Pure Michigan

 There is a place that I call home. It is a place surrounded by not just any lakes, but the Great Lakes. A place where one day you need a sweater and the next day sun screen. Where you call a carbonated beverage “pop.” It is the home of 11,000 inland lakes and more than 36,000 miles of streams. It’s the home of Detroit. Where football and baseball reign. The home of the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Lions, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Detroit Pistons. The birthplace of pop singer Madonna, Actor Taylor Lautner, boxer Floyd Maywether, Tennis player Serena Williams, actress Kristin Bell, and yours truly. This place is Pure Michigan.

Pure Michigan. The reason I use my hand as a map and point to it to explain where I live. The reason I have an unconditional love for the water. The reason I have a swimsuit and a beach towel thrown in the back of my car at all times. The reason I find myself going to more than one beach a day. The reason I have an ever growing collection of sea glass. An abundance of brown, white, green and the ever rare blue pieces. The reason I grew up fishing. The reason I can bait a hook, and cast a line out. The reason I have a new state park sticker on my windshield every year. The reason I’m a proud owner of a kayak. The reason I embark on outdoor adventures.

Pure Michigan. The state that holds a small town. A small town that I grew up in. Where I lived down an old dirt road in the middle of nowhere. Where there was a house surrounded by nothing but trees. The trees were my playground. Where me and my sisters built tree fort after tree fort. Where we caught frogs and toads. Where we climbed trees, cleared trails, made obstacle courses, built fires and learned how to ride a dirt bike. The place where I learned not to squeeze the throttle too fast and lose control and crash into a bunch of logs. The house where we played catch outside for hours and I learned to not trust my older sister when she says I don’t need to wear any protective gear while she pitches the ball to me. Where I learned to drive down the back roads with my dad. Where I helped my mom make dinner and set the table.  Where my mom dressed us kids up in her old dresses, jewelry and makeup. Where my mom sang to us before bed and my dad told us bedtime stories. Where the basement was an adventurous place filled with every toy imaginable. Where so many memories were made. Where I can’t help but smile when I think about it. This is the place that holds my heart. Pure Michigan.

What place are you from?