Michigan was our home, and it was so ordained by the centrality of our position amongst the great lakes, and the names of the surrounding lakes. Some years later I found out that French children are taught to think of the shape of their country as being a house, and that France is their home. It seems the urge toward rootedness is universal. This feeling was reinforced by the concentration of wealth which found its way to us in the shape of summer residents. Surely the rich guys could choose to live anywhere, but the fact that they chose the northwest coast of lower Michigan for their summer homes was proof positive that we were special.
Money always chases beauty.
We were glad to be the focus of something so unique. Mark Smith is a teacher at Leland Public School. Among other things, he edits and webmasters a journal of student and teacher writing, The Beechnut Review . All Rights Reserved.