A Birthday Kidnapping in Saugatuck, MI

Saturday morning, Bonnie put me in her car and drove me away for the day. As you can guess from the picture, it wasn't exactly the world's worst kidnapping. She took me to Saugatuck Dunes State Park, about two and a half hours away from Chicago on the other side of Lake Michigan. As the name suggests, it was an entire park on giant sand dunes, which provided a nice soft padding for walking around on the trails. The highlight, though, was definitely the beach that you see above. I don't think I've ever been on a beach that didn't have condos or stores butting up to the shore. We parked the car and walked through about a mile of forest before breaking through and getting to the sparsely populated beach; it was absolutely gorgeous. After an afternoon of picnicking, hiking, lounging, and swimming, an awesome sunset, and a dinner in the town of Saugatuck, we loaded up and went back to Chicago late that night. What a way to celebrate a birthday with a great friend!

A Break-Up Note

Dear my eight month vacation, The time has finally arrived for us to part ways. I think we both can agree that you and I had a lot of fun together and had some amazing experiences, but we can't continue on like this. I didn't want to have to tell you this in a note, but I'm not strong enough to say it to your face. I finally broke my fidelity to you today. I went to a class. Not just any class, either. A class where I have to get up early and think about stuff. Hard stuff, too, like the authority for the use of your will. I wasn't getting any of that with you, and it was just time to move on. I hope we can still be friends. I trust that good things are in store for both of us. Until we meet again, Brian

"A Dream Come Reality"

She says it best. An email recollection of a friend's visit to Interlaken, Switzerland: "...after being there I can truly say I had a 'mystic' experience. I was undertaken by the scenery of the small town with the bluish-green lake that was circled by the elevated, snow-capped and brown mountains! Hiking every day I was there - all through the Alps was surreal... a dream come reality! Breathtaking! ...when I was in Switzerland particularly, I was so drawn into its beauty that I forgot about all my problems, possessions, worries and truly and honestly just lived each moment as I walked it, saw it, breathed it. I was immersed in an indescribable beauty that mystified me, a numinous and unexplainable feeling, a feeling that I don't need to worry or have all that much to be truly happy. Looking around me, life was simple and people were happy! I long to return..."