My childhood friend and descendant of the Edmund Fitzgerald clan signed up to swim leg 16 of the 411-mile relay in the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim scheduled to begin in July of 2025.

The challenge intrigued me, and in August of 2024 I added my name to the waiting list and convinced my neighbor Ed to add his name too.

When I taught culinary arts to high school students, I was surprised by their lack of knowledge concerning our mitten state. I learned as time moves forward, what I may consider a relevant event in my life has gone unnoticed by newer generations.

I grew up on Lake Huron. One could rightfully assume my water skills would be close to Michael Phelps’ level, since I had easy access to the lake my entire childhood. But I was more of a dunker than a swimmer. I enjoyed the sun, rolled in the sand and floated on the water, but swimming was not in my genes.