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 the hospital. I asked, “Where is the Norris Road Trailhead?” He looked at his computer for a minute and started to give me directions. “Hold on, I’ll show you,” he said before he did a U-turn and pulled up behind me. I froze. Instinct took over as I sat stiffly with my hands at 10 and 2 on the wheel. Confusion overwhelmed me. I held my breath. His computer is attached to his dashboard. He isn’t going to bring it to me, I reasoned. He didn’t pull me over.
Eventually, I rolled down the window a yelled, “Can I get out?” He laughed as I walked toward his car. I didn’t say, “License and registration, please,” as I stood at his window. Instead, I laughed nervously and wished someone could send me a picture of this version of reality. He asked me about my destination and I gave him a rambling lesson about the North Country Trail and how lucky we are that it runs through Barry Country. It starts in Vermont and ends in North Dakota. The North Country Trail Headquarters is in Lowell. Lowell, Michigan, as if he didn’t know about Lowell. It’s 4800 miles long. I further babbled that I grew up in the area and never knew its significance until I moved away. To Chicago. I also informed him that local maps were not helpful. Not helpful at all. But he was. I thanked him sincerely.
Good god. What was wrong with me?
I hoped I was walking normally back to my car. I was keenly aware of the big blue vehicle topped with a giant cherry. I was afraid I was skipping as adrenaline coursed through my body. I was giddy with relief, despite the fact that I wasn’t guilty of anything I knew of. I would be a terrible criminal.
I found the trail.
My feet padding along on a thick layer of pine needles, swoosh, swoosh, swooshing through the ankle-deep crunchy leaves created music that rose from the insulated forest floor. I settled, blissfully, into a rhythm that Nature and I co-created.
Thank you, State Trooper. Thank you, Nature. What a funny little adventure. I found the Yin within the Yang. I found peace.