet world class. Seats not flat, service ok, planes pretty old.
Stayed in the Dearborn Inn, which is a Marriot property, but does not seem to have been kept up to modern standards. Rooms are ok, but that's about all. As it was August the weather in Michigan was fantastic. This is something we definitely miss from living in Detroit. The other thing we miss are the lakes. Summer and water just seem to go together. Difficult combination to find here in middle Germany!
This trip I also visited an old friend and colleague. Back in 1985, having both newly graduated we started to work for Ford, and coincidentally lived in the same apartment complex back then. Our kids are about the same ages and we had a nice evening with some beers and reminiscing. These things are miss also.
Before returning I took a long drive through the city and then on through Gross Pointe. What a nice place. It does invoke some doubts in me as to whether we should have stayed in Michigan so many years ago. Prompts thoughts and questions about how are life would have been. Our children, now very Germany, would be completely American. Would we have kept up connections to our families in Germany, or settled in to only an American life.
Mute questions, but interesting to think about.
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