5/14/2022

Howdy Blog Readers,

It’s been just a little over a month since my last blog entry, but so much has changed since then. At that time, I was up in Marquette searching for a home, and I was working towards a career balance of taking courses towards a Master’s degree in mathematics at NMU while also working at the Diocese of Marquette as its new Executive Director of Stewardship and Development. But, as my April trip up to Marquette came down to the wire, I was hitting some serious roadblocks: first, there was little-to-no housing inventory in the community, and the few homes I liked and made offers on ended up going into bidding wars that I ultimately lost; and second, as the schedule of courses was released for NMU’s fall semester, it became clear that I would not be able to work on both the Master’s degree and the Executive Director position, at least not while still being a new hire at the Diocese (the courses were scheduled right during peak working hours).

Luckily, as with everything on my journey up to Marquette, the issues resolved themselves with a bit of prayer and networking. Our Director of Finance got me in touch with the right people to find a (ridiculously) nice apartment while I settled into the area, and the math program director at NMU, Professor Rowe, was incredibly understanding of my situation and more importantly, really excited for me. He told me to take six months to a year to get used to the area and the main job at the Diocese, and that we could then explore me starting work on the degree in the future. He also acknowledged that the schedule might be re-arrangeable in future semesters to better avoid conflicts with peak working hours. Professor Rowe is such a great guy, and I’m really looking forward to grabbing a beer with him this summer.

With those issues resolved, there was really only one remaining problem: my apartment had a June 8 move-in date, but my job started on May 7. A solution was found to this problem as well: a local priest is currently furthering his studies in Rome on a thesis in moral theology, and his apartment is thus empty until mid-June. So I am now living in his apartment, which is a humble, but accommodating spot located right behind the local Cathedral. The building actually has four apartments in it, all filled with priests and our previous, now retired Bishop. I am told that I am the first non-priest to reside in this building, which I guess makes sense. Still, as I was moving up here, I was a bit worried: What would it be like living with priests? Would they force me to wake up with them at the crack of dawn to say prayers? Would they be constantly monitoring me and judging me for my many foibles as a layman? Would I need to survive in a spartan, bare place for this month of May?

Luckily, my fears were entirely misplaced. The apartment is well-furnished and the only thing lacking is tv (I stream shows on my laptop like I’m in college again…). My neighbor, Father Tim, is incredibly kind and his jokes may even be more sarcastic than my own. We grabbed pizza and beer a few nights back and he gave me a nice bottle of homemade wine that I’m supposed to sample and report back to him on next week. Getting to church (and all over town) is a breeze because I literally live right behind the Cathedral which is located in the heart of town. And the life here is otherwise quiet and private. Not too shabby!

Work is also going well. This was my first week, and once I am a bit more in the saddle, I will try to report on a day-in-the-life in my new career. But for now, I will just say that I am loving all of my co-workers, as well as my predecessor who is currently training me – it’s a great team and I hope to rise to the challenges of the job. And that brings us to the weekend!

One nice thing about Marquette right now is that it is no longer winter. I actually get to see what the place is like without needing to bundle up! The weather has been beautiful (maybe even a bit hot) all week; spring is in the air, I’ve been dining out a bunch, and I have been going on many runs along the beach.

But everyone at work all week has been telling me that I had to go check out the town’s crown jewel park – Presque Isle State Park. So, I went there this morning to enjoy a morning walk. I was not disappointed!

In the 1880s and 1890s, Frederick Law Olmsted was considered America’s best landscape architect. Indeed, many of the sites in this very travel blog were originally inspired or designed by him: from Niagara Falls in Buffalo, New York to the Biltmore Estate’s grounds in Asheville, North Carolina; from Central Park in NYC to Bidwell Park in Chico, and so many other projects, he is the man behind many of our famous parks in this country. In the summer of 1891, he was sent to visit Marquette, as the city wanted advice on what to do with its then unused Presque Isle. They knew that they wanted to turn the area into a park, but weren’t sure on the landscaping. Mr. Olmsted, the man of great plans and great parks, looked at the site and offered what must have been his shortest opinion ever on a place. His opinion could be summed up in three words: “Don’t touch it.”

Ever since then, the city has taken a minimalist approach to the island park, leaving its 323-acres largely wild, but for a few walking and driving trails cutting through the landscape. The site really is perfect. The forests are clean and vibrantly green, the water is fresh, crystal clear, and pure, and the small, mountain vistas are raw and chiseled – all of it comes together in a site that makes you feel equal parts Lake Tahoe and Oregon coastline. It is gorgeous! And, being as close as we are to Canada and geese nesting grounds, I even saw some goslings at the park. I’ve never seen goslings before! So cute.

I feel pretty satisfied with this first weekend adventure at my new home. I really found a wonderful place to live, and I am feeling so blessed to be offered the opportunity to live and serve here. I could tell further adventures from this past week – my dinners out with coworkers, my braving a crazy windstorm in search of a Togo’s sub, my first work-trip out to a town called Gwinn, my time on a Cathedral tour spent with legitimate nuns in full black habit, the joy I felt receiving my first pay check since last September – but, I think I will leave it here. There are already just too many stories to tell.

If I have any reservation on this new life, it is this: I wish I was sharing this place with someone who is still in my heart. But there are some things in life that are beyond our control, there are some people who just don’t change. Yet I am full of change and adventure, and for that reason I’m making the best of new beginnings here on the Upper Peninsula.

Cheers,

-Rob

PS – Happy Birthday to my dad! He’s a wonderful man and an inspiration to us all. We love him.