by kimqi | Jan 2, 2023 | Hiking, Nature, New Year
I went to Nature seeking answers; she is always generous. I was looking for my 2023 word, the word by which I’d measure all things, a sort of rudder, my version of a New Year’s Resolution. I thought the verb “muse” might be perfect. I liked the pondering meaning of...
by kimqi | Dec 18, 2022 | Hiking, Nature, Qi, Winter, Winter Hiking
Tiny birds scattered in the frigid air as I ducked under a partially fallen tree crossing the trail. I searched above for the bird making a racket, probably warning the little birds of the invasion that was me. The world looked gray. A tall, sturdy tree stood dark...
by kimqi | Nov 13, 2022 | Fall Hiking, Hiking, Michigan, North Country Trail, YinYang, Seasons
The Michigan State Trooper rolled down his window and gave me a questioning look with a tentative thumbs up. I was on the side of the road with my hazards on, looking at a map. I channeled my grandma Leta who once gave her doctor a check, requesting he deliver it to...
by kimqi | Nov 5, 2022 | Hiking, Michigan, YinYang, Seasons
The feeder trail was long, hot and dusty. It was early July and the smell of pine was sharp from the heat. My thirteen-year-old nephew and I walked under the power lines. Power companies clearcut land but generously allow trails on their property. The cost of these...
by kimqi | Jul 28, 2022 | Hiking, Michigan, North Country Trail
There were acres of lilies in vast shallow bodies of water. I had never seen anything like it. The lilies weren’t just around the perimeter of the marsh but everywhere. Huge white flowers appeared to float on the water’s surface while the leaves covered it like green...
by kimqi | May 28, 2022 | Hiking, meditation, Nature, YinYang
“I had never heard of a Witness Tree, a tree that’s lived a very long time, standing silently, having witnessed a historical event. I would argue that each moment of every day is historical, and no one has to deem the day’s events worthy of remembering, so, from...
