|

Cold Beef Stew!

I had just bought a can of beef stew from the country store that overlooked a peaceful rocky harbor on Drummond Island, Michigan. . As I walked out the door to enjoy my purchase in the morning sun, a woman called from the counter, “I hope that’s not your breakfast”. I chuckled, “Sure is, breakfast of champions”. She paused, studied me for a minute, and then began to smile, as if she understood.

You see, I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The “U.P”, as it is commonly referred to, is like stepping into a Jack London novel. If I were to try to describe it, I would say it’s like Alaska without the mountains. Life is simple here. There is no competing with the Jones’s next door, mostly because the Jones’s live a half mile away through the cedar swamp or jack pine forest.

When I was a boy, my father worked for the State of Michigan as a substance abuse counselor. He made $21,000 dollars a year and we were considered to be “rich” in the community. In order to compensate for this economic disparity, most took advantage of the abundant resources that the UP had to offer. Almost everyone used wood to heat their home. Venison was our steak of choice, and yes, on occasion, we would eat cold beef stew from the can when on hunting trips.

I am proud to be a “Yooper”. When I travel back to that region, I make it a practice to announce to the locals “I used to live in Curtis”. It’s like being part of a secret club, and I know the password to get in.

On this particular day, I refrained from the usual announcement but the cold can of stew for breakfast revealed my identity. “Where are you from?” the counter lady asked. As I explained, she smiled and said “Well at least take a spoon” and pointed to the table by the door. I thanked her and headed out the door into the blanket warm morning sun.

In the distance, there was a golden retriever enjoying the sweet smells that were captured within the morning dew. I walked over to join him and cracked open the can. The dog, blinded in one eye by cataracts had no problem seeking out the smell and came over for a little introduction. I sat and dug into the can. One bite for me, and one for the dog. Ivan Meade, Drummond Island resident and captain of Sturgeon Bay Charters stepped off his boat and was taken by my actions. I imagine it was a strange sight as the dog was eating off my spoon. Well, maybe not so strange if you’re “in the club”.



From there an entire conversation was launched about where from’s, values, lifestyles and alike. After about five minutes I had made a new best friend. Ivan asked me to join him for an Atlantic salmon fishing charter that evening. I was low on cash but he never asked me for a dime.

When we met that evening, he brought me a bag that contained two sandwiches, a banana, and some home made smoked pork loin that his wife had made earlier that day. We fished, and ate, and laughed, and shared stories, and laughed some more and shared more stories. Enormous ocean-going freighters passed within 100 feet of our bobbing bow as they headed for the Soo locks, the gateway to Lake Superior.

As dusk arrived we hooked into a 10 lb. Atlantic salmon that, by all rights, would have won the local tournament the week before. This beautiful, glistening silver and white fish with little X’s on its back may have been the most beautiful fish I had ever reeled in. Pride beamed from Ivan’s face as he was able to produce such a prize fish from his beloved St. Mary’s River. As Gods painting began to unfold across the sky in colors unduplicated by mortal man, we reluctantly turned for the welcoming harbor.

The night, however, would not end there. I spent the night at Ivan’s home, broke bread with his extended family, and played with his three dogs (who I’m sure would have been happy for some stew). The following morning we shared some perfect cups of coffee while watching the golden sunrise gently lift into the sky. I even learned the secret to making my own smoked pork loin.

Life doesn’t get much better than this. In my line of work, I often get to do exciting and interesting things. Most people think I am very lucky. The truth of the matter is that I miss many things because entire trips, from my perspective, are seen through a two inch black and white view finder.

On this trip, however, the Lord blessed me with the chance to slow down, meet great people and enjoy life the way it was meant to be. Funny, it all started with a one eyed dog and a can of cold beef stew. The best breakfast I ever had!