As I sit here behind Pon Valley in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, I stare deeply into the glistening pond. I notice each lilly pad, each bait fish surfacing, the heron standing in the distance, and an old stone statue of a little boy frames the scene. Geese swim in the right corner of the small but distinct pond. The weather is perfect and the sun heats the skin of my back. I begin to breathe in a rhythmic pattern and I listen to the unbelievable almost surreal variety of noises that fill the air. The water is so good for driving consciousness. Anything that moves in the water leaves a wake, no matter how subtle the movement may be. I have found that water is much like life in this way.

I have an alive feeling throughout my body, mind, and spirit. I feel myself breathe into the pond and I feel immersed in it. I come to this place to read, to meditate, and to be present. Pon Valley is a very spiritual place and the energy is nearly unexplainable. It sits a mere half mile from my house and I visit this place regularly. There is a resident deer herd, but not a herd that I hunt, rather one that I study and learn from. I use this place and in turn it uses me. Everyone needs a place like Pon Valley. This is my sacred place on this day and many others.

People have often misunderstood the hunter in me. People often misunderstand the mind of a hunter. They think of hunters as just killers, not artists of the outdoors who frame their own pictures in nature. It is confusing to non-sportsmen and women how we can love wildlife, respect a deer herd or a turkey flock, study and learn from them, and even protect them. Then when it is in season we hunt them, this is confusing to the non-sportsman or woman but it all makes more sense than many realize. For me, the woods, nature, and wildlife are much of the foundation for my mind, body, and spirit. They represent an oft-needed reminder that we as human beings are only a part of a universal ecosystem that is far greater then our egos. I have always found it humbling and reassuring that we live in a limitless universe, and that nature knows no prejudice.

I love the outdoors and I harness it fully and will always be one with nature.

As we sat back on my brother in law’s porch in Traverse City, Michigan just above West Bay, we marveled at the numbers of fireworks shows that different families were putting on in full force. The sounds of boom, boom, pow reminded me of watching batman as a child, or listening to the Black Eyed Peas in concert, however the showering flashes in the sky showed it was none other then the Fourth of July. The celebration of our independence, of our freedom in America and I admit that I love it! It is easy to sit back and complain about the noise. More than one mom made the statement “oh shoot this is totally going to wake up my kids and they’ll be a wreck tomorrow!” Each time I heard these words I smiled and said “Hey I think this day is more significant then a potential temper flare up tomorrow. This is the celebration of our freedom, this is the Fourth of July baby!” Nobody appreciates the peace and quiet and the sounds of nature more than I, but on this one night I say bring it on, bring it all on!

In Michigan 2012 marks the year that our governor Rick Snyder decided that enough was enough with allowing neighboring states to control the fireworks industry. Snyder somehow in stealth hunter-like fashion snuck a quick bill through earlier this summer that permitted Michigan vendors to sell real fireworks. His theory was simple, which is that it was tax revenue going to neighboring state governments and why shouldn’t they stay in our great state? I cannot believe it took this long for someone to figure out this loophole, where the heck have other governors been on this one anyhow? It is now estimated that $15 million plus in taxes have been contributed to Michigan this year alone. Was I part of this economic windfall, you may ask? Oh yeah, I am admittedly a total pyromaniac when it comes to fireworks, especially 500 gram loaded-up shows in a box, or as we pyros know it, a “cake”.

In the future when you or someone else is complaining about the explosive disrespectful noises going off in the sky in the summertime, remember that it is one less tax that most of us are ever touched by in our state whichever that may be and it represents a freedom that is precious. I am writing this blog in early July so who knows if by August I wont be annoyed as well. That said, clean up the debris and be responsible, but always let freedom ring and God bless America!