BJ:

Having grown up in the Detroit suburbs (Livonia ), I went back to Detroit area for a visit about four years ago. What an unmitigated disaster! When I was growing up, Detroit was a great vibrant city of about two million. It is now about 800,000. Their new mayor, an ex NBA basketball player for the Pistons, is trying very hard to restore the city to some of its former greatness but, has a real tough slog. He is going in and just leveling decrepit abandoned slum areas.

It was when I was growing up a vibrant fantastically busy city. Obviously driven by the automotive industry, which at that time had virtually zero unemployment. Finally due to labor costs, union demands and social problems with the welfare state, the auto industry began moving. First to outlying areas of Michigan and then to the southern sunbelt cities of the southern U.S.

About the only thing in Detroit proper still of value is my beloved Red Wings. Of which I am still a great fan! When I was about twenty and still in college ( Michigan State ), where I played hockey, I was at the arena one Sunday night working out all alone, except for the Plant Engineer and at the one end of the arena, I saw someone walk in. I skated down to ask if I could help and as I approached I recognized the individual. It was Peter Mahovolich. Then playing for the Red Wings. He explained that he was in E. Lansing seeing his girl friend who was going to school at State. When I asked him if he had his skates and gloves in the car, he responded yes. So he and I worked out for about two hours together doing one on ones, etc. Needles to say, I was a bit outclassed. But great fun and a fantastic memory! A night to remember!

Brian