June on The Shores of Lake Michigan

fossils and raw gems from Lake Michigan

Its June-- crazy. The trees are now fully leafed and the world outside is a beautiful green. At the beach-where I am now for 90% of the day- there is blue; blue sky and blue water. Endless expanses of both. I know that Michigan isn't 'the big sky' state but our skies here in the north are BIG. They expand out from the horizon and billow far above me making me feel like a 2nd grader at the end of the school year 'track and field games' doing the parachute exercises. I loved those; everyone standing in their assigned location on the rim and then when the whistle blows all 30 kids with knocked knees, untied shoelaces and tousled hair would run towards the center while holding the edge of the fabric as it rose above our heads. 30 children standing there as the massive parachute shimmered overhead-quiet yet charged. One with the horizon.

 And the blue of the Great Lake, Michigan. I could never in a million years paint all of the colors that shimmer in, around and throughout that expanse of fresh water. I doubt many of them have names and I would bet that they don't even exist outside of the shoreline of the Great Lady. The lake is truly magnificent and so very alive. Her moods are different on each morning and I celebrate each one of them. While others run from her tantrums and tossings  I rush in; this is where the treasure is. If you aren't afraid She will reward you with her deepest gifts- Jasper, Unakite, Petoskey Stones and Quartz. In Her tranquil moods when her waters are gentle and glassy the sun dances on Her and the seagulls laugh and twirl. She is receptive and accepting of those of us that live around her- a Great Mother enjoying Her children. She can be rambunctious and playful too- very Fey-like. This is , to me, where She is most dangerous. Her laughter crashes against the shore and She encourages us to play with Her but She is immense and so strong that we are easily carried away on Her mirth. But the Blue goes on and on- an endless inland sea stretching for miles and miles with the horizon always just out of reach. She throws mirages of islands up for Her amusement but there is really no land there- only the Blue.