This opinion column first appeared in Bridge Michigan on December 20, 2020 Too often I worry that E pluribus unum will be replaced with E pluribus duo.  We have become so divided in our country that at each election cycle it seems our national motto should be “out of many, two.”  I react at first … Continue reading E pluribus duo

As you know, I turn 61 next week.  Perhaps you will send a present, but talking with you will be gift enough for me.  Paradoxically, I have been thinking what to give you, or more precisely, what my generation will leave to yours.  The last few times we talked, you expressed dismay over the issue … Continue reading Climate Hope: A letter to my daughter

The book "Where the Crawdad Sings" has been a tremendous literary hit, but why? It's a "great read" as everyone says, and the wonderful audio version engaged me on a long two-day drive. But its rise did not follow the usual path of the books you can find at Target. The initial printing was only … Continue reading Nature on the Bestseller List: “Where the Crawdad Sings”

North Bay on Lake Huron, Presque Isle County, Michigan I worry about the future of our country, and our continent. I have been spending a fair amount of time in northeast Michigan this year. Its rural, wild landscape, and the human decorations on it, remind me of the two great threads of American history that … Continue reading Sunrise or Sunset?

“Although it’s hard to maintain the perspective, the whole world is a watershed” – Gary Snyder Wonder. It is May in northern Michigan and I awake in the lake house Anna and I purchase at the end of last year. During the winter we prepared it for a summer’s use and now we are here. … Continue reading The Wonder of Place

This post has been updated on September 30, 2020. What do a Nature Conservancy (TNC) Preserve in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (the UP), a Pennsylvania Congressman, flash bulbs, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) all have in common? The story may surprise you, but it really shouldn't. Fortunately, I hiked right into it a few … Continue reading Protecting Migratory Birds: the UP connection

The Outer Banks, North Carolina - Cape Hatteras is the small triangular island in the middle of the photo Over 30 years ago, a ribbon of sand caught me up, and over many encounters that ribbon has wound its away around my heart. The Outer Banks in North Carolina are a narrow strip of stranded … Continue reading Coastal Loss, Climate Grief

Thanks for joining me again. For several years, I was on a quest to visit all preserves of The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. I did pretty well, and I still am taking time to explore special places in the Great Lakes, but I came to realize that nature is not contained in areas set-aside for … Continue reading The Journey Continues

Governments don't lead, they follow.  This truth came to mind as I tried to look past the disappointment of President Trump's decision to reject the Paris climate agreement.  His choice to give up America's leadership toward a clean energy future will hurt not only the planet's environment, but also damage our national economy and our … Continue reading Where Will We Find Leadership to Save the Planet?

I am not one who attends marches.  I was not raised in a family of protest or social activism. Rather, my parents leaned conservative, both in their political positions as well as in their predilection to respect authority, be cautious of change, and work within the system.  I was a boy scout.I was also raised … Continue reading Why I Am Marching for Science