Visit to Shelby Twp, Michigan 2/15/16

After a long day in Flossamer that ended with a tiring golfing session at the country golfing club, I tapped my space watch three times and found myself back in Michigan. And not even an interesting part of Michigan, just the boring suburbs north of Detroit. I checked the google maps I downloaded onto the space watch and I was in Shelby Township, Michigan, a northern suburb of Detroit, 15 miles away from the city. The Space watch dropped me off in the middle of a neighborhood. As I looked around all the houses basically looked the same. The sign that said “Welcome to Shelby Township” might as well have said “Welcome to Suburbia”. I walked on the sidewalk through the neighborhood and I passed people on walks with their dogs or friends and all I could think of was why everyone kept smiling at me? I guess it’s just a friendly place. I continued to wander around the place and had to come to a stop as I ended up in front of a busy road. I turned the corner to continue exploring the subdivision and I heard from afar people laughing, talking and playing music. I walked towards the intriguing noises and saw that it was a big gathering of people barbecuing food and having a good time. I thought to myself that it definitely must be the “Neighborhood Summer Block Party” I saw being advertised on posters all around the subdivision. I was starving because I haven’t eaten anything since golfing so my plan was to just grab a hot dog and continue exploring Shelby Twp. As I’m putting ketchup on my hot dog, a kind family comes up to me and introduces themselves as the Millers. We talk for a while and they soon find out that I am “new” in town and that I have no place to stay for the weekend. I told them that my car broke down while I was on a road trip to Canada because I obviously didn’t want to tell them the real reason I was there. That’s top secret. I also panicked when they asked for my name because I had to make sure to not reveal my identity so I glanced at the nearest chip bag and said my name was Steve Hotchitos.

Anyway… after the neighborhood block party barbecue was over, the family invited me to their home to spend the weekend until “my car was fixed”. The next day was a beautiful sunny day so the parents took me and their 2 children to Stony Creek MetroPark for a bike ride around the lake and a day at the beach. Upon entering the park, I knew that this was where everyone gathers on weekends in the summer. All around me were people playing sports, kayaking, fishing, biking, barbecuing and swimming. However, this thing they call a beach, did not feel like one at all. Yeah the sand and water was there and all, but I really don’t recommended swimming in that water, even though everyone does.  After the park we got hungry for dinner so we drove down Hall Rd or M59 in search of a restaurant. I didn’t even realize we were driving through different cities because everything around here looks the same and the surrounding cities like Sterling Heights, Utica, Rochester, Troy, etc. aren’t really that different. As we drove down Hall Rd I began to understand why they drove here to get dinner. You will most likely find any restaurant or store while driving down this road. After dinner we decided to go see a movie at Shelby Township’s newest addition, the Emagine Movie Theater, with very comfy reclining couch like seats. We drove back home and the sun began to set and made the view of many Kroger’s, 7elevens, CVS’s, gas stations, schools, and subdivision entrances a little bit more beautiful.

On Sunday, I woke up to the sound of a small white dog barking and 2 kids getting yelled at for swimming in their private pool before going to church. Next thing you know; I was in their mini van driving with them to church. After church the parents drive me and the 2 kids to do what every suburban teen’s idea of fun or “hanging out” is, going to the mall. We drove back to Hall Rd (we are always driving south because the more north you go in Shelby Twp. the more farmland you will see) where there are 2 malls. We went to a mall called Partridge Creek, a really cool outdoor mall, its main attraction being the many dogs shopping with their owners. While shopping the kids told me about some concerts going on in the area and they explained that that’s one of the main reasons they venture to downtown Detroit every so often. Having a car in the suburbs becomes a huge necessity after you turn 16. Despite the lack of events and activities to do, everyone in the suburbs is always very busy with work and school. Everyone tries to get involved as much as they can to keep themselves busy. After a long day of shopping we cooled off by going to get some of the most delicious ice cream at Erma’s Frozen Yogurt. While I was eating the ice cream, a curious little kid came up to me and asked me about my cool watch. Before I could get his grubby little hands off of it, he TAPPED THE SPACE WATCH THREE TIMES!!!