BFFs

In 1978 G & M met each other as Freshmen at Purdue; they were assigned to be roommates, randomly. Here it is 2022, 44 years later, and they are still Bffs! G pointed out to me that gals refer to each other as Bffs, but not so much guys. These two do instead refer to each other as scumballs...but always with a laugh! Bff I guess is my interpretation of their friendship. Our friendship with M blurs the line between friend and family; M & L are family. There is a special bond with someone who you’ve navigated through life with for that long. The good times definitely outweigh the difficult times, but we’ve seen each other through them both. Last week though was only full of good times, a retreat away to Michigan provided an opportunity for lots of laughs and to create even more great memories. Of course, we wanted to record a hike experience with them, so we visited one of our favorite nearby trails that runs along Marl Lake, providing plenty of photo opportunities.

Upon arriving in the parking lot we spotted huge white birds far across the quiet lake, eventually identifying them as Trumpeter Swans. We were amazed how large these birds looked at such a distance. After doing a little research I learned that Trumpeter Swans are the largest and heaviest species of waterfowl, so no surprise their presence was immediately noticed. Unlike the menacing Mute Swans that I’ve crossed paths with twice this year while hiking, the Trumpeter Swans are a welcome sight. Because of their size they require 100 meters of open water to get aloft, I read, “running hard across the surface, they almost sound like galloping horses as they generate speed for take off.” We did not witness this, but that certainly would have been an amazing sight. Because their feathers were so sought after, as early as the 1600s, for fashion and writing quills, their population was decimated but with aggressive conservation efforts the species has made a healthy recovery. We had a couple come close enough and pose long enough that I got a decent shot of them.

These men, when they get together, will always be the boys they were when they were together at Purdue.

Another hike planned for the week was to occur up at Mackinaw Island, but again Teddy experienced some intestinal upset and we were forced to cancel his boarding and G and I were not able to not make the trip up north with M & L. Instead, we stayed around Roscommon and enjoyed a hike on another nearby cross country ski trail that makes for a very fine hiking trail minus the snow. We learned of this trail last year and visited it once, this was my second time hiking the Tisdale Triangle Pathway Trail. What I noticed quickly as I scanned the area with photography opportunities in mind, was that there are little unique photo shots to be taken. It feels like an in between period of time. The brightly colored wild flowers have faded from the forest floors and the ferns are browning and withering. In the woods the colors are dimming. But we know what’s next; the bright reds, oranges and yellows will pop soon as the leaves really start to change to their fall colors.

As I pay more attention to nature this year, I’m noticing its ebb and flow, and reflecting on it in context of the ebb and flow in my life; the rhythmic patterns that develop; the coming and going of things around me. It’s a reminder that change is inevitable, and although change can be difficult, instead of placing my focus on the empty space left behind as something fades away, I instead choose to look forward to the new growth coming, trusting in the good. Those in between times can be challenging as I wait for the change to come but that’s when Hope is an anchor to hold on to. Maybe I’ll become a fan of the fall season after all…but probably not. But it is still a good exercise to appreciate each season, not only of the calendar year but of life.

‘Til next time.