Michigan's Summer

One of the perks about living in Ohio, as opposed to California, or New Zealand, is that we are finally living somewhat closer to family. Still a long drive, but we can leave Columbus at noon, and get to Western Michigan for dinner. That is very close for our record.



Another perk about having family in Michigan is that we now have access to a large body of water, a constant in my life since I was born. Ohio can be beautiful, it's true, but the lack of water in central Ohio is palpable. And during a heatwave like the one we just had, the palpability was not the least appreciated.



Also, Michigan (like Maine - another place we had called home) has the ideal soil for blueberries! We are lucky to know some friends who had revived a blueberry farm, now tending it organically. We went there last year to store up berries for the winter. It was a success: 20 lbs of organic blueberries were enjoyed from summer to summer.



If we lived closer, we would be going up to Michigan more often. Maybe even spending most of our weekends on the shore of the Great Lake. Instead, we have made it up twice, both times blessed with perfect weather while Ohioans tolerated the muggy hot days in the flat plains.



Perhaps we will get another chance to play in those waves again before fall sets in... But already, our memories of this summer by the lake, on the farm, in the fields, and with family, will linger the same way that the 20 lbs of blueberries sustained us for the year.



When winter comes, on the other hand, we enjoy staying put further south of Michigan. They get the more severe winters, more snow, and frigid temperatures. Yup, nothing and nowhere is perfect. But Michigan in the summer sure is a sweet spot to behold.