So Close, So Far Away.

For this particular blog post, we were given a prompt to go off of: "What does Lake Michigan mean to you?". To me, Lake Michigan is something so close but often forgotten. Living in Grand Haven, I see Lake Michigan nearly every day. Often I just drive by, not taking in the utter beauty that the deep blue Lake has to offer. Today as I was driving downtown on Harbor Dr. which winds through town parallel to the channel that leads into Lake Michigan, I decided to stop and grab a few pictures at the state park. Today was a startling warm day, in the upper 70s, for one of the first few days of fall, and the beach was much more full than it usually is this time of year. The snow fences were already prominently standing, ready at any moment for a large blizzard to blow in off the coast. This was a reminder that the days of shorts and t shirts would soon be replaced by thick sweaters and jeans, and I'm not sure I am ready for the climate change yet.

This summer was one of my best ever, spent with long days at the beach swimming in the warm waters. During a week before Coast Guard Festival, my friend who now lives in Chicago was visiting family here in Grand Haven. He lives on a private beach just south of town, and we trekked a few blocks down from his house to the sandy beaches a few days in a row. After descending down the large flight of stairs, the view was absolutely breath taking. Below are a few photos I took from this vantage point, and you will get a sense of how great this view really is. I cherished these moments, as I knew I wouldn't be allowed on the private beach after he left back for Chicago!

So to return to the original question, Lake Michigan is often over looked by myself as it becomes a part of everyday routine, but when I really stop and focus on the beauty in front of me, I hold it close. I am thankful to live so close to a body of water many do not get the chance to enjoy, despite the fact it brings the worst lake effect snow in the winter! I would advise everyone to come out to Grand Haven sometime next summer and take in the stunning views it has to offer of Lake Michigan.

A...Lap In the Woods

This past Wednesday, there was a small field trip to the Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids, MI. This nature center features multiple different rails no longer than one mile long, as well as a small animal preserve where a few different animals spend their days lounging in the sun. I was not sure what to expect from Blandford, but I was hoping to get a taste of what the forest can truly give. After paying the small $3 fee at the visitor's center, the class was free to roam on the ground before meeting up again for apple cider and donuts out in front a small farm type building.

First, I followed the herd of classmates through the Wildlife trail to see exactly what Blandford kept on its grounds. A spattering of different cages and enclosures held owls, various endangered birds and a bobcat who was once held as a pet in somebody's home before a neighbor alerted authorities. Most of these animals were relaxing, so after the quick stroll over the wooden bridge I found myself on the "Back Forty" trail. From here, I broke off from the group and wandered through this trail by myself, and it truly was quite peaceful. I chose to go right at the fork in the trail, and it took me past a bog (pictured below) that was pretty stunning looking in the mid afternoon glow. From the bog, I meandered through the rest of the Back Forty, just taking in the overall atmosphere of where I was walking. At one point I had a thought, "Hey. I could probably hike the AT," but then 3 seconds later I glanced at my phone and realized I had been walking for 10 minutes. This truly was just a lap in the woods, and it was nothing compared to what people such as Bill Bryson have accomplished on the AT. Despite this somewhat startling realization that there is no way I could ever hike more than a few miles, I still enjoyed the mile or so I hiked throughout Blandford. Also, I can't complain when there was cider and donuts waiting for me at the end of the trail. Overall, I think I may go on a few different day hikes this fall to get a feel for truly what hiking is all about. Only time will tell if I will actually follow through with this, but the trip to Blandford was a good starting point.

Places I am From

I've always been glad I was never born and raised in just one area. My childhood and teen years were spent moving every few years, which was always hard to do, but I fully believe it has made me a well-rounded person. I was born in Columbus, Ohio and lived there until I was in the 4th grade, when my Father announced to the family that we would be moving to Austin, TX to continue his career in sports broadcasting. Throughout my whole life up until that point, I had assumed I would be living in Ohio forever; much like any other little kid who's main concerns are how many rounds of baseball they can get in or how many miles they can ride on their bike before dusk. It was a shock, and I was afraid to leave a place of comfort for a place of uncertainty. Alas, I entered the second half of fourth grade some 1,000+ miles away from where I started it.

Along with an absolute shock of trying to fit in to a whole new life, there was a nature shock as well. In Ohio, we lived among lush trees and the overall sense of "green" was present. In Texas... it was barren: dry, brown lawns, neighborhoods without a tree to be seen, and a heat unlike any other I had experienced before. It was quite an adjustment to make, but like everything in life I had to accept it and move on, both figurative and literally.

By the second half of sixth grade, it was time to pack up and move again. This time to Memphis, TN, where my Dad was moving up the chain of broadcasting to better and more financially stable opportunities, although this move was the worst of my life. I only lived in Memphis for 9 months, not nearly enough time to create friendships or fit in anywhere. It was a rough patch in my life, especially it being key formative years, but thankfully it was a short nine months and from then we moved to Grand Haven. We have been in Grand Haven since 2007, and it was an absolutely great place to finish growing up at. I still live in Grand Haven, and I love it. Our house is only 15 minutes from beach, and we live in somewhat of a forest filled neighborhood (as I type this I'm watching a squirrel attempt to steal some food out of one of the bird feeders). After I graduate, I have no clue where I will be heading. Basically, I have a mantra; "Follow the money", so wherever my degree in Management Information Systems is useful, I will head in that direction. Only time will tell where I will be going next, but with a lifetime of moves behind me I'm ready for anything.

Welcome!

Welcome! This blog will be part of the Grand Valley State University course ENG 382, Literature and the Environment taught by Dr. Christina Triezenberg (this is just a little background knowledge for anybody who happens across this blog). This is my first attempt at blogging, and I'm excited to see how it pans out over the semester! My name is Will Kaelin and have just started my first year at Grand Valley after transferring from Muskegon Community College. I live in Grand Haven, MI and work with my family at our two radio companies:  103.5 WAWL Tri Cities Broadcsting based out of Grand Haven-which is a low powered, non-profit station focusing on the community, as well as high school sports and classic rock- and Michigan Game Night, which is a brand new internet radio station that broadcasts Grandville sports. Along with this, I am a delivery driver at Jimmy John's, like to write/record music on the side and travel with friends.

With all of this taking up my time I really don't appreciate nature as much as I should. I know I'm not the only person who is guilty of this, as our society is so fast paced that every second of each day is utterly essential. Keeping this in mind, I decided to enroll in a class where I would be forced to work outside my comfort zone, and Literature and the Environment is just that. Even in these first two weeks of reading about the Appalachian Trail I find myself actually wanting to hike... something a mere month ago I would have scoffed at. By the end of the semester  I am curious to see where I stand on different topics we talk about and if my ideas have changed at all. Hopefully I will be able to slow down in an ever busy schedule, even if it's for only just a few minutes at the beginning, to appreciate the Earth that supplies us with so much.