Finding Connections With The Past

The shores of Lake Michigan.

Have you ever had a moment where a sound or action connects you strongly with someone or something you have lost?  I have, and this past fall I felt that my father had come back to be with me. 

A Sand Hill Crane resting along the shores of Lake Michigan.

My father came to me in the form of a Sandhill Crane, a bird he loved when he was alive, while driving around Northern Michigan a place he loved.

That beautiful warm September day I was with a friend who works for Little Traverse Conservancy looking at farm properties that hopefully will become land conservation easements.

Protected lands in Northern Michigan.

A land conservation easement occurs when a landowner, in this case a farmer, agrees to not commercially develop their property at any time in the future.  They are financially paid for their decision not to commercially develop the land.  Even if it is sold to someone else, the easement stays with the property.  These lands will retain their original use.

Land conservation is a way to allow farming and timbering to continue for future generations. These easements preserve a way of life that is quickly diminishing in many parts of our country.  In an area that is mostly rural, it retains the land for future generations to enjoy and allows the easy movement of wildlife.

As we drove and chatted, I filled her with stories about growing up with my parents in Michigan.  Mentioning at one point how much my father loved Sandhill Cranes, we drove up and down the rolling countryside with the windows down and a breeze in our hair.

As we continued to explore, we laughed about many things as we strolled along the shores of Lake Michigan.  Later that day, as she took me to a beautiful boardwalk over a vast wetland in East Jordan, we marveled at the beauty of the area around us. 

Remarking to her how surprised I was to have not visited this particular spot before, we heard a distinct and strange bird sound.

“Oh my gosh! Those are Sandhill Cranes” Emily exclaimed.

An example of birds flying in formation.

Looking up into the sky she pointed to something far overhead.  Using my right hand to cover the sun, I too looked up and saw high in the sky a V formation of cranes flying South for the winter. 

I had never in my life seen them, and to watch them fly in formation over my head was mesmerizing.

A gentle breeze caressed my skin and a warm sensation settled deep inside me.  My father was with me on that gorgeous sunny September day.  He approved of land conservation and I would like to think he knew why I was driving with Emily that day.

Greetings from Beyond

Not long ago, I was looking at Facebook and saw a post from a friend.  She felt that her dearly beloved dog had said hello to her.  If I recall the post, she had been thinking about her pup when a song she associated with her came on the radio.  Odd coincidence?  Perhaps, but when you remember someone or something that makes you smile, does it really matter how it happens?

In this instance she heard a certain song on the radio and felt her ‘heart’ dog was reaching out to her. Personally, I find these connections with the past to be extremely comforting and reassuring.

It means that while these pets or individuals may no longer be living, their memory is so strong that it remains long after they themselves have departed this earthly world.  Finding an action or thing that stirs up fond memories provides me, and clearly others, with peace and happiness.  It clearly held the same emotions for the woman posting on Facebook.

As I get older and begin to lose people and animals that I loved, I find that knowing my past can flood back to me at any moment means those departed will never truly be gone in my heart.

I wish you a day filled with fond memories and recollections of those who have left you.  See you next week.

A smile for the day.