Sunny Spots In...

ARIZONA MICHIGAN

*Silhouettes of peaceful, purpled mountains *The way a blanket of freshly fallen snow

and the towering ink palm trees against the dusts the top of previously fallen snow so

backdrop of rose-blush and tangerine sunsets that all the sharp lines of the footprints &

that never disappoint. snow angels are softened. And how snow

can appear white or ochre or a serene,

sparkling perewinkle, depending on the

time of day and the mood of the sky.


The above was saved so I could move to a computer that would allow me an hour of use, but it's all jumbled. I read it over and thought it was kind of cool. It was supposed to be side-by-side columns listing the sunny spots in both Arizona and Michigan, but it didn't save the way I formatted it (by hand, not using the tools because none of the tools allow 2 lists next to each other). So here they are; separated: (grrrr)

ARIZONA

*Silhouettes of peaceful, purpled mountains and towering, inked palms and cypress trees against the backdrop of rose-blush and tangerine sunsets that never disappoint.

*Nearly scalding hot water straight from the tap--no wait time. (Good for washing dishes and boiling water for hot tea or noodles in a jiffy!)

*Which brings me to the curiousity of: Butt facials...buttials? Even the toilets have hot water! A steam bath for the butt.

*Our neighbor, Heather, who out of the grandness of her heart simply handed Grace and me a stack of books she thought we'd like to borrow--three of which were SARK books (five of which were doggie books and kid craft books that Grace loves...we've started a dried apple head person already...). I've finally read a SARK book! (Eat Mangoes Naked) Could SARK be my long-lost aunt?

*Sedona (I haven't actually been there yet, but I know I'll love the red rock vistas and the energy vortexes.)

*No matter how short or involved the errand, I am always driving toward magical magnetic mountains. We are surrounded. I marvel at them in front of me, through the windshield, and behind me through the rearview mirror as I drive. My eyes gobble up a feast no matter where they look.

*Bigger bugs (so I can qucikly spot them to escort them back outside).

*DRY heat.

*The shiny glint of palm leaves dancing with the warm breezes in the ubiquitous light of the sun that make you stare in wonder: surely someone placed polished, plastic, paper up there for fun? But no, this is one of Mother Nature's quirky delights!

*The abundance of freshly baked (and cheap!) corn and flour tortillas available at any store that sells groceries.

*Any spot on the rim of the Grand Canyon.

*Sizzling sepias!

*Our second storey stoop where I can observe everything--the mountains, the trees, the 20 people that will most certainly walk by our apartment within an hour's time.

*The way Arizonians share their roads with bikers.

*Joel.


MICHIGAN

*The way a blanket of freshly fallen snow is like fairy dust on previously fallen snow; all the sharp lines of the footprints and snow angels are softened. And how snow can appear white or ochre or a serene, sparkling perewinkle, depending on the time of day and the mood of the sky.

*Crisp, cold water straight from the tap--no wait time. (Good for drinking and cooling down a freshly brewed batch of iced-tea.)

*Together, two hands serve as an instant map of Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas (right hand upright, facing you, left hand perpendicular, to left of and above right-voila!). Those of us born and raised get quite a bit of use out of our hand maps when discussing locations with others.

*Our neighbor, Phyllis, who is 93 years young; she always has an interesting story or local history tid-bit to tell.

*Saugatuck.

*Apple orchards and Cider Mills in the fall (hot cake donuts, hay rides, pumpkin patches...).

*Smaller bugs (so as not to startle me so easily).

*Cool breezes.

*That maple tree on our street that turns to a fiery red-orange while the other trees still sit with their greens.

*The bounty of fresh (and cheap!) locally grown produce.

*Any beach on Lake Michigan.

*Gorgeous greens!

*Our front porch swing where I can sit and be solitary with our sheltering Oak; or share it with my family and attend to tales of their day's events.

*Plentiful parks perfectly plunged into nature's oasis, complete with running and biking trails.

*Nathan

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