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After putting in 6+ hours of work Tuesday & 6+ more Wednesday, Thursday was different. I started the day relaxing & focusing on personal projects, then went to my friend’s dental practice, where she did some follow-up dental work for me. Then, I got gas in my 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis & opted to explore the “4 Corners” of Okemos MI. [Along each road trip this year, I plan-want to show some history &/or points of interest.]

The settlement of Hamilton was founded in 1839 by Freemay Bray; 20 years later, after the death of Chief John Okemos (on whose treaty lands the community was built) the area was renamed Okemos to honor him. Originally a farming community, the area is now considered a Lansing suburb. Hamilton remains the name of 1 of the roads through town, specifically the “4 Corners” area, literally a square of roads at the center of town, with the intersection of Hamilton & Okemos Roads at the center of the square. I had hoped to snap a photo of the oldest commercial building, The Hamilton Building, but could not figure out which it is. I also wanted to visit Ferguson Park, along the Red Cedar River on Okemos Rd, because it is also part of the oldest settlement in the area along the road between Detroit & Lansing, but the entrance was closed due to high water. So, I settled for stopping across the road at Wonch Park:

Muriel on a building near the sign pictured above:

Green bridge carrying southbound Okemos Rd over the Red Cedar River:

Concrete bridge, reminiscent of the Marsh Arch Rainbow Curve Bridge along Route 66 in Kansas, carrying northbound Okemos Rd over the Red Cedar River; a sign to the right of the image welcomes you to historic downtown Okemos:

Parking lot of Wonch Park, featuring my 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis & an interesting pavilion in the background:

After walking around a little bit, I drove back to my friends’ home, where I then put in ~3 hours of work, before tackling more of my personal projects, & of course, visiting with friends. I might’ve driven around town a bit more this afternoon, but after getting gas, the car was hesitating & bogging quite a bit. Maybe it doesn’t like my “car gripe” about it (see 2nd “Road Trips & Working” entry via THIS LINK HERE)? But … after sitting since Monday evening, it ran just fine from my friends’ home to her dental office, before I got gas! Hmmm … Friday’s drive to Indiana-Illinois might be a bit harried & interesting….

Lastly, as I begin to prepare for what will hopefully be many longer road trips nearly each month of 2017, this mini road trip test has made me realize a few things: not easy to balance work, OC,SH crafting, goals-tasks needing attention, being with family’n’friends & maintaining a drive-time schedule. When I visit you or stay in your home this year, I hope I don’t come across as rude. I try to be overly cautious & conscious of spending time with people, but I sometimes get flustered when I know I have a lot to do (i.e. work & OC,SH crafting) & am not “on schedule”. Plus, as I’ve learned many times, even during my 2002-2011 road trips, it can be difficult to feel “at home” in someone else’s residence, even when they’ve told you to be “at home”. BUT, since the road IS my “home”, I just need to find a balance to make it all work for me, without being inconsiderate towards others. Sounds like a tall task, don’t it!?