My brother, Billy, spouts off facts as we stare down at the Horseshoe Falls from the observation deck. The water that tumbles over the Falls ends up in the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway. And so on. Billy is eight years old and has already memorized our encyclopedia.
This is our first family trip outside of Michigan. We can afford to do one tourist attraction in Niagara Falls. The Maid of the Mist® is too expensive, and we shouldn't waste our money on wax museums and other tourist traps. The Journey Behind the Falls® is the most interesting thing in our budget, according to my mother.
Afterwards, we visit the free Daredevil Museum and learn about the people who went over the Falls in barrels. Most of them died, but the first successful person was a woman from our hometown – Bay City, Michigan. My little sister, Pebby, declares that she wants to be a daredevil when she grows up.
We go to the lookout point over the whirlpools, and then we pass by the Floral Clock. My father asks me if I want to stop, since my new interest is horticulture. I glance at the clock and shake my head in disappointment. It's too well-behaved. I prefer wildflowers. My mother says that she'll give me a corner of our garden next year, but I shouldn't be too disappointed if wildflowers won't grow there. Some plants cannot be tamed.
Back at the motel, we eat sandwiches and chips and watch my father's favorite show, All in the Family. We laugh together. Billy, Pebby, and I haven't fought at all on this trip. My father has been a lot nicer to my mother since he quit drinking, but sometimes a shadow still passes over his face. He hasn't drunk in over a year. He switched AA groups because he didn't like how they talked about God all the time. His new group is no different, but he has suddenly become interested in God. He now says that he already knew everything in the Bible. He just forgot for a while.
When the show ends, my mother says that we have to go to sleep, because we have to go to church in the morning.
My father says that we can skip church this week, because when we get home he'll start going with us.
Billy, Pebby, and I cheer. My mother smiles at us.
In a couple of weeks, I will start the fifth grade. Then I will turn ten. I'm at the big kids' school, St. Joseph's, and I finally have a best friend. The Clique doesn't bother me as much. And now I have a normal, happy family. Everything is going to be okay.
My sister, my husband, and I stare down at the American Falls from the observation deck. Two Maid of the Mist® boats glide under the Falls. They look like plastic toys in a bathtub. A cold wind blows. We shiver. Instead of going on the boats, we opted for a haunted house – Screamers House of Horrors®. My husband is still baffled by the whole experience. They don't have haunted houses in France. They don't consider fright entertaining.
My sister ended up becoming a professional daredevil. For several years, she worked for a circus company at water parks around the world. She dove into pools from platforms up to ninety feet high. She's recently retired from that profession and has begun to study ethnobotany.
Looking back, I realize that the voices had already begun to whisper into my father's mind, but we were too blinded by hope to notice. He had chosen religion over drinking. That's all that mattered. It's okay if he says that he knows everything in the Bible. Just let us be happy.
And, for a short time, we were.
Pinworms. I never used to enjoy poetry – but now it is everywhere. Your writing is hypnotic & I love it.
And the pinworms? they're horrible. I know kids in Asia easily get those. 🙂 Beautiful photos btw. I like them so much. Keeps me thinking if I should re-post mine.
Hi Prem – I had warned my sister about eating hot dogs in Asia. The worms have come back a couple of times. They're hard to totally get rid of. I think she's learned her lesson!
The haunted house was really funny, mostly because my husband was totally confused. He's such a good sport.
those worms? are the reason why de-wormer ads are so trending out there. I even took them for precautions. 😀 ugggh… I can just imagine.
Oh wow, I didn't know that there are ads for de-worming medicine. The parasite epidemic must be pretty bad!
It is bad, yes… we always go to rural areas as part of our community nursing services and give all the kids the de-wormer. And always advise them to visit the health center every 4 months.
Beautiful photos and great memories! I went there often as a kid… even went on my honeymoon… thanks!
Hi Mark – Thank you for taking the time to stop by. What a cool place to honeymoon, kinda like Vegas but more magnificent scenery.
Niagara Falls is one big tourist trap, but I love the kitschy charm against the backdrop of an amazing natural wonder. Hope you get to go one day!
Beautiful photos and beautiful writing with very poignant memories, Julie!
Very interesting stories. Did she ever get very deep into ethnobotany?
Hi there – Thanks a lot for reading. She did get a masters in genetics with an emphasis on ethnobotany, but actual field work is tough to get, so she now teaches high school biology.
I love Niagara Falls, it makes ones problems seem minor, similar to the vastness of the great lakes or the ocean. Michigan is very beautiful, too. My dad is from Michigan.
Niagara…I forget how close we Michiganders are. I enjoyed reading your reminiscences.
Thank you. When you think about it, most of Michigan is closer to Canada than to the rest of the US.
Maybe one day I'll go there ! I've never seen big falls, it's something I should add to my list of things to do !