A visit to K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI, where much of my heart remains
The girls and I once again are in Northern Indiana back at my dad’s and my grandma’s. I hated rolling out of Marquette, MI once again yesterday. A swirl of emotions clung to me as we drove south on US Highway 41.
I spent a good part of my childhood in the Upper Peninsula. I never became a “Yupper” but at a young age, I fell in love with the protected world in which I roamed the trails and woods without fear of weirdos, poisonous snakes, or things that would have been a bad influence.
My Window of Opportunity
Times before, I’ve mentioned sitting at a particular downstairs window in our home at 208 Fortress on what was KI Sawyer AFB and writing. When I was in second and third grade, I would use a kid’s typewriter and wrote much as I do now.
One of my most vivid memories of writing came from sitting on the other side of the window you see to the right. I sat there at the now very antique kidney bean-shaped desk I have in my Texas living room. This was my creative space, even before the age of 10. Outside the window, was where I acted out those dreams. Thoughts of being a bomber pilot like my dad. Thoughts of being a fireman, like Randolph Mantooth, one of the first TV paramedics.
This was my window of opportunity. This is where I dreamed of what could be and didn’t worry about the things that were.
We played baseball in our tiny front yard, with each corner of the yard being a base. That meant I pitched from the middle of the yard, and yes, if thrown the right way and hard enough, the baseball did go through the bathroom window.
Where my father and family quartered in the once-thriving Air Force Base in the 1970s.
That bathroom, mom once painted yellow. For some reason, which neither of us understands, even to this day, I once wrote the word “elephant” in ink pen on the freshly painted wall.
The garage you see wasn’t there when I was a kid. The air force put them in later. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this before, but I always heard as a kid that KI’s base housing, located in Northern Michigan, was designed by someone who lived in Florida. Yeah, the government in action.
The point of all of this is that this is where my imagination and my quests for adventure came to be. We’d get up in the morning, head out into the woods behind our house, build tree forts, climb hills, and out the hole in the fence, past the two ski hills, and off to the southeast was a lake I only made it to three times. We had a great name for it, too, “The Lost Lake.” And the name was fitting because there was no path to it. And for what it was, it was indeed, lost.
My suspicion of it being lost today remains. between the garage and the garage on the other side of the parking lot, once was a well-traveled trail right into the heart of the woods. Thursday, that trail was overgrown. Even the trail that ran parallel to our house a good 50 yards back was overgrown.
I’ve heard the quote before that “the past is like a foreign country, they do things different there.” Today, that has new meaning for me.
What’s Left of KI Sawyer AFB
And different is what KI is today. The BRAC at the end of the Cold War closed it all down. The 644th Bomb Squadron building, the Tanker Alert Facility, the gym, BX, and commissary all stand empty today with no use. My old school, Leo P. McDonald Elementary School, has been taken over by a company that’s ripped many of the walls out and put in garage doors. The windows of the classrooms I learned to read and write in are now boarded up. Some of the windows have had rocks thrown into them. It was painful to see.
A rearview of Leo P. McDonald Elementary School, KI Sawyer AFB in 2010.
Half of what was a robust area of base housing is now in ruins. I took a picture of the house, my friends, Michelle and Renee lived in. I took a photo of Kim Casey and Kevin Casey’s. I’ve tried to find them since we were kids, but have never heard from them since they took off for the Air Force Academy in Colorado with their dad, an F-106 pilot.
Home to the Casey family, many years ago.
We couldn’t get out to the Alert Facility where the B-52s on alert used to park. Thursday what appeared to be Michigan State Trooper cars were doing reverse J-turns and obstacle courses where once there were guards who would have shot you on the spot for trying to get to.
We were going to spend another day in the UP yesterday, but by noon it was clear it was going to rain all day and we knew we didn’t want to sit around in a hotel room. So we headed back south.
Before leaving Marquette, we took the girls down to Presque Isle. It was raining lightly on and off. I initially gave up and began heading off the isle. But then it stopped raining and I decided we were going to go back and try again. As though an answer to a prayer, it did. We got out and I shot a new video of the twins playing in the same spot where I also have a video of my brother Richard and I do the same back in 1970. To me, it was almost critical to get that video. A once in a lifetime sort of moment.
So when I get the chance to sit still, I’m going to build the next video featuring then and now.
More Adventures To Come
Okay, time to wrap up the thoughts from today’s adventures. The 2010 Chevy Traverse has been a great car for this trip. It rides so smoothly. I’ve been highly impressed with its comfort and yesterday, driving south, I let dad drive for a couple of hours and I got in the third row and laid down sideways so I could take a nap. Yes, a big guy like me can get his body in a comfy enough position to be able to sleep. And I enjoyed it.
Creating Memories in the woods of the UP. (L to R: Chandler, 13, Reagan and Haley, 10, and my dad, Lt Col Bernard D Claxton, USAF Ret, 2010.)
Connecting with Family and Embracing Safe Practices
Safe Words and Safe Practices for a Joyful Trip
If you’ve been following our adventure on TraverseAdventures.com this week, you’ll know that our journey from DFW to Marquette, Michigan has been filled with excitement.
But more importantly, it has brought my daughters and me closer together in a unique way. A wonderful bonus is the growing bond we share with my dad, who has joined us for the past two days.
During this trip, we’ve set a few rules, the most important one being the use of “Safe words” and “Safe practices.” We have consciously excluded any negativity, both in words and actions, that could dampen our spirits.
This approach has been truly eye-opening, especially considering the stark contrast between safety and unsafety. As you can imagine, dealing with competitive twin sisters can be challenging at times, but overall, we’re handling it remarkably well.
One of the significant changes we’ve made is reducing contact with Ex1 and barely giving any thought to Ex2. Books on “Safe People,” “Safe Words,” and “Safe Emotions” have made it evident that they don’t align with any of the three categories.
Whenever they indulge in “Unsafe words” or emotions, I’ve noticed that I tend to respond in emotionally unhealthy ways as well. However, I’m committed to correcting this behavior in my life.
A Journey of Growth and Sisterhood
“Safe.”
This word has become the cornerstone of our existence, bringing more peace into our lives. I strive to surround myself with new friends, healthy practices, and positive emotions that are deemed “safe” by counselors and psychiatrists.
Letting go of the abusive criticisms, irrational behavior, anger, and anxieties of others has been one of the most beneficial decisions I’ve ever made for myself.
Recognizing that what I had been enduring wasn’t normal has been a crucial step toward my overall well-being. Safe. Safe. Safe.
Camp Claxton: Unveiling the Beauty of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
In 1976, my dad purchased 40 acres of land in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, nestled in the middle of nowhere.
Despite the passage of time, the remote location has remained unchanged.
I vividly remember the day, before we moved away, when Dad brought my three brothers and me to the land to shoot. The memory has stayed with me all these years, and I’ve longed to return ever since.
For the past couple of years, I’ve wanted to bring my daughters here, but it wasn’t possible due to my previous marriage. However, thanks to the generosity of Chevy and GM, who loaned us a red jewel 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, we’ve finally made the journey north.
Today, we ventured onto the land with my three girls: Chandler, 13, and the soon-to-be 11-year-old twins.
Creating memories and a flashback
Back in 1976, I could never have imagined that I would one day bring my own daughters here.
Armed with a .22 rifle and my dad’s revolver that shoots .357 and .38 shells, we embarked on our hike from the car into the heart of the land. However, the girls’ excitement was overshadowed by apprehension.
They began to worry about encountering bears or the red fox we had seen a few miles away. Yet, their trepidation didn’t deter them.
Creating memories in the UP Chandler Shoots
As we reached the campsite and prepared to shoot, a clear sense of hesitation lingered among the three of them. Once again, Reagan, the competitive one who often pushes her sisters aside, took the lead.
Haley, eager to be the first to shoot, became nervous upon hearing the sounds and feeling the recoil, even though a .22 rifle barely has any recoil.
But then, something remarkable happened. Reagan, with my dad’s support, overcame her initial anxiety after a few shots. Chandler, my confident 13-year-old, proudly declared, “Hi, my name is Chandler. Chandler knows how to shoot a gun.”
And finally, Haley jumped in, with each daughter firing the .22 rifle about 10 times. With every rotation, their confidence, aim, and excitement grew—not just about shooting guns but about maturing into strong and safe women.
As we left our land, there were protests, although Chandler was only concerned about having a weak cellphone signal. Yet, despite the reluctance to leave, all of them, even Chandler, had been transformed. They now understood why their dad always claimed that this place was one of the greatest on earth to be a boy.
In the midst of the woods, the rustling leaves provided a symphony of nature. The temperature was a pleasant 64 degrees, and the sun cast its warm glow.
At that moment, I felt the whispers of time soothing the wounds of my past relationships. It was as if the sounds of the leaves were washing away my pain, while also ushering in a new chapter for my three girls. Walking back to the Traverse, they appeared different—stronger.
Before we departed, each of them held and aimed the .22 rifle on their own, hitting the target from a considerable distance.
Today was a day of safety, with my dad teaching them gun safety. They gained newfound confidence, not only in shooting but in themselves. They learned to appreciate the solace found in nature, freeing themselves from the daily grind of the city.
Creating memories in the UP Bear Hunter Reagan.
There are numerous other highlights from today’s adventure, and thanks to this week-long trip from Chevrolet, I’ll have more stories to share in the coming days. However, I’m currently exhausted from the range of emotions experienced during today’s activities—the safe and uplifting emotions.
As my girls sleep, undoubtedly dreaming of becoming markswomen and intrepid explorers in the trails and woods of Northern Michigan, I reflect on the profound pride I have for them. Today, they conquered their fears and embraced life with greater enthusiasm.
It is a memory that will forever be etched in their minds, becoming an integral part of their lives. No matter what challenges they face in the future, no one will be able to take this experience away from them.
Let me conclude this post with a photo. If you compare the image leading into the woods with the one leading out, you might notice something. I see three daughters, strong and proud.
Thursday
I’m not entirely sure what tomorrow holds in store for us. Perhaps a visit to Laughing White Fish Falls? Or maybe a hike up Sugar Loaf Mountain? We’ve yet to explore Presque Isle fully. Regardless of the specific plans, each day this week has brought even more adventure than the last, leaving us with lasting memories.
As my girls grow older, transitioning into their teenage years and adulthood, today will remain etched in their memories. More importantly, it will shape their character and become a part of who they are. I couldn’t be prouder of them. As my dad did for me and now for his own granddaughters, he instilled a renewed sense of excitement for life. No matter what challenges lie ahead, they will always carry that spark within them.
Creating Memories: A Safe and Adventurous Journey in the UP: My ‘Little Women’
Find out what we’re learning about the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse. We’ve been on a three-day drive from Dallas to Marquette, Michigan. It’s been a great ride.
It’s 9:03 a.m. and the girls and I now have everything packed. We’re waiting on arrival of our 2010 Chevy Traverse that’s being loaned to us until June 30.
As soon as we get the car this morning, we’ll load it up, load a few pics, and get on the road, headed toward Northern Indiana. We won’t make it today. But we’ll put a lot of distance between us and Dallas.
More information will be posted on www.TraverseAdventures.com. And an added surprise, my daughter, Chandler is going to be tweeting, too!
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