Cold and rain, rain and cold. But no matter.

First to Tekummah and JD Gardens to pick up a coreopsis, as a gift, then, after noon, to a “Come and Go” in Gore Bay in honor of the 60th wedding anniversary of Don and Joan Lloyd.

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…and here is a little thing from FLOW (Traverse City, MI)

Being a Good Ancestor
It’s not often that we think about what it means to be a good ancestor. But our close friend and elder, Frank Ettawageshik from the Little Traverse Band, recently challenged us and others to ponder this fundamental question in his keynote speech at the annual Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council Environmentalist of the Year award gathering. And I thank him for this opportunity to consider the legacy that we leave behind to our children and generations to come.

Being a good ancestor is a big responsibility. It can feel overwhelming, so I first focus on what I can do as an individual. Living as intentionally as I can is the best way I know to take responsibility for my personal actions. Globalization of our economy often makes individual lifestyle choices complex, so I try to eat, shop, and live as locally as possible.

Collectively, being a good ancestor means that when we create things, we need to consider the full life cycle from cradle to grave. If we did take this responsibility seriously, toxic and persistent chemicals like PFAS would not exist. It’s the unprecedented and cumulative impact of all our human actions that is accelerating the extinction of up to one million plant and animal species according to the UN’s latest report.

Being a good ancestor means being deeply respectful and connected to nature. Maintaining a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem is not only good for us to assure clean, safe drinking water, but also for all animals, plants, and life that depend on these life-giving and sustaining waters. This ancestral reverence echoes in The Water Song, which states: "Water, we love you. We thank you. We respect you."