Dexter Has Lots to Offer Everyone

I work in the evenings, which gives me most of the day to run errands, get to my workouts or schedule appointments. Almost every morning my daughter, who lives in Farmington Hills, will call to check in with me. If I’m not home, she’ll call my cell.

She often asks me why I drive into town so much. “What's there to do in Dexter anyway, mom? I don’t understand why you go there so often.”

Well, Sara, where should I start?

Last Friday your dad and I grabbed some Subway sandwiches and spent a pleasant evening at Dexter’s gazebo listening to a free concert of jazz music. As darkness fell and the music wound down, children delighted in chasing fireflies that floated through the air.

Then on Saturday morning, we headed to the , where I got free advice on growing my own spinach, asked a question about storing the pure maple syrup I bought previously (in the fridge), and purchased the most beautiful broccoli you ever saw and radishes almost as big as apples.

After the farmers' market, we stopped at the St. Joseph Church flea market held at the old school (yes, it used to be a school). There we picked up a few cheap treasures (it was half-price day) and ran into Julie, your cousin Jim’s wife, who purchased a beautiful hand-made pottery bowl. After chatting with her, we realized it was almost lunchtime and headed off to Subway again. At other times, your dad can’t resist a trip to because, as "Tim The Tool Man Taylor" used to grunt, “Arr, arr, arr.” That’s he-man for, “I love this store.”

However, those are just a few things we do on weekends. During the week, it’s a whole other story. For instance, I try at least three times a week, to get to my Curves workout with a little socializing thrown in. One evening a week, I attend my TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meeting, which includes a little more socializing.

Additionally, someone is always having a birthday, which means a trip to the Hallmark store for the perfect greeting card or gift. Then it’s off to the post office so I can get that card and gift in the mail in time for their birthday.

Of course, there are always those obligatory trips to the PNC bank to cash a check, Simpson Family Chiropractic so I can painlessly bend because, as I blogged before, we baby boomers are going into old age kicking and screaming. Twice a year, I get to Dr. Turck’s office, my dentist of more than 40 years. Then I might stop at Country Market or Busch’s because I have a new recipe to try and I need one more ingredient.

If one of our vehicles needs repair, we usually take it to Mark’s Auto, which is very close to the where I can’t resist a black cow now and then (remember those?) Just a short walk from there back by the farmers' market is our beautiful new , where I’ve spent countless hours on the Internet because we only had dial-up service at home until just recently.

There are also many great places to eat. The places we visit occasionally are the Dexter Dairy Queen for ice cream and Stucchi’s for more ice cream and a car show. Also, the Dexter Bakery (doughnuts), the Dexter Cider Mill in the fall (more doughnuts), the Dexter Pub, the Red Brick and more.

So what’s to do in Dexter anyway, you ask? Well Sara, I’ve barely touched the surface. No doubt, someone else can write a completely different perspective about Dexter and tell you all the things I’ve neglected to mention. However, isn’t that the point? There’s lots to do here whether it’s for pleasure or necessity. So the next time you can’t reach me at home, just try my cell. You know where I’ll be. That’s right…Dexter.