Live, from Grand Rapids....It's SUNDAY NIGHT!!!

TRANSPLANT GAMES OF AMERICA TAKE MICHIGAN BY STORM!

Previewed earlier in your Trib were the 2012 TGA in lovely (and it is ) Grand Rapids, MI.  We arrived last Friday by way of Chicago, a city never visited but on our list.  And it was as described...fantastic.  Our room at the Swissotel on the 36th floor overlooked an unfinished high-rise enabling us to enjoy some fine in-room coffee while watching some brave dudes (and a lady) working away opposite us.  Harnesses were the order of the day, so no worries.

We did a Lake Michigan twilight cruise and followed up the next day with a "hop-on, hop-off" double-decker.  We were unceremoniously ejected at  a coupla tourist-trap eateries ( The Rainforest?  Screw that noise. Ditto Hard Rock) but finally managed to locate a less raucous location, free of rugrats.  Most unfortunately, and along the same lines, we found the vaunted Navy Pier to be nothing more than Pier 39 on steroids.  Basically a series of shopping malls and kid adventures on a wharf, we coulda don without it.  The breathtaking architecture, lighting, and landscaping all over the downtown area more than made up, however.  We definitely wanna go back.


NORTH TO "THE RAPIDS"

This fine city, a most worthy host to such a premier event as TGA, is named by its rapids on the Grand River.  Duh.  Please, not hint of this to Young Dr. Duncan Henry, MD, who would immediately attempt to drown me again as he did (to me AND his mother) several years ago on some wild-ass river up in the hills somewhere.  I digress.  The downtown section of the city has many nicely-restored old buildings, their bricks and woods preserved whilst new businesses have taken the spaces therein. Being a college town (Grand Valley State University) many establishments exist to satisfy the moderately-hedonistic needs of these young scholars.  There is no shortage of food choices, beverage options, and intermingling opportunities.  It was nice to wander the brick-lined streets on a warm Upper-Midwestern evening soaking up the beautifully-lit ambiance.  We enjoyed a bit of food and a brew or two, and found it a very appealing area.  

Upon arrival, the city was wildly welcoming to TGA.  There were signs and banners everywhere, even in the dive-type bars with their festive Budweiser "Welcome Transplant Game Athletes" messages.  Check-in was exciting, since everyone you saw was there for the same incredible purpose, and everyone represented a unique and fascinating story.  We were recipients, living donors, donor families, healthcare professionals and local volunteers.  Teams from all over the nation were all over town in their identifying shirts and hats, and they were all happy and interested in a chat, a wave, a "hello", or just a pleasant smile.  Very, very outstanding atmosphere all over town.

Before that nasty blog control guy butts in again, I will temporarily and voluntarily discontinue the TGA story before it gets too long.