Pure Michigan

What if you could go to a place where time stood still?
Where who you were with counted more than what you did?
And where you could see the world through the eyes of a child?
Then you would not count the weight you carried on your back
or in front,
how far
or how fast you hiked to get there,
or what kind of gear you were using.
Instead, you would stop to pick up acorns,
strike a pose,
play with sticks
and on them
and enjoy snacks.
You would build castles,
dig moats,
turn cartwheels,
and play in the mud.
A lot
All right, enough with the mud already.
You would go exploring,
take long walks on the beach,
track animals,
watch minnows,
and get stuck in quicksand.
You would exercise,
have a spa day,
reclaim lost youth,
get clean,
and then dirty again.
You would climb rocks,
walk the plank,
chase clouds,
find peace,
and we’re back in the mud again.
You would share a meal
with family
and still have room for desert.
Stay up late,
sleep well,
dream of eternal summers,
and then wake to enjoy a beautiful sunrise.
Days like these
don’t come often
but when they do
they remind us
about what is really important