What’s to love about Wisconsin Dells?

There I was trapped in a boat after a lovely ride over land and river.  Beautiful rock formations that reminded me of those I grew up with in Colorado.  Sweet faced college boy driving and telling VERY bad jokes.  Kids are laughing, smiling and pointing at wildlife along the way.

The area is still brown from winter but the day was warm enough for light jackets.   We are having a lovely time.  Then, about a half mile from the end of the tour, young Toby or was it Troy?  Stops the duckboat and invites us to tip him.  Seriously, he brings the vehicle to a complete stop, passes out books and postcards as if they are gifts then asks us to pay $2 each for same.  After which he talks about tipping and needing to pay college costs. 

Really?  I had a $5 tip in my pocket.  It remained there.

The resort was beautiful and Marilyn, my dear friend, is the queen of coupons.  She had a coupon for everything.  Even so, the food at the resort was not great and was outrageously expensive.  The best meal we had was barbeque at Famous Dave’s downtown. 

The best part of Wisconsin Dells is of course the waterslides.  They were awesome but it was the off season so we were limited to those at the resort.   As it was, it was nice to have the water park right there so that the kids could play some on their own when their Mom and I were too tired to go on!

Marilyn and I had lovely wine in the bar.  Since our friendship began over a bottle of wine after training in Lansing one night, we have mostly concentrated on family activities – so our evening drinking wine was really nice. 

People in Wisconsin are great.  Warm and friendly even in a resort town. 

Just sayin' . . .

PHENOMENAL WOMAN

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing of my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

They say they still can't see.

I say

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

The palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

  

from And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou.