#MichiganMan

[squeakpippa]

Happy Father’s Day to our mama’s father and our grandpa! #grandpasofinstagram #grandpa #fathersday #happyfathersday #happyfathersday2020 #fathersday2020 #doggrandpa #bargersville #bargersvilleindiana #retiredminister #retiredfirefighter #retiredemt #retired #strikeapose #roger #gifford #dowagiac #dowagiacmichigan #michiganman #michigan #enjoyingretirement #fathersofinstagram #hethinkshesfunny #sundayfunday #sunday #sundayvibes #padre #papa #felizdiadepadres #olé (at Bargersville, Indiana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBrxJueDUZB/?igshid=3tcwp16ualau

[ipgbook]

The biggest game in #collegefootball kicks off in just a few hours. Who’s side are you on?! #Showyourcolors #goblue #inharbaughwetrust #michiganman #uofm #jumpman #maizeandblue #ohiostate #ohio #scarletandgray #meyer #urbanmeyer #buckeyes #rivalry @foxsports @triumphbooks @ipgbook #sportsbooks #bookstagram @ig.reads #igreads (at Michigan Stadium "The Big House")

[myyearofgivingdaily]

A sacred space

One of my favorite things about working at the University of Michigan is that my engineer Dad graduated from U-M in 1949. He turned 94 on Father’s Day and remains to this day a true “Michigan Man.” Dignified. Well-spoken. Classy.

As a veteran of World War II and a beneficiary of the GI Bill, my Dad was able to pivot from a potential future working in an auto plant to an actual future designing auto plants. The University of Michigan, by way of the U.S. military, unleashed and nurtured his natural aptitude and ambition. And for the next 70 years, my Pop would be (and still is) an ideal “brand ambassador” for the U.

Here he is, one of the few college students with a car in 1949.

Last July my siblings and I expedited the Herculean task of moving my parents out of their idyllic three-bed, three-bath, skylit home near St. Augustine, Fla., into a one-bed, one-bath apartment in Grand Blanc, Mich. I’ll spare you the emotional rollercoaster regarding ill-timed broken hips, overnights in hospital recliners, and the early stages of dementia. Cut and paste a little family drama, thousands of air miles, and the cluster that is health care, and you get the picture.

What I will say is this: That iconic Block M illuminating my Dad’s “Go Blue!” life now serves as a beacon of mental clarity in his final, somewhat foggy years. The brilliant simplicity of that one-letter logo imprinted on his psyche has come to anchor a century’s worth of memories, facts, experiences, and relationships swirling around my dad’s aging head.

He’ll talk about standing at the very top of Michigan Stadium sometime in the ‘40s and pelting Ohio State fans with tomatoes before a football game. He remembers an engineering professor who steered him away from aerospace and into the civil sphere (something about a plane that would never get off the ground). And he worshipped the grass on which legendary football coach Bo Schembechler stomped.

On a sunny day in mid-2014, a 90-something alumnus named Jack Gartner cold-called me at Michigan Today, the publication I produce for Michigan alumni. Jack wondered if I’d ever written about the postwar era in U-M history when enrollment jumped from 12,000-21,000 students between 1945-48. Campus housing was at a premium, so many of those GIs, including Jack and my Dad, lived off campus in the barracks of a defunct bomber plant named Willow Run.

Jack’s and I became fast friends over the phone and email. He regaled me with tales of motorcycle rides and a girl with “a fantastic figure” serving chow in the mess hall. Jack clearly was a mixer, the magnetic personality around which a pack of lifelong friends coalesced. He sent me pictures of his crew -- that’s him on the far left, lingering around the girls’ dorm. Forever the flirt, Jack asked me to send him my photo as well.

Jack reminded me regularly that he and my Dad were in “God’s waiting room” so I shouldn’t wait too long publish. I took his advice and planned the piece for Veterans Day 2014. When I sat down to actually write a story, I interviewed Jack’s last living college pal, Norm LaPeters, as well. (He’s next to Jack, above.) I also interviewed my Dad’s old friend and U-M grad “Chick” Frey, who had lived near my parents in the married units at Willow Run with his wonderful wife, Connie. The highlight, of course, was interviewing my Dad.

Though the conditions at Willow Village were austere at best, “We thought it was great,” he told me. “Those were fun years. Happy years. We painted our place. We had a little coal bin right outside the door. The stove made the house smell good.”

And like any good engineer-in-training, when the icebox continually overflowed, my Dad “drilled a hole in the floor and put a funnel under there.”

Each morning and evening, the GIs took the bus to Ann Arbor. (Even though my Pop had a car, there was no student parking on campus.)

Alas, none of my Dad’s children followed in his engineering footsteps or attended his alma mater. I chose Michigan State University, aka “little brother” per Michigan alumni. (Yeah, whatever. Go Green!) I think this Spartan-in-training trashed the U-M application midway through. After all, MSU had an excellent journalism program and I was fortunate to know early in life that I wanted to be a professional writer.

Things have worked out OK, I have to say. After a satisfying run in the corporate sector, I sought employment as a writer-editor in higher ed. So when I got an editorial job at U-M, my Wolverine Dad was really proud. I finally got in!

As I approach my 10-year work anniversary, I have come to view the university (lower-case, generic) as a “sacred space” for the kids who seek a college degree. It’s a haven where for four years (or more…) one can develop a clear sense of self. One might discover new talents, new interests, new passions. One might find a spouse, change careers, or align with a life-changing mentor.

Today I am fortunate that my workplace, the University of Michigan, really is a Sacred Space. Amid the rigors of each work day, I make it a point to quiet my mind at some point and wonder, “Did Dad grip this same door handle on the Union? Did he eat lunch in this little alcove? Where did he wait to catch the bus?”

Over the years, Michigan’s fundraising pros have amassed billions of dollars from proud alumni and donors, including faculty and staff. I always have balked at the idea that an employee should be expected to contribute their hard-earned dough to “THE MAN.” But this little exercise has enlightened me to the fact that I do owe the University my thanks, and dare I say it, a financial donation is in order. (At least my money is green and white.)

After all, I am so blessed to share this sacred maize and blue space with my beloved Dad -- and get paid to do it! I love him so much that once or twice, this Michigan State Spartan has even said the words, “Go Blue!”

About this blog: Causes and Effect: My Year of Giving Daily, was started in 2013 by entertainment and culture journalist Melinda Newman, who made daily donations to a wide variety of nonprofits and wrote about her experience. USA Today music writer, Brian Mansfield, took on this monumental task in 2014. This year, 12 individuals will contribute, each taking over the blog for one month.  

About Deborah Holdship: Deborah Holdship is the editor of Michigan Today, a digital alumni magazine distributed monthly to some 300,000 alumni of the University of Michigan. She also produces a podcast called “Listen in, Michigan” about U-M history and happenings. For many years, she worked as an entertainment journalist in Los Angeles (with the byline Deborah Russell) at Billboard, LAUNCH, and Yahoo. After 20 years in sunny So-Cal, Holdship returned “home” to Michigan, where she lives happily with her husband/musician, Barry; their dog, Charles; and a kooky cat named Brando.

[amusebouchecharleston]

At first I thought this truck was vandalized but then I noticed the parking job & knew that’s a #MichiganMan #ohiostatevsmichigan (at The Home Depot)

[walmartwolverines]

Where can I get one of those jerseys?

[thesportsstance-blog]

When you realize it's #Saturday and you haven't done anything with the boys. #SAFTB #CollegeGameDay #MichiganMan

[taurus5151]

#derekjeter #miami #baseball #marlins #fish #owner #money #michiganman #giancarlostanton

[iamafightwithdemonsinside]

Today was beautiful.

[aromascentsllc]

Michigan Man is a vegan scented soap bar for men by Aroma Scents LLC in Canton, MI. Guys...women love this scent on men!

[portsanilacmarina]

THE BUFFALO PLAID MUGS ARE BACK!

Although we are SUSPENDING STORE TRAFFIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, we are still open for business! You can call or text (810) 622-9651 to order one of these mugs and we will take payment over the phone.

#coffee #mug #buffaloplaid #portsanilac #marina #lakehuron #michigan #michigangirl #michiganmade #michiganman #MI #lakelife

[walmartwolverines]

Sick chain!!

[walmartwolverines]

Can you smell this #michiganman ?

[forrestrouble-blog]

Didnt want to add a filter to it.. to perfect #sunset #MI #michigan #michigansunsets #michiganfamily #michiganman #StFoo #perfect #sun (at Lansing, Michigan)