June 12
 Back Porch, Ashland

I had wanted my first-ever sabbatical to begin the moment my feet hit the ground at Duluth International Airport after this last minute trip to Washington, D.C. Indeed, that first breath of bracing cool, northern air after the sterility of northern Virginia stirred me directly. But, the mad rush of responsibility has not yet lessened. I, almost literally, threw my bags at the foot of the bed, and crawled in for an exhausted sleep. The trip to DC went well: I represented Northland well, I think, which is always my first goal when I travel.

Had no time to settle back in before tearing out of the house early this morning for my day’s CPR/first aid training. It has been a long time since I sat in a classroom for an entire day, needing to absorb new facts. The learning was useful, though I hope never needed.

I feel overburdened by the tasks ahead this last week, which must be accomplished before I can leave. One week from now, with luck, a reality I can’t yet perceive on “My Island.”

June 13
 Bayfield Pavilion

Getting out of the car and smelling the water in the air invigorated me to my core. Bird song filling the air; water calm. A full day’s training coming up, with a room packed with people. I never expected anything quite so big and elaborate. It is sad to think that I have lived now for four years with all this glory in my back yard, yet know it so little of it.

Things I have learned so far:

1872: first National Park formed (Yosemite)

1906: National Antiquities Act

1916: Founding of the National Park Service

1970: Apostle Island established: 21 islands; 500 square miles

Their music video ‘it will start with conviction of the heart.’ These beauties appeal to heart and head.

I am impressed with the good humor and conviviality of the National Park Service employees. Staff morale really does reflect larger allegiances.

Lunch time: sitting at the same bench at which I sat with [a Trustee] to get to know him my first summer. How long ago that seems. I am, by now, so inextricably linked with this place and this job, it is difficult to recall the transition period when I was still ‘becoming Northland,’ or certainly life before Northland College.

I wonder at what point over the next month I will be able to really relax into this experience. I am still feeling pulled too many ways. I need to keep focusing on the positive and remember Roberts Frost’s three word philosophy of life: “It goes on.”

Cormorants and swallows. The water – rich smell to the air. A warm sun which takes some of the chill out of my bones on a coolish day.

I’m disturbed that it is already mid June--one week from the solstice--and I’ve yet to really appreciate this spring/summer. Having this long period without being able to visit our cabin has thrown off my ability to settle into the season.

Afternoon break: I walked down to the ferry station and a bald eagle flew close over head from left to right. Please God, never let me lose the sense of wonder I feel when I behold one of those marvels. Then, on the other side of the spectrum, I watched them load a huge semi onto the ferry.

One great by-product of this training is my increased awareness of this incredible natural resource both on shore and at sea. There is too much here not to enjoy it extensively.

Training lesson: “You don’t have to take the bait. Manage the inner action; manage the inter- action. Search for the real question. Power is the ability to be effective. How can I help other to be most effective?”

June 14
Island Princess, at sea on Lake Superior

We are on the Island Princess on the three-hour "Grand Tour" of the Apostle Islands.

Upon reflection, another interesting element of yesterday’s trainings was the mystique of the uniform. When we put it on, they said, we are “on stage” (a feeling I’m more than used to!) I felt strangely moved when I got my name tag this morning: this is really going to happen! The other “take away” impression I got was how proud NPS employees are in their work, and how they – pointedly – didn’t complain about continual federal cuts in their funding. They referred to them, but didn’t criticize.

A bald eagle just accompanied us along the shoreline of Basswood Island. We got all the way to Devils Island, with the hills of the North Shore just visible. Beautiful sea caves and a neat lighthouse. Pretty heavy seas. I exulted in standing aft, spray in my face, letting my body sway with the living water. That felt good.

Madeline Island ferry - en route home. They took the group out to Big Bay Park so the volunteers could get an example of an “Apostle Island experience” that they could recommend to people who don’t own their own boats.

 Had the thrill, while standing out at the Park, of seeing “My” island and the lighthouse in the distance. It felt great: my intuition about the month ahead is very positive.

  
June 15
Little Sand Bay Headquarters

Last night, after a full day on the water, [a N.P.S. Ranger] hosted a dinner at his lovely 1888 house on the hill in Bayfield. Really cemented the sense of being part of a neat, extended community of really dedicated people. And, in informal settings like that, I can almost always do some good for Northland.

It’s been a lively, lovely week, but a long one as I’ve have had to go home, do e-mail and, on two nights, have had evening meetings at the house. I continue to be hampered by a sense that I’m being irresponsible for being absent a month. It seems that there are so many loose ends to try to tie up, a Board meeting to get prepared, new building decisions to make. Like diving in a pool, though, I just need to take the plunge.

It has been an education meeting other volunteers: this country is peopled by such different sorts of folks. I sure have been bitten by the volunteer bug, and feel a great sense of anticipation.

 
   June 18
 Ashland

Working down to the wire: too busy to do more than pause and note how excited I am, and how grateful I am for this opportunity to make a dream come true.

I wonder what the next month will hold for me!

Glory. Beyond words: beyond all expectations. Where to start? I guess with the eagle who flew right to left as we approached the dock. Could there be a more auspicious omen than that?

Now, in the afternoon sun, the monarch butterflies flit playfully on the lawn. No sound but myriad birds and the lap of the waves on the dock below.

I had underestimated the number of tasks that I needed to finish Sunday. Keep me busy until late, and I was rather too keyed up to sleep well.

Picked Rick [Northland’s Academic Vice President] up at 7:00 am. Chatted comfortably until arriving at Roy’s Point Marina. We helped fill water jugs; then loaded my gear onto a trolley. [Park Ranger] Neil Howk asked “Is that all?” which pleased me; I had endeavored to pack lightly, though knowing that anything I forgot I would have to do without for a month. The captain had said that it was unlikely we would be able to dock because of a fairly stiff breeze from the west. Talk about frustration; I wanted so badly to get started! The seas sure were choppy and the wind only seemed to strengthen as we sailed on. Fairly big waves crashed against the dock as we approached Michigan Island dock. The captain could see the fierce light in my eye, I think, which was when we decided to continue our approach. He pulled up to the dock and we lightly (and safely) tied off. [My Park Service Supervisor]

Susan and I clambered up; and, the young fellows who were traveling with us hurled my gear onto the dock.

After the boat pulled back off shore, Susan and I made the first long climb up the steps. We opened up the house and got things airing after the long winter. Then, we walked to the top both light houses and toured the out buildings so that she could show me what was what. After the Park boat came back to fetch her, I begin the long process of moving all my stuff up the hill without the tram. Must have taken me at least a dozen trips up and down those 123 steps! Not such a bad deal, though, when every time I looked up there was glory! I was there.

I have anticipated this moment for so very long (and have needed it very badly), and the reality is even better than I could have very dreamt. I am thankful to the core of my being, and am beginning to relax into this moment and this wilderness. Glory.

June 19 Later - the pier.

Just spent time on the tall light house, watching the breezes tickle the surface of the lake and of the tree tops. How impossibly blue the sky seems from down here, framing water and trees; how restful the sound of the waves. One benefit I am already noticing is the blessed privacy. Particularly nice as I settle in and make the place my own.

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