Nicest Place on Earth or Who Told You It Was a G**D*mn Good Morning

Leland, MI must me the happiest, most polite town in the country. Every trip outside the hotel room

brought a chorus of “Hellos” and “Good Mornings.” Being one of the most reserved, in not

curmudgeonly people I know, I was growing more irritated with each pleasantry. I grew

weary having to put on my best "I'm a people person" persona just to get a cup of coffee. I tend not to mix my fake

smiles and my lattes. A “Good Morning” is enough to get my hackles up first thing in the morning. I felt like the old, grizzled sergeant played by Sam Elliot in “We Were Soldiers.” Instead of a polite nod to return the greeting, I

wanted to reply, “Who told you it was a goddamn good morning?” But, I held my tongue for the sake of

Leland’s pleasantly natured citizenry.

Eventually my defenses wore away. Gail and I met a fabulous couple at the finest dining establishment in

Leland, the Riverside. Gene and Sue joined us in having a couple of the local beers. They were from Cincinnati

but had vacationed in Leland as a family for many years. After sharing a couple of appetizers, they

invited us to the next finest establishment in Leland, the Bluebird, to have a night cap and meet their

recent graduate daughter who coincidentally was vacationing in Leland with some college friends.

Gene and I both suspected that his daughter was looking for Dad to pick up the tab. Leland does

seem to be a place you inherit from your family. I cannot imagine just picking the spot off a map and

deciding it would be a great place to visit. However, it is. It very well might be the nicest place on earth.