My mom would have turned 100 on August 7.  She has been gone for almost 11 years now.  In my thoughts of her, I often wish I could have another cup of coffee with her – and a donut (her favorite sweet)  Wishes do come true, but not always as visualized.  In the past few weeks, I’ve had the next best thing to coffee with mom in that I got to enjoy a cup or two with her youngest sister, my aunt Liz.  A form of bliss, that brown liquid that some drink straight – I’ve always been more of “a little coffee with my cream and sugar, please” type of person.  Perhaps a kick-back to those mornings Mom and Dad would make us the special treat coffee milk?

For 12 days, I stayed with my family in Wisconsin just soaking up love.  I had coffee not only with my aunt, but with cousins and their spouses and relish those mornings where we got to learn more about each other.  My family always lived far away from Wisconsin due to Dad’s Navy career, but I feel close to my family in Mom’s homeland, even though our journeys through childhood, young adulting, parenting, grandparenting have varied and not been shared experiences.  I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to stay awhile and learn who they are today.  And after learning the little I’ve learned, I know I come from kind, caring and compassionate people who have grown strong through their life’s experiences, as have I.  I miss them already and can only hope that I will see at least some of them again.

My trip from North Dakota to Wisconsin was pretty uneventful, a few nights of camping in state parks, 5 loads of laundry and driving. Upon arrival, I was able to split my time between the northern clans (Rice Lake area) and the southern clans (Mazomanie).  Even though I’ve journey further, and seen some new places since, I will use this blog – once again created on a rainy day in the UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan – to talk about my immersion into my Kezer family.

Rice Lake and surrounding area – The Broomes

I stayed at two different places, with first my cousin Laurie hosting, then my Aunt Liz’s driveway.  I give both sites 5 stars.  Laurie’s was a pastoral setting in the country with a great viewing deck for lighting shows, for 2 nights!  I also rate this site high due to their open yard and dog friendly policies – they even offered play dates with their dog which guaranteed a deep night’s sleep for both pups. I loved my time here; it acted as my home base for many adventures.  Aunt Liz’s was an intown setting, but only in the way they do it in the Midwest.  We may speak of green and large yards in the Pacific Northwest – but nothing rivals the huge expanse of well-groomed lawns you see in Wisconsin.  And my aunt, at almost 90, still gets her lawn tractor out to keep hers in shape.  What strikes me about these areas is the extreme green – due to the high humidity (that’s another story, the downside) and rain, the lawns are spring green this time of year (whereas back home, our un-watered grass is brown by now).   Liz also offered little playmates for Audy-wee, but his size may have been a bit intimidating.  However, she has reported that since Audy explained the joy of toys to these little dogs, one of her pups was caught playing again😊

During my stay here, besides the delightful visit to the various homesteads of my Broome cousins, I was able to do a few things.  I kayaked for the first time.  I ate in a historic restaurant.  I rode a train. I listened to music.  I was provided with another great performance of guitar and mandolin by my aunt and cousin Jaime.  I put my feet in Lake Superior.  I saw a very tall and inaccurate statute of an Indian. I saw root beer-colored waterfalls.  

I introduced my cousin and her husband to Cadillac margaritas.  I met my cousin Rebecca’s horse Stella.  I once again enjoyed the former dairy farm of my cousin Jaime and got to meet her unexpected brood of newly hatched chicks.  I enjoyed history lessons on the family with my cousin Greg and visited cousin Jim’s wonderful Lakehouse.   And I finished a mission I set out on 10 years ago – with Aunt Liz, I completed the paperwork and submitted the payment to have an engraved stone placed in the Veteran’s Memorial Plaza in Rice Lake.  Finally having mom’s name and service in the US Navy in her hometown. My uncle Ray and cousin Lenny Dean already have markers placed there by my mom’s oldest sister, Doris (deceased).

Mazomanie – The Kezer Clan

Another 5-star resort to stay at, thanks to my cousin Wes.  Backed up to the woods, this piece of his property where his home stands is quiet, peaceful and still has lighting bugs or fireflies signaling their presence at night.  Wes and Barb were gracious hosts and I loved coffee on the deck with Barb in the mornings, to learn about this fabulous lady my cousin married years ago. While Audy and their little Frenchie sparred a few times over toys, this was place was heaven for Audy – toys everywhere and made sure to spread his love around them.

My cousin Dixie is in a new challenge in her life and had recently completed her first round of chemo. Her energy was low; she was tired but I’m so glad I got to spend a few hours with her on my first night in town.  I will keep her in my thoughts and know she’ll be okay – I see the love, caring and help she has around her in her brothers and their spouses.

For my time in “Mazo”, a village so small it doesn’t show on maps, I was treated like royalty by my cousins.  A trip to a local lake for swimming, hiking (beautiful glacial rocks in a lavender hue), whiskey and wine tasting with cousin Mike and his wife Sharon and blue grass music.  Not a whiskey fan, but after sharing two flights with Mike, we both ended up making a purchase.  Either it was outstanding whiskey, or after all those shots. we thought it was?    Bought some wine too.  And Wes took me off roading in an ATV unit of some type, through the other part of his property with has hidden corn fields for the deer.  He drove me through some places where no path was obvious, this man knows his property well. Oh and I met a species of life I never knew existed – the Hummingbird Moth.  They loved Wes and Barb’s flowers.

I received a gift I will always cherish from this part of the trip.  My uncle Gene, my mother’s only brother and the father to Mike, Wes and Dixie was a hardworking man by day and a great musician at night.  He loved seeing others learn an instrument and would tolerate even the worst recital just to encourage the love of music.  Both of his sons inherited his talent, and Mike still plays from time to time. One of Gene’s community efforts was the Mazomanie Music Conservatory, they put on concerts, gave out scholarships and ran a radio station (which was not one of Gene’s favorite things).  The blue grass musicians I saw that night were sponsored by this group, and upon Uncle Gene’s passing, Mike assumed his role with this organization.  The gift, in my round-about way, was one of Uncle Gene’s T-shirts from this group – a t-shirt they wear when working to set up the amps, microphones and stage for performing artists.  I so appreciate this unique and wonderful remembrance of Uncle Gene; I will cherish it and think of him and his family when I wear it.

Note to family in Mazo – unable to post many of the wonderful photos you sent me, they are in a different format.

Closing thoughts on Family and the Motherland

This part of my trip was a glimpse into a community-based way of life that I respect and envy.  In Rice Lake, my cousins are friends with the grandchildren of my grandparents’ friends, neighbors and fellow church members.  They can say a family name everyone knows the history of that family, the individuals in the community. They can mention a teacher at the school and identify that person as either a former school mate or a teacher their children also had.  All of their lives are embedded in their communities, they belong, they participate, they give back and more recently, they are making their voices heard in protest (yes, my aunt gets out there with her anti-fascism signs too)  As a Navy Brat, I look with wonder, for I was a traveler for the early part of Dad’s career and then settled into suburbs of people with no early ties or sense of community.  I observe and feel their commitment and also see their adventures, because almost all of them have travelled abroad.  I don’t wish my life were different, I just feel blessed to have a glimpsed into lives being well lived in a place where my mother was born – even if that specific house is now a beauty parlor! (no kidding-lol)

Note: This blog was drafted a few days ago, however due to connections issues, couldn’t get it posted until today, August 13.

Namaste