Though I have travelled over 700 miles since I left Copper Harbor, I am still in Michigan. Man this is a big state. I did go the Wisconsin route, however. I have to get my fresh cheese curd fix.
So, I don't mean to get all sentimental on you again, but it was really hard to leave this last time. Probably because I knew how great I felt while I was here. Even though the town was overrun with visitors, my spirit was overcome with peace and inspiration.
Plus, the choke cherries were amazing. For a wino, ahem, winemaker, choke cherries are a prime fruit. Imagine bunches of cherry red grapes hanging from the trees -- almost ready to pick. Sooooo close to being ready to shuck off those branches. And I had to leave. Choke is some of the best wine I have ever made. Well, next year, I hope. Just look at these babies.
Whopping bunches of chokes... for the birds
As odd as it may sound, this picture was in my mind as I turned up the hill on Highway 41. Then I looked back at Lake Superior in my rearview mirror, and said See you later beautiful lake. Sniff a tear. Oh, she is such a beauty. My heart longs to be there still. Probably much like yours if you are not there right now.
Do you want to know where I am 700 miles away still in Michigan? Sitting in a hotel in Ann Arbor. It's not so bad. I'd be a bit more adventurous if I wasn't so afraid to drive in cities with actual lines of traffic and stop lights. We're here for Braeden anyway, my mother and I. Don't worry. He's doing fine. Just needs some check-ups and testing, and Mott's is worth the drive.
I've been longing to tell you about something that I've seen lately. Maybe others have seen them more too, but I haven't really heard anything.
Wolves.
Okay, so two wolves on two separate occasions. That's really more wolves than I've seen in my whole entire life. And what they were doing is what gives me that goosebumpy feeling. Both times were in the U.P. Both were while I was driving with my little boy in the back seat. And BOTH times the wolf came out of the woods and stayed there, staring.
The first time I was driving south just south of South Range. I thought it was a deer at first because, well, that's what usually jumps out of the woods. Then I saw that it looked more like a dog. A huge prancing dog with no collar. Oh my gosh, that's a wolf, Braeden! He was probably sleeping by that time. But the wolf, in it's tall tan and gray glory frolicked across the road, made a U-turn back across the road, stopped on the yellow line and stared at me. Not a glare or anything scary, but a gaze as if to say, "I am here for you." Then it trapsed off back into the woods where it came out. Has this ever happened to you? I think it's pretty strange behavior for such a beast, and though I thought it a bit incredible, it instantly put my mind at ease, and I knew everything was going to be all right. Kind of like a sign of good luck.
The second time was less than two months later. I was cruising north just north of Mohawk. I noticed brake lights on the car ahead of me. Slightly annoyed because this is where we get to speed up, I saw why they slowed down. A wolf stood on the driver's left side of the road just looking around calmly. You know, it watched us as we went by. That same calming feeling filled me as we passed, and I hoped the car behind me got to bask in its majesty as well.
Now, when I think of wolves in the wild, I would be a bit more scared. Especially if I was walking on a trail somewhere and there it was -- looking at me. Yeah, I know I was in a car, but this was really different. I think Braeden's energy is behind it. Call me a kook if you want, but I try to listen to my intuition, and that's what it said. That sweet little boy has already led me on quite a journey. We'll see where this one goes!
Happy September, by the way. I know you're probably biting your fingernails because I'm way far away from the Keweenaw, and I can't give you a good color report. Oh, I bet you have other resources, who am I kidding? But, if you like my report, I should be back by September 13th or so. I am excited to show Braeden the colors in the trees. When he was born, they were already brown on the ground.
Well, I'll see you when I'm back up Nort, eh!
