Cold Dips and Plant Encouragement
A few updates (including cold swim club information!) and a November poem
This morning I stood neck-deep in 48-degree Lake Michigan as the sun warmed my face. Most Wednesdays since September, this has been my morning routine: wake up, pour coffee, meet friends for a dip. As the air and water temperatures continue to drop, we continue to meet. One more week of getting in the water together. Strangely now, we are meeting twice most weeks, swimming together more this month than we did when it was warmer.
My friend Ashley brings a pool thermometer, and she throws it far out; a finish line for us to walk towards. “Just keep walking,” she encourages, and I focus on my breathing as I continue placing one foot in front of the other. There are no screams, no bursting into a run to get it over with. We walk slowly, calmly, into the discomfort.
Swim Club
I did not intend for swim club to continue in October, much less November. If you’re interested in joining us, leave a comment and I can share details with you. Our location shifts between Empire Beach and Glen Haven depending on the wind direction. We typically meet at 9 or 9:30am on Wednesdays, and on Saturday or Sunday depending on the sun and wind. I’ll do my best to send details for the upcoming week’s swims in my newsletter. We won’t be meeting again until next Wednesday, but I hope to send a newsletter out Tuesday with location/time details.
“Fire Flowers” Event: December 2
I am honored to be reading an original story at my friend Alyssa Smith’s next collection release, entitled “Fire Flowers”. The collection features ceramics, as well as watercolor and oil paintings. The event will take place on Saturday, December 2, in Elk Rapids, Michigan, hosted by Kelsey Duda of Fernhaus. Doors open at 3:30pm with refreshments and a chance to view the collection. Programming will begin around 5pm, with information about the collection, followed by a reading by me and music by Ty Maxon .
Tickets are $30 and on sale now! We hope you'll join us for a beautiful afternoon.
Lessons from plants and Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer
Last week I had the privilege of attending a lecture by Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer in Grand Rapids. I have revisited her book “Braiding Sweetgrass” a few times these last few years and I was grateful for the opportunity to hear her speak.
I will share more of my reflections in an essay next week, but what I want to share today is a poem that developed from some of her words.
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