Our time was up at Tower Marine, and we had to move on. Yesterday was the Pride Parade in Douglas, and a six hour celebration in Beery Field. Everything was done up in rainbow colors and more. Having lived in Holland for about a year after I retired from MSU, we know how the towns of Saugatuck and Douglas change when the tourists go home. But in high season, it is a wonder-filled accepting community of delightful people. (Let’s just say that the blue wave when the tourists are here fades to a reddish hue in the fall)
Saturday was so much fun, we watched the parade at the very end of the route, snatching a bit of shade that we shared with a woman and her little white and grey Havanese. The celebration had about 70 vendors marketing their products and services, and one booth was the local United Church of Christ. The sound level from the stage was much too loud for conversation, so we walked to Wade’s Bayou. From there we sought the figurative and literal sanctuary of Douglas Congregational. Now picture a traditional Congregational church – it has white clapboards on the outside, and inside you’ll find two rows of pews leading to the chancel and altar at the far end.
Now this church went all out. Hanging from the apex of the ceiling was a ring of multicolored ribbons hanging almost to the floor. For the entire length of the sanctuary, 25 yards or more, was a banner in the colors of the transgender flag. We know the pastors at that church, Dan Plasman and Jody Betten, and have been friends for over fifteen years.
Sunday was a short sail up to Lake Macatawa (Holland), and a chance to anchor out in Pine Creek Bay. It’s also three miles in from the big lake, so a fairly long motor. That’s actually okay, as the cooling system for the motor goes through a heat exchanger in the water heater, and we had a few gallons of hot water to wash dishes and shower.
