Icy fire opal

Babs Young was out and about on still-frozen Torch Lake as the sun dropped toward the still-frozen horizon. It was all so beautiful, and all so cold . . . but look at that sky! Doesn’t that look like a fire opal? An icy fire opal.  It must be a sign.

I have decided that every bit of sunshine is a promise that spring will come.  There has been sun off and on every day for . . . several days.  I can’t keep up.  It has gotten into the balmy 30s on a regular basis.  Today, allegedly, we will reach 58° F.

The weather maps have switched from a big blue bulge sagging down over Michigan to all kinds of swirly patterns going up and down and criss-crossing so that a person can’t guess what might happen.  But we know.  It is Michigan.  We will have rain and snow and sometimes both on the same day.  All of this is to make two points: winter is going to end, and you should not trust the ice any more. It is turning rotten and treacherous. This is a good thing. Life is complex.

I have stories to tell you but they will have to wait, as I have to go pick up parts for my water heater.  Save this date, though:

On Thursday, April 3 at 7:00pm the Elk Rapids Area Historical Society will host an excellent program on Anishinaabek history and culture.  Speaker Hank Bailey is Odawa, a member of the Black Wolf Clan, a member of the natural resources department of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and a traditional dancer.

In other words, he has so many interesting things to tell you about—and show you—that I don’t see how you can go wrong.