The Great American Road Trip

When a trip goes off-plan, the unexpected leaps in to help

Hi, I’m Matt, and welcome to Steady Beats: a newsletter for those of us into books and body at midlife.

My family is back in Florida’s swampy summer soup after three weeks in Michigan, the native state for my wife and me. Both our families still reside in the Mitten, along with lengthy lists of memories and nostalgic places to revisit from our time growing up.

Every summer, we make the migratory trek up Interstate 75 — roughly 18 hours of road time. Normally, we do it one straight shot. But on the way home, we stopped off south of Atlanta for the night, and I’m much more rested and refreshed this week as as result.

The trip didn’t go exactly as planned. (What trip ever does?) We kicked things off with eight unexpected days at the UM Hospital in Ann Arbor as my daughter dealt with her genetic illness and associated complications.

The time there created some serious cognitive dissonance.

If you’ve read this newsletter for any amount of time, it’s not hard to discern I am a devout and devoted Michigan State Spartan. The U of M hospital in Ann Arbor is adorned in yellow and blue. Stark and sharp block M logos hit you at every turn and on every uniform.

And it was the best care my daughter has ever gotten.

Every single person we interacted with was outstanding, thorough, and empathetic. The facility itself is clean and modern and not overcrowded. And when I ventured out into Ann Arbor for meals, I thought the town was pretty great — nothing like my faded and jaded memories from visits in the 90s and aughts.

So you can see my dilemma.

On the one hand I’m self-wired to dislike all things University of Michigan. On the other hand, I believe that outstanding hospital, block Ms and all, saved my daughter’s life.

I’m grateful for that hospital, and the people inside it.

After that unexpected turn of events, we turned to the lakefront to relax and, later, a college tour of a more Green persuasion. My other daughter, a high school senior, is strongly considering MSU. And after 23 years in Florida, we are strongly considering moving up north along with her next year.

Michigan State hosts Green and White Days each summer, a chance for students to explore the campus and dig deeper on potential majors.

In our case, we also saw the inside of MSU’s opulent football facility, including the gleaming new $68 million-dollar Tom Izzo Football Building.

As a lifelong Spartan football fan, it was incredible to view the facilities and see just how much the school supports the program and student-athletes. And while I don't think it was wrong or against the rules for us to tour the buildings, I’ll keep our generous tour guide anonymous, just in case.

Go Green, and thankful for Blue.

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The website’s return

It’s alive!

After a two-month hiatus, my original website is back.

I’ve updated the look a bit — still work to do there — and the site’s focus has been pruned down to reviews, summaries, and key ideas from books I’ve read.

The site has been a significant source of newsletter subscriber growth in the past, but slowed down as I posted more here and less there. Now, new book reviews will go there and be shared here.

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Willie’s return

Haunting new music here from 91-year-old Willie Nelson, who released a new album, “The Border” in May. Here’s the title track:

Reminds me a bit of Bruce Springsteen’s Western Stars.

If Willie is cranking out albums in his 90s (and good ones, too), you and I can keep the creative juices flowing at midlife.

(Thanks to CansaFis Foote for the reco.)

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Thank you for reading Steady Beats #247