Most every Michigander has been to lovely Torch Lake. It's nestled in Northwestern Lower Michigan just a stone's throw from Lake Michigan. Let me restate: If I had the arm that used to have Torch Lake is a stone's throw from Lake Michigan. Anway, you get my drift, right. Here we are vacationing with close family friends. My mom took the picture--and she took a beauty

Top row left to right are: Carol Lilla, who's holding Stephen Magnotta (who was kind enough to send me this photo); Carol's husband, the great Pete Lilla--a kinder and more devoted friend you'll never find; Anna Magnotta, a kind, loving soul; Mike Magnotta and Anne Magnotta; Mike Magnotta, that patriarch of the Magnotta clan and a person who was kind, loving, funny, and generous all at the same time; Patrice Magnotta; and My dad, Phil Mongeau who is holding my brother who looks as if he was just told that the Tigers had lost to the Yankees.

Bottom row left to right are: My sister Celeste, Jim Magnotta, John Magnotta, and me.

These were great times, at a great lake, amid the Great Lakes. What could be better?