SCENIC OVERLOOK

SCENIC OVERLOOK

Epoufette Bay Scenic Overlook

is what the sign said,

we parked the car in the shade

walked hand-in-hand

down the dusty trail

to the rail fence

at the edge of the cliff.

The most northern tip

of Lake Michigan

glittered below,

the afternoon sun;

made sparkling

the drab homes

in the fishing village

a few yards offshore.

She stood next to a tree

for the picture.

I looked at the picture today

saw her stand there

in the shade of the birch

hands behind her back

legs crossed like a ballerina,

looking out at the world

beautiful, proud and hopeful.

There, by ourselves, but never alone

we shared an embrace, a kiss

vowed to remember this place

always.

This summer

now alone, by myself

I once again parked in the shade

walked down  the trail

to the scenic overlook.

The birch tree remains there

a lonely sentinel

and she once again stands there

hands behind her back

beautiful, proud and hopeful

happy that we remembered.

John A. Bayerl, December 3, 2011

That's how I miss Gwen tonight, remembering her in full beauty, always proud and hopeful.  That summer when we stopped at the overlook was when we were newlyweds, driving down to Ann Arbor to begin our first adventure.  This summer I visited the same spot when I was on my way home from my trip to Portland, and, yes, I could see her standing there next to the same birch tree she stood next to all those years ago.  I'll post a picture of that tomorrow; it's the picture I use as wallpaper on my computer.

Tonight, Dear, I attended Dick's Christmas Concert with the Novi Choraliers.   They have a new director who is someone I so wish you could have met and seen in action.  That's what's so hard about all this; it's important to do things like this, and Dick and Mary make me feel so welcome and are welcoming and loving.  Yet, there's an emptiness to the whole experience because you aren't there with me.  So great was our love.