MAY'S FIRST: Morels and More Morels

Here's the latest "First Experience" blog...May 2007. I spent about 45 minutes last week out searching for morel mushrooms in Northern Michigan in a place I'll refer to as Narnia.

So...with a glass of pear wine from Black Star Farms in one hand and a sack in the other, I began to harvest these fabulous fungi from the wooded floor. First one, then another and another and then dozens and dozens and hundreds and hundreds. It was incredible. My guide for the day (the one who let me fall into the Platte River and who was with me as I burned through my coat on the luge) was busy taking pictures and repeating that he'd never seen so many morels in one spot before. It was beginner's luck I told him -- and I was the lucky one!

It was 3-4 days before we made our way through our massive pile of morels (and yes, we did share with friends). We made a tasty morel bisque (using an incredible pesto that was made from wild ramps we found alongside the morels) and a morel omelette and of course fried morels. My culinary experiences during that week long trip to the Traverse City area were among the best of my life. No wonder I want to move up there some day.

Let's see...any other "new experiences" during the trip? Just some new places like Funistrada in Maple City, The Cabbage Shed in Elberta and Fusion in Frankfort. Oh, and I practiced my vine pruning skills as this up and coming vineyard. The roughest part of the whole week? Getting back to reality on Monday morning!

Another "new experience" is coming later this month...a trip to Silver Lake for a ride along the sand dunes!

Stay tuned for June...any ideas??

APRIL'S FIRST: Seeing a Broadway Production

Sorry for the delay in getting this one around. Life seemed to take a tailspin for about a month.

So in April, I took my 14 year old daughter to see the musical RENT at the Wharton Center at MSU.

I remember driving home from East Lansing that night thinking how very fleeting life is. How important it is to live for the moment, to love what you do, to be true to yourself and to truly appreciate your friends. I learned that it takes all kinds of people to make life fun and exciting and that each person brings something important to the mix. That each person is brought into our lives to teach us something or for us to teach them something.

I hope my daughter learned that there are dire consequences for decisions she makes in her life now. I hope that she learned that there is no place in the world for discrimination and that everyone deserves love and respect. If nothing else, I hope she learned that mom is okay to hang out with every now and then.

RENT is an amazing show. The story, the music, the message were all so touching. We laughed, we cried and cried some more. Then we bought the T-shirt, the CD (which we listen to quite frequently) and the DVD (which we've watched a couple times). I'd like to see the live version again...now that I'm more familiar with the cast and music. I'm sure I can convince my daughter to join me again as well.