No, you hang up first

I love Michigan.

I love the distinctive mitten-shaped peninsula that lets me carry a map of my state everywhere I go. And I love the variety that is available throughout that mitten, and throughout the Upper Peninsula: the dense population center of the southeast, the gentle rolling hills and abundant farmland of the rest of the mitten, the undeniably unique atmosphere of Mackinac Island, and the vast tree-covered landscape of the Upper Peninsula.

I love the seasonal beauty of Michigan. The bright sun and deep blue sky over the rich green vegetation of summer; the breathtaking colors and the welcome chill in the air of fall; the quiet snow-covered landscape of winter; the dramatic transformation from the dormancy of winter to the vibrance of spring. And though the seasons occur every year, they are anything but predictable.

I love the abundance of outdoor recreation in Michigan. When the weather is warm, there are numerous golf courses, endless beaches, miles of hiking and biking trails, winding rivers and scattered inland lakes open to numerous watercraft, and sprawling state and local parks to make it all more accessible; when winter comes, the snowmobile trails and ski hills spring to life as snow blankets much of the state. Whatever the season, there is something to do in the great outdoors.

I love the availability of and the passion for sports in Michigan. From the Red Wings, Pistons, Tigers and the Lions to the range of minor-league teams like the Lugnuts and the Griffins to the athletic departments at schools like the University of Michigan to the smaller scale of high school athletics, there is a wealth of sports teams to enjoy, and a wealth of sports fans with whom to enjoy them.

I love the many cities that are full of possibilities, like the college town of Ann Arbor; only fifteen minutes from my driveway, in many ways it is the world at my doorstep. There always seems to be another restaurant to try, another shop to browse, another concert to attend. And on a clear summer evening, cities like Ann Arbor aren’t just full of possibilities; they’re also full of people exploring those possibilities.

And perhaps most importantly, I love my town. Chelsea has grown over the years, but it is still a small town in the shadow of Ann Arbor. Mixed in with the more well-known features of Chelsea — like the Chelsea Milling Company — are local stalwarts I can’t imagine the town without, like Thompson’s Pizza; while they may not be widely known, such establishments are important pieces of the city’s character. That character has been a part of my life for the last twenty-six years, and it will be a part of my own character for as long as I live.

Of course, this missive is not blind praise, and my love is not a blind love; I know the mitten is not perfect. But its faults are not overwhelming, and its strengths are worth describing without the shadow of those faults. My love is not blind, but it needn’t be qualified.

Michigan, the pleasant peninsula, is my home, and I love it.

(Extra reading: my favorite Pure Michigan advertisement.)