The Journey
Welcome to The Journey, a space where Mary McKSchmidt shares her transition from business executive to advocate, photographer, poet, and storyteller. Here, she invites you to walk alongside her as she explores life in the Great Lakes region, its beauty and fragility, and the bonds that connect us all.
Onward
Following November’s election, it was tempting to tuck myself into a cocoon of comfortable retirement—after all, I am in my 70s. But I cannot find peace in that decision. God gifted me the ability to think, to write, to observe and photograph the beauty of this planet...
So That I Might Not Worry
for Mother She agreed to move to respite carewith its unfamiliar view and borrowed chairsso that I might not worry while on vacation. At ninety-seven, she did notwant to leave her home of nine-plus years, her independence, her schedule, her...
The Agony of the Decision
"Put Your Oxygen Mask on First"like Mother Bearwith her two cubsfleeing the ragingfires of Wisconsinand forging the watersof Lake Michiganone hundred eighteenlongmilesinto windand wavesin the legendof Sleeping Bear how her pawsplungedinto the waterrepeatedlyuntil...
After the Election
plodding along the streethead downafraid of fallingheel to toe heel to toein the early frostof autumncoldsadscaredheel to toeheel to toeYou take my handand I look upas dawn’s lightlavishes the earthwith exuberanceheel to toeheel to toeI will not fallheel to toeheel to...
Why Vacations Matter
As we motor-sail through the Manitou PassageI lean into distant memories of forget-me-nots populating Pyramid Pointthe red trillium peeking through shadows on South Manitou Islandthe surprise snow blanketingthe dunes of Sleeping Bearand add the pink rainbow of...
Without Consent
He erasedthe smileshe used to weareverywhereand now, guarded,gifts onlyto the robinawakening with songat daybreak. “I’m automatically attracted to beautiful women,” Donald Trump said in a 2005 conversation caught on a hot mic. “I just start kissing them, it’s like a...
Gravity
"Seek first to understand," Stephen Covey wrote in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It sounds so easy but can be so difficult! A good air day is a breeze of 10-12 knots off the beam butit is also when the breath of angels provides insight into the...
Something in Her Eyes
Perhaps she was exhausted in a good way,grateful for the once-familiar chaos of family,the slamming of screen doors, clanking of dishes, continuous squeak of the refrigerator door, boisterous voices around the table.Perhaps she was determined to catch her...
And I Lugged a Wheelchair
The first time Mother and I saw the windmill turn its blades was when her twin flew from Albuquerque to Holland to celebrate their 90th birthday. The second time was nearly eight years later, her first day home in two months. Thursday, she walked to her bench at the...
Snippets
July was tough for Mother. A series of mishaps landed her in Medilodge of Holland for rehabilitation. She’s determined to go home. Many people are intent on helping. To say thank you, we decided to write short, humorous poems to make everyone smile. We call them...
Like Glass
When I say the lake is like glass I mean the kind of glass on which I once loved to skate,back in the days when I waited patiently for the Zambonito shave the frosted chunks off the iceand the pools of water to evaporate.I remember lugging a...
While I Pray, He Counts
Is it okay to be afraid? I whisper,my words slipping out unintentionallyas lightning illuminates an angry skyand thunder explodes like circling cannons. Sails down, we huddle in the companionway,knowing the mast on our sailboat is a conduit for the electrical fury...