Hoedown Detroit

hoe·down :
-noun

1.

a community dancing party typically featuring folk and square dances accompanied by lively hillbilly tunes played on the fiddle.

2.

the hillbilly or country music typical of a hoedown.

A local radio station put's on a "hoedown" every May here in Detroit. Now, a "hoedown" isn't necessarily the same in all places but the folks in the frozen tundra look for any excuse to get out when the weather warms and the sun shines.

Detroit's hoedown is held downtown on the St Claire River right beside the tunnel that scoots daily travelers under the river to Windsor, Ontario. It's a free event with several country bands on various stages.

Participants dig through the bottom of closets and under beds to pull out old hats and boots to look somewhat southern, country or western. I'm telling you, Nashville denizens would lay on the ground and have a big ole belly laugh at some of the costumes that appeared. But bless their hearts, they really try and enjoy the heck out of themselves.

The music is constant and loud, the vendors sell cheap western hats and T-shirts and the food is plentiful and palatable.

Not bad for a Sunday afternoon in a city.

The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village

Years ago, Henry and Clara Ford set up the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Although they initially funded it, they left no provisions for the upkeep of it. At one point, a few years ago, the area fell into disrepair so badly it appeared it would have to be demolished. So, a foundation of volunteers and benefactors raised funds and have restored it to a magnificent reflection of not only Ford's history but 19th and 20th century America itself.

Greenfield Village provides a walking history tour of everything from railroads, aviation and automobiles to glass blowers, printing presses and farming. One impressive demonstration was the vintage Jacquard loom that was capable of weaving any image directly into the fabric. What's so impressive about that? Well, it was a programmable loom, invented in 1801 that took it's cues from cards with holes in them. In other words, it was the first punch card system which ultimately, led to IBM developing the first computer. Bill Gates, Michael Dell and Steve Jobs wouldn't be who they are today were it not for Joseph Marie Jacquard.

The Henry Ford Museum is not necessarily a pat on it's back to the Ford Motor Company. Sure it has a slew of old cars but also tells the story of American ingenuity in steam engines, electricity, farming, aeronautics and culture.

By the end of the day, my feet felt flatter than the streets I walked on for most of the day so I hobbled off to the car and checked into the Marriott Courtyard.

Dearbornistan

Ack ! !............Update:

Just when I thought I'd never have to deal with Detroit again, I find myself headed for Dearborn, Michigan. Oh well, like I told my wife, there's got to be a blessing laying around in there somewhere. So, within a few days, I was able to share my faith with someone who had a very different idea of what an independent protestant Christian was.

After a couple of weeks here, I've had some pretty positive experiences. Before arriving, my perception of Dearborn was pretty grim, simply because it, like many places I've been to, were for the most part a sum of rumors and fear or reluctance of the unknown.

Dearborn is where Ford Motor Company is headquartered and streets reflect the city's dedication to the company. Streets and roads such as Ford Road, Fairlane and Mercury Drives are only a few examples. Had Henry Ford been born in Amarillo, Texas, Detroit would be a defunct fur trading outpost.

Part of my reluctance for coming here was knowing this was one of, if not the biggest centers of Arab/Muslim culture in the United States. Yes, the place is running over with ladies (and sometimes gentlemen) dressed in Arab garb and restaurants, stores and signs on cars are first hand evidence that make it the norm here. That being said, no one has held me down and forced a felafel into my mouth or have been discourteous to me at all. I've even heard Arabs calling into talk radio (yes, I'm one of those listeners) with American views to the right of Karl Rove. After all, many families have been here for 4 and 5 generations who came here to work on Henry Ford's moving assembly line. I've met a few people here and in many respects, they're just like me, trying to hack out a living and pursue wealth and happiness and grow old around their grand-kids.

Do I necessarily find Dearborn charming and have thoughts of moving here? Absolutely not but Arabs and Muslims are here and not going away. Like the Jews, Irish, Italians and Asians before them, they too will eventually place an indelible mark on the culture of the USA. It is what it is.

Ironically, Rima Fakih of Dearborn is the new Miss USA in Las Vegas, May 15. Fakih, 24, formerly from New York was raised in Dearborn, Michigan. She beat out 50 other contestants, including runner-up Miss Oklahoma, for the grand prize. It is said that the local Muslims are divided on her winning Miss USA, particularly the swimsuit division.

Probably the pole dancing video doesn't help either.

Irony indeed.

YeeHawww!! Branson!

I had a good week and a couple of days working in Baton Rouge and before I knew it, I was driving up to Shreveport for another week. The upside was.....well, being at home every day for a week and a half then being close enough in Shreveport to drive home for the weekend and also to spend a night with my Mama.

Sheveport was barely an image in my rear view mirror when I got the call to go to Branson, Missouri. Hearing the circumstances, I began to figure I'd be hanging out here for maybe a couple of months in the mountain air (people in the western states will scoff at that) free from the stress that had been haunting me in a couple of the last assignments.

It has been probably 20 years since we've been here in what has described as a cross between Mayberry and Las Vegas. Staying on the western end of the strip, traffic is still nuts as you attempt to cruise from one end to the other. Now there are a couple of bypasses that you can take if you truly need to get around.

Branson's oldest attractions have been the outdoor drama, Shepherd of the Hills, the theme park Silver Dollar City and some old time musical and comedy acts like The Presleys and The Baldknobbers. Over the years "name" people like Mel Tillis, Micky Gilly and other country entertainers have turned the place into quite attraction. It seems now that if an artist ever had a following in the entertainment business, Branson is the next stop before completely giving it up. Others like Shoji Tabuchi have created their own following after a leg up from Roy Acuff who had met him in Japan. Acuff told Shoji that if he was ever in the US, to look him up. Eventually, Shoji showed up and Acuff accepted him and put him on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville a few times. Tabuchi gambled on Branson and opened a theater and became a local hit.

The place is largely patronized by retirees or at least those over fifty. Bikers traveling through on 3 wheeled Honda trikes remind you of the Dead End Gang. Nothing emphasizes it more than the Hampton Inn's breakfast bar featuring a large container of Activia Yogurt. Activia has a stronger reputation than prunes. Don't ask me how I know this.

Unfortunately, I had only been here a day before finding out the situation was in the process of resolving itself and now find myself looking for a plane ride out of here. I won't be eating the Activia before I fly. On the fortunate side, I was able to break bread and spend a little time with an old friend and his lovely wife over in Shell Knobb. It's all good.