What A Difference A Day Makes! Evening Day 5

What A Difference A Day Makes! 

Evening Day 5

September 18, 2019

So, 24 hours after I wrote the snarky blog last night I'm feeling great! We had a fabulous day! I got up and decided today was going to be a new day and that's exactly what it was. 

We opened the lighthouse at 10am on the dot, put out the flag and hung the OPEN sign and we were in business. Within 10 minutes we had close to 40 visitors. Our count today was in the 300's total and boy, were we busy. All day. 

So far we have had visitors from the U.S. of course, but also from Italy, Germany and South Africa. It's very cool when these international couples come in. They look all around and read everything on the museum displays. Next, they can't wait to climb to the tower! Whereas, the Americans in the crowd tend to poke around a bit and then hem and haw about spending the $4 to take the trip upstairs. 

I have a confession to make and that is that I have yet to go all the way up to the tower. Surprise, surprise! It's only 37 steps to the top but there's a glitch. You have two very steep flights of steps made to specifications of the 1800's, then the last few steps are ladder-like where you pull yourself up through a hole in the floor to reach the tower. Now, do you think that's happening with me? Uh, that would be a no. My legs start shaking just short of the second floor already. That's where I hit the END button. Yes, I DID sign on the line saying I was physically able to go to the top. If I  had to in a crisis, I probably would. But Mr. Quilter Cook is willing and spry. He can do it. 

Speaking of Mr. Quilter Cook, he's getting pretty good at cleaning windows! In the morning, he has to go up to the tower and wipe all the glass windows clean, and do it again at noon and at night after closing. Then he goes over to the log cabin on the property and cleans those on the outside. So, hey there you go. I have a husband who does windows. How cool is that? It only took almost 35 years!

While he's doing that, I'm working on my own assistant light keeper duties. I have pre-blisters on the palms of my hands from sweeping sand off the floors and down the steps to the beach. I went out four times today and swept. I can't complain. I talked to a lot of folks while I was out there. The thing is that the steps to the beach are built into a sand dune. Hmm...let's do the math there. Whatever. It's an excuse to get out of the lighthouse every couple of hours and I look busy while I chat. 

I'm not crazy about the after work duties whatsoever, but they are necessary.Tonight we got all that silly vacuum work done in about 45 minutes.I never particularly cared to vacuum and this is kind of a personal trial of patience for me. I do it, but I secretly am hoping the vacuum breaks every night and can't be repaired until after we are gone. I would rather sweep.

 Later, we went out for dinner at a restaurant nearby called The Jolly Pumpkin. With a name like that, you just have to go! It was fun. Later we took a drive along the water. So beautiful. The scenery is just gorgeous around here. Wineries, roadside fruit and veggie stands and orchard stands line every road. It doesn't get prettier than this, folks. We are here until Tuesday high noon. Stay in Traverse City (Howard Johnson's was awesome! ) and let us know when you are coming. We are done with our duties around 6 pm each evening. We'll give you the nickel lighthouse tour and we can all go to dinner afterwards.

We hope that the trainer doesn't come by tomorrow. We did just fine on our own today and would like to continue our routine. We brought in $1300 in 7 hours in the gift shop in cash purchases. I don't know what the credit card total was since it was on the Square. The trainer monitors it from her office throughout the day. But it was a lot.Plus, the till came out even on the first count. Ha!  

I have to say that talking to people is the best part of the job. Every conversation is like meeting a new friend. We are busy from 10-5 straight through and that keeps the day moving along.

At sunset, I wish I'd had my phone camera with me. When we returned from dinner, Mr. Quilter Cook put on his swim trunks and walked down to the beach with his camera and took pictures of the lighthouse by standing waist-deep in the water! He also took photos of me sitting with my coffee on the steps of the lighthouse at Sunset.

The Lord has most certainly had a hand in bringing us here.

He knew I'd be tested, but gave me the strength to work through it to see His reward in the end.

This experience I will take with me the rest of my life...

Lights Out--

The Quilter Cook