I’m from New York City but was blessed to attend the National Music Camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for six summers as a kid. I adored our local lake, Wahbekanetta, Lake Michigan, nature outings, and trips to various rivers, including the Platte, which we visited on the rare free day from classes and rehearsals. My love of nature was as firmly inculcated at Interlochen as was my love of the arts. Our cabins, classes and concerts were all in the woods, set on beautiful Lake Wahbekanetta. The pairing of art and nature on campus was as inextricable as it was sublime.
One experience lives forever emblazoned in me, a trip to the Boardman River. I was probably ten years old. The day was warm and bright, and the water crisp, clear and balmy, unlike the usual freezing waters of upper Michigan. The Boardman was pristine, shallow where we camped, and had a very strong current.
I recall the stunning sensation of lying on my back in the water and being immediately and powerfully drawn downstream, like jumping onto an already moving amusement park ride. The feeling of letting go and being carried away with no effort was pure bliss. I wanted to float free forever, but obviously that wasn’t a smart choice. I remember that day with great joy and crystal clarity. My Boardman River downstream memory evokes the essence of freedom and bliss.