*Belle Isle State Park, Detroit Michigan

Within a day of my father dying, my daughter's birth, my divorce, I've driven the circle around the island. For me, crossing the bridge is transcendent (which the Catholics define as truth, goodness, and beauty). I am able to ignore my past transgressions or contemplation of future worries and focus of what is present, reflections in water, the sun striking the willows, an awareness of nature consuming my attention, allowing my “ earthly” concerns to vanish.