Sunday Sip 💵 A Serendipitous Dollar  (2024)

Not long ago, during an impromptu trip to Meijer for essentials like wine and chips, something rather unexpected happened. As we were walking towards the door, I could see a dollar bill playfully peeking out the Michigan Lottery ticket machine. It was winking at me rather mischievously.

Turning to Chuck, I said, 'Should I take it?' Without hesitation, he replied, 'Sure, why not?'

Despite a fleeting moment of doubt that I might be stealing, I decided to grab the dollar. Was this fate, I wondered? Is the Universe saying, “Buy a ticket! You’ll win.” I tossed an additional dollar into the kitty and purchased a “Mega Millions” lottery ticket.

In the 30 seconds, it took to walk to the door with the lottery ticket stuffed in my pocket, a whirlwind of fantasies spun wildly in my head, centered on what I’d do with the winning ticket. The primary one was fully funding GIG! Obviously, we didn’t win, or this would be a very different Sunday Sip.

I’ve been thinking, not about how we’d have spent the money, but where we would have hatched a plan for spending it.

Growing up, I recall my parents sitting at the kitchen table with coffee cups hovering between them as they talked in hushed voices. Presumably, they were making plans. Who knows, they could have been gossiping. Chuck and I never sit at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and talking as the sun comes up. Yet another custom that has disappeared from life in the 21st century.

Standing before the bathroom sink, fully caffeinated and preparing to scrub the plaque off our teeth, seems like our time and place for hatching plans. Maybe because we are fully present. Maybe because we’ve not yet let the day’s agenda take hold. Whatever the reasons, those few minutes before the bathroom ballet begins, many important conversations happen or get started.

I wouldn’t consider this one a hot topic but more of a recurring one without any actual resolution. I can’t recall the exact dialog, but it went something like me saying, “I wish we were getting paid.” (For what I can’t remember.) And Chuck responded with something like, “For you, it is about the money.” And then, our dental hygiene routine commenced.

This is not a new topic; it has come up before. It wasn’t a dig at me. It is just one of those things that is a simple statement of the facts. But it got me thinking about money, getting paid, philanthropy, and, if I’m honest, how I would have spent those Mega Millions.

Chuck is the kindest, most generous person I know. They should put his picture in Wikipedia as an example of a philanthropist, which means giving gifts of “time, talent and treasure” to help make life better for other people. His support of Michigan’s music and beer scenes is just one example.

It's not that I’m not generous with my time; I volunteer too. But sadly, getting paid was ground into me. sh*t, I was playing Monopoly before I could even read. My sister and brother always won, taking all my property and cash, causing me to dissolve into a puddle of tears. I’d retreat into the safety of my dad’s chair in the living room.

A few years after getting released from their tyranny, I played “Pay Day” for hours with my nieces. I loved this game and invented new rules. (Presumably a habit I picked up from my sister and brother while playing Monopoly.)

I'm sure my nieces were relieved when released from my tyranny. To clarify, my oldest sister (not the Monopoly player) is quite a bit older than me. Her daughters are only a few years younger than me, making them feel more like cousins than nieces.

When I got my driver’s license, I also got a job. For the next 40 years, payday became a constant in my life until we retired. The notion of equating pay with my value and success was deeply ingrained in me. Letting go of that mindset has been complicated and was perhaps the most surprising challenge I have wrestled with in retirement.

Watching Chuck give his time and energy to projects he believes in is truly inspiring. It has helped loosen my ingrained belief that my value is tied to a paycheck. However, generating revenue remains necessary for us to continue sharing our stories. Please consider making a donation or upgrading your Substack subscription to paid.

Update Subscription

If our content resonates with you, we encourage you to become ambassadors of our stories. Share our work on your social media or forward a link to someone who would appreciate it as much as you do.

Share

Bee’s Cozy Nook

I’ve claimed our condo’s sunroom as my cozy nook. It's where creative ideas land. If they are avoiding me, I play games on my iPhone. My favorite at the moment is QS Watermelon: Monkey Land. It is oddly addictive.

It is also where I catch up on my newsfeed. In Melissa Krisch’s August 3, 2024, New York Times article “The Best Conversations,” she chatted about Conan O’Brien’s podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.” She specifically mentioned the episode with Woody Harrelson and Ted Danson. Intrigued and bored with my current Audible book (and out of credits), I gave it a listen. Kirsch was spot on. I am hooked on O’Brien’s podcast. And I am enjoying the podcast “Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson & Wood Harrelson [Sometimes].” (I’d avoid the episode with Jane Fonda unless you are a Jane Fonda fan.)

The last Audible Book I finished was John Grisham’s “Camino Island.” I wanted to like it. But right out of the gate, there was a line like, “Before leaving the house, all she needed was a quick swipe of lipstick.” I was like, what? Was he trying to say she was so beautiful she just needed lipstick? This set in motion a witch hunt for other items that didn’t add up for the main character – a beautiful, educated, 20-something woman. She got black-out drunk on a couple of lemon margaritas. She was so drunk she couldn’t remember taking off her clothes, but the male character was kind and folded her clothes neatly on a chair. After that, it was like a train wreck from which I couldn’t look away. (Sorry if you are a Grisham fan.)

GIG Updates!

Join us in promoting GIG – The Art of Michigan Music's exciting event in November! Encourage your friends and family to subscribe to GIG - The Art of Michigan Music newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Let's spread the word together!

TOMORROW, we are announcing the name of the super secret band playing on Friday night. If you don’t have tickets, you better get them quick.

Fans with Bands

Another episode, DROPPED, In this episode, Chuck talks with Dan, Dusty, and Grant from Blood Rune Sigil. They have been busy since the last time they spoke. Their latest album, Never Odd Or Even, is a leap forward for the band. They talked about the new music, line-up changes, and all the other stellar work they have coming soon. This includes new music videos from Zeroes And Ones Studios and a new four-song live EP called Lucid Sonic Dreamscapes, which will be out on August 20th. Check out all the new Blood Rune Sigil material, mark your calendar for August 22nd, and see them live at Fuzz Fest 9 in the legendary Blind Pig in Ann Arbor.

New Stuff

On Life In Michigan, Chuck published a recap of the Summer Beer Festival 2024 - 25 Years of Michigan Beer.

My tasty story about the Peace Pie Company in Marquette is finally on the interwebs. Plus, don’t miss my recap of our Point aux Barques Lighthouse experience, hopefully published before Sunday.

Sorry, we didn’t see any ghosts, but we heard a fair amount about one.

Stuff Not Published (Yet)

Chuck Mi Brew Trail's article about the convergence of beer and pickleball at Wolverine Pickleball in Ann Arbor is ready for our editor. As you’d expect, we have a long list of stories to work on, including 24 hours in Allegan, a recap of Michigan Cider happenings, and our brew days with the Barrel + Beam and Kognisjon Bryggeri. (I know it sounds like a broken record, but we’ve been busy with GIG!)

Upcoming Events

We are walking across the Mighty Mac on Labor Day 2024! Got any pointers for us? We are making plans for Jay with Day in Marquette on 9/06! (Our day with Jay in Ann Arbor was pretty awesome.) We’ve secured our reservations for our 906 Day tattoos. I promise we’ve not totally lost our minds. It is a 906 day thing.

Chuck always shares a comprehensive list of events you should check out. I’m taking a focused approach, and I’ve got just one! The Great Lakes Beer Festival on 9/17. We went last year. It was a lot of fun, and recommend the VIP ticket if you can swing it.

Final Thoughts

Thank you for joining us on our journey and reading the “Sunday Sip.” We appreciate you and look forward to sharing more adventures next week. Until then, safe travels, and remember to enjoy the ride.

About Us

Launched in 2012, Life in Michigan is an online magazine offering local insights and experiences focused on music, travel, and beer culture. It is published by Brenda and Chuck Marshall, who also run the podcast Fans with Bands. Playfully described by Chuck as a pandemic-born project, the podcast brings together fans and bands for engaging conversations.

In their free time, the Marshalls are freelance writers and photographers. All of these ventures are united under Marshall Media Services, LLC. Read more on their Website. You can find them onInstagram andFacebook. Stay in touch with them through the Sunday Sip.

P.S. If you’ve not downloaded the Substack App, I highly recommend it.