We who have children who married and have children, have in-law experiences. We who have in-laws spend an inordinate amount of time catering to their wishes, seeking ways to please them, praying that they see the goodness in us and recognize that we support and love them.
We do everything we can to make them feel as comfortable in their new family as they were in their original family.
Thus it is that I enthusiastically accepted son-in-law Bob’s invitation to go to Engadine to MY cabin at MY sportsman’s club.
I read his invite this way: ‘I asked your son (his brother in-law), my brother-in-law (my other son-in-law) and both turned me down, so with no one else available, would you please go fishing this weekend with me??
Being the compassionate, friendship building father-in-law that I am, of course I agreed. I also read in his face a plea, bordering on tears of a little boy saying, ‘I wanna go fishing!?
I also saw my acceptance as another way of doing a favor for my daughter, who ‘I do’ed? him 24 years ago.
A little background on Bob. He’s the kind of guy who has a way of telling you he’s better than anybody at anything he attempts. His grilling is superior on his Weber to my Weber, his seasonings are better, his portions correct and his serving excellent.
If he doesn’t catch the most fish, he’ll convince you his was biggest. Last deer season he was the only one in camp to shoot a buck. He bored us greatly with his total recall of every moment, through the gutting.
At trout season opening day Bob caught the most trout. Since then, every day he’s said more than once, ‘I have to do everything. I have to get the deer, I have to catch the trout, I have to do everything.? Bob actually got two deer last year, one with his hood.
We went north the same day as the Dream Cruise on Woodward Ave. I held back telling him our cruise was more of a nightmare.
On this 36 hour, up and back fishing trip, we spent six fishing, nine sleeping and 10 on I-75 and US-2. That leaves too many hours of overexposure to his ridiculous choice of music, and his boasting of again catching the most trout and most pike.
Finally, I realized why he asked me to go fishing, besides his not being able to find a friend.
He knows I’m the unluckiest fisherman in the world, that he’d have no trouble outdoing me on pond, lake or stream. That he’d be able to point out his fishing prowess by comparing it to that of his gentle, soft-spoken, humble father-in-law.
We had one very nice eating experience. We went to Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn in Curtis. I’ve been there a few times, but it was a first for Bob. The now-bed and breakfast house has a history dating to 1905.
It was a hotel until railroad service ended in 1924, then it was vacated. Bud Chamberlin bought it in 1989, remodelled it and made a very inviting hotel with 14 rooms and a fine dining area, ‘Nestled high on a bluff overlooking Big Manistique Lake,? their hand-out reads.
I’d like to suggest you stop by the bar and tip bartender Shannon whose husband will be in Afghanistan until next February. You might also enjoy the experience of having joyous Heather as your waitress.
Chamberlin’s has a full menu, lots of help for good service and a lumber, railroad, fishing, snow-mobiling history you might enjoy. We suggest reservations.