Yes, this is Jim’s birthday. While that in itself is noteworthy, it’s also a date stamp that highlights a remarkable contrast from one year to the next.

Last year: We were “living” in the heart of Washington DC for a few weeks while Jim was working there. We were within walking distance of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the Washington Monument, just to name a few of the significant sites. For Jim’s birthday we walked to the Capitol Hill area where we enjoyed dinner and drinks with the locals, and took the Metro back to the hotel.

This year: We awoke to one of the most beautiful sunrises either of us have ever seen. The nearest town, Gwinn, MI, with a population of about 1,982, is 15 minutes away. Our day included rowing around Big Shag and Little Shag lake, and mountain biking through the woods. At the end of the day, we feasted on homemade kabobs hot off the grill and fresh picked raspberries.

When I asked Jim which he preferred he didn’t hesitate in responding, “This year”. For me, it’s not an either/or…it’s both/and. It’s part of the contrarian in me, I suppose, and part of what keeps this adventure interesting.

For now, I will enjoy the fact that the only sounds I hear at this moment are those created by nature.