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!
As noted in this space many, many times, I’m a big fan of Gary Vaynerchuk and his book Crush It! My copy of the book is covered in as much self-applied ink as what the publisher printed. As a man/dad blogger, I’ve really stepped up my social media presence in 2010 thanks to reading and re-reading Crush It! and other noted books, and the results are really beginning to show.
One of the primary points we’re trying to make to men/dad bloggers through the Modern Media Man Summit is that besides the great one like GaryVee, women and moms aren’t the only ones who can do social media and do it successfully. And wisely, in the blog world we’re beginning to see brands begin to better recognize that we men/dads are out here wanting to do good things with our social media presence and do something quid pro quo as well.
@SnickersIceCrm
Last Thursday morning before Mom and I headed out the door to go to on our adventure trip for the Taste of Creede, CO for the weekend, I stumbled upon the mouth-watering taste at the thought of Snicker’s Ice Cream brand’s Twitter account and sent them the following tweet:
@SnickersIceCrm: I’ll bet with lots of dry ice & some ingenuity I could sample some samples & tell the world how good your product is!
Their almost immediate response was simple and to the point:
Ha! How about I send you some coupons!
With a follow up DM of my mailing address, I smiled, told mom how cool that was and we walked out the door on our trip.
ONE WEEK LATER
Today, June 3, a week later, I received in the mail 6 coupons: Three for $1 off the Snicker’s Ice Cream product lines and three coupons for FREE boxes of their product lines.
Feast your mouth-watering eyes on this: The coupons are good for “Any one MULTI PACK: DOVEBAR Brand 3 Pack, DOVEBAR Miniatures, DOVE Brand Packaged Ice Cream, TWIX Ice Cream Bar 6 Pack, M&M’s Brand Cookie Ice Cream Cone 6 Pack, SNICKER’S Ice Cream Cone 6 Pack, SNICKER’S Ice Cream Bar 6 Pack, SNICKER’S Ice Cream Bar Miniatures.”
Until I just typed that, I didn’t know there was a Twix Ice Cream Bar, and to know that there are six of them in a pack, well, I’m all that about that. (Just don’t tell my EA SPORTS Active friends!)
You see, the other great thing about all this is that I did this as a man blogger/dad blogger! Yes, even with testosterone in my system, I’m able to reach out to brands, make contacts, offer to do something positive for their company, and reap incredible rewards because of it.
Hey, and now I also get to enjoy SIX TWIX Ice Cream Bars that I won’t be telling my DDs that I have! Sorry girls, I don’t know where they went…..
“YASEETIMMY”
If you ever watched the 1994 movie “Speechless” with Michael Keaton and Geena Davis, you will recall that Keaton said at the end of a good story, there’s a “YaSeeTimmy,” just like in Lassie when they always said, “You see Timmy ….” and passed on an important lesson from the episode.
The Ya See Tim,/Jim/Gary/Chuck/Don, of this lesson is two-fold:
Brands want to have relationships with men/dad bloggers. At the present, it’s sort of a challenge for them to find us. Without parsing any words, it’s been a Mom Blogger World for far too long. Moms do a lot of the buying in a household, but so do we men/dads. Reaching out to brands and connecting with them can be a positive experience. There needs to be a system for helping brands find dads. I know some peeps who are working on just that!
Men/Dads, we need to do a better job of reaching out to brands. They’re not going to come looking for us. Well, they’re kind of having to, but it makes it a challenge for them when they can find 500 mom bloggers at the click of an enter button on Google and they can’t do that when they go looking for us. We must step up our efforts to present ourselves to brands online, to build positive mutually-beneficial relationships with the brand managers, and then do honest and positive things to support that relationship.
There is an ever-increasing role in the blogosphere for men/dads. There are some great pioneers in this field–e.g. Gary Vaynerchuk, etc. but there are more of us still standing around on the shoulder of the information highway wishing we had the courage or knew the right way to stop a top brand coming down the expressway.
@GMTexas
I can’t give a better current example of the benefits of a quid pro quo men/dad blogger exchange than my relationship with Donna M. from @GMTexas. Our connectivity began through her own Twitter account and then through the corporate account.
I’ve been invited to three events with GM now in the past two months and been in town to enjoy two of them. While I was savoring the thought of eating the Snicker’s Ice Cream bars, I received a phone call on behalf of GM. From roughly noon June 21, 2010 to noon June 28, 2010, I’ll be the driver of a 2010 Chevy Traverse LTZ, complete with OnStar, XM Radio and free to go anywhere I want to with it during those seven days.
The girls and I are planning an adventure for that week. As a matter of fact, you already can go to TRAVERSEADVENTURES.com and find yourself right back here at www.DaddyClaxton.com. Just wait, in a few days, there will be a specific page set up just so you can find out great things about this new product from GM.
And that, my friends, makes all this even better than the convertible roadster Keaton was driving Davis around in Speechless.
We’ve all heard the old saying, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. In a town that until 1985 was a bustling silver mining operation, Creede, Colorado, has done just that and found it’s silver lining, when the silver came to an end. Their new claim to fame? Art galleries.
Friday afternoon, I sat in the gallery of Stephen Quiller, a recognized watercolor artist, and he was talking about the plight of Creede. When the silver mines closed in the mid 1980s, it hit the town hard. Much of it closed and many left. But as time has passed, just like a wooded area after a fire, new life has sprung and the departure of the old has led the way to a new growth.
Quiller opened his gallery in 1970. You walk in the door and you’re most likely greeted by his wife, Marta. She’s one of the kindest people I’ve met in a long time. Along the walls of the gallery are featured pieces painted by Steve. There are three to the immediate left of Yosemite and if I had the money, I’d have bought one in a snap. In the heart of the gallery are two brown leather sofas. It’s there that Steve and I sat and talked for about an hour Friday. We talked about my late grandfather, we talked about Steve’s travels, his work, and then we talked about the formation of the Taste of Creede.
He said the early years of the event were pretty lean. But as time has passed, the annual Memorial Day Weekend event has grown in size and stature. This past weekend, the streets on Saturday were reasonably crowded with fokes of all ages enjoying different activities, foods, shops and of course, art work.
If you’ve never been to Creede, (and unless you’re going there, you probably haven’t) I highly recommend this weekend event for 2011 and the years to come.
You probably wouldn’t believe I saw a shirt yesterday here in Creede, CO that said, “Life’s too short to live in Dallas,” unless I posted the photo to go along with it, so here goes. Maybe it’s just a funny shirt, but the message has so much added meaning to me. The past 36 hours in Creede really have changed my perspectives on a lot of things in life.
Our plan this morning was to head back toward Dallas. But God had another plan. Last night a fuse blew in my car. It took half the morning to find it, and by the time we found it, well, it just made sense to stay another day in Creede. After all, what’s the rush in getting back to 96 degree temps when I can hang out in 70 degree weather?
This weekend has really become a lesson in learning patience, learning to be disconnected, and learning to leave so much of the past in the past.
There have been attempts to draw me back into the goings on in Dallas this weekend, and there have been my own efforts to remain involved. But with each second away, those feelings, notions or what have you are fading. There’s too much here in the middle of what I first felt was little.
My New Friends in Creede
I’ve met some great new friends here in Creede. The foreign exchange students working here in The Old Firehouse Restaurant have been cool to get to know. Marsha is from Mongolia. That’s not really her name, but the way it’s pronounced, that’s the closest I can get to saying it.
Vera is 22 and from Russia. She and Marsha both speak great English as well as their native tongues. Vera smiles all the time. Today she’s decked out in a black The Old Firehouse Restaurant shirt and a scarf. Desiree is the half-sister of TOFR owner, Charles, and his wife, Brenda. Brenda makes soaps and candles. Desiree always wears a happy smile. She is a Christian at heart and is the only person I’ve seen the whole trip who has prayed before eating a meal. (And she didn’t know anyone was watching.)
Saturday I also met Carly from Indiana who is working at the 4UR Ranch. Carly does housekeeping this year but was a youth counselor at the ranch last year. She’s tall, has the prettiest smile and the whitest teeth I’ve ever seen on someone who hasn’t been Photoshopped. Carly likes the lifestyle that Creede offers. She has a degree in Marketing, which she said she left for a while and to do a “real job,” but her calling was to come back and be here.
Then there’s Cat/Kat who works over at the Tommy Knocker. She and I met the other night when she’d biked up to the front of The Old Firehouse Restaurant to try to piggyback off their WiFi after the restaurant had closed. At the time, I was trying to do the same thing.
Today I passed by Liz, the winner of yesterday’s Taste of Creede Silver Chef Competition, and her friend Ben. (The photo to the right is Liz in action.)
Last night Mom, my uncle Johnny and his girlfriend, Jane, and I went to Steve and Marta Quiller’s on our way to dinner at the home of Cathy and Richie. They’re the former owners of The Creede Hotel and out aways, they’ve built an adobe style home and it’s just breathtaking.
At their house was a former friend of my grandpa’s, artist Larry Basky. I got to meet Lana Woodruff and her husband. Lana is an artist, he used to own car dealerships in this area of Colorado. I got to hear some great stories about life in these parts. The stories were funny, full of color and fascinating to hear.
And then today when the car wouldn’t start, I got to meet two deputies from the local sheriff’s office, David and Fred. I learned bonus material about things that happened here in town last night. The big party in town last night was the band at Tommy Knocker. (David left me a business card after helping with my car earlier today. It said if we run into trouble between here and Altamosa, CO, to call him.)
The Old Miner’s Inn, run by my new friends Ed and Trisha, had another very good band, and they have great pizza. Today I had ribs at Tommy Knocker and they were fantastic. Now, what to do for dinner tonight? UPDATE: I had a calzone at OMI served by my friend Juliet, who has been here in Creede for three days now from AZ. Juliet is another like Carly, who dares to defy the traditional work role and grabs adventure by the horns and wills it to go her own way. (If you go to Old Miner’s Inn this summer, be sure to ask for Juliet, you’ll be glad you did.)
I’m sure I’m falling into the trap of having started naming names, I’m leaving some important ones off. But when you get down to it, the people here in Creede wouldn’t mind.
You pass someone on the street here and they do something that people in most places of the world won’t; they look you in the eye and say “Hi.” And then they follow it up with, “I’m….”
Try to find that in Dallas. Vera says it really doesn’t happen in her home town in Russia. And so it goes.
Am I in a rush to get back to Dallas? Life’s too short to be in such a hurry. Oh, and remember the full moon last night? Yes, at 12:30 a.m. on a tripod on Main Street in the mountains with a 200 mm lens and a fast shutter speed and small aperture. You can’t do this in Dallas on any night.
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