Nature's Products: Dedication to Papa. For seeing all the beauty, for sharing it with me.

When I went home over sprint break I gave my grandpa, who I call Papa, a pair of Dutch wooden shoes I carved out of clay. In the bottom of the shoes I engraved "For seeing all the beauty" and "For sharing the beauty with me". I did this because I couldn't find a way to tell him how much he meant to me. I think it's so important not to take you're grandparents for granted and it took me too long to realize that. My Papa is one of the wisest people I know. He understands the world in ways I still can't imagine, but he shares with me what he can. My papa is the one who taught me how important it is to respect the earth and who showed me all the marvels it has to offer. He grew up in the country, on lakes most of his life and even lived in the U.P. for a period of his life. He had no television, and had to get his water by pump. The water was cold and had to be heated in order for him to bathe. He was an only child and spent most of his time alone. He found comfort outdoors and found company in the animals he would watch for hours. To him, nature was the ultimate entertainment. I think this is something I never could have understood without him, being raised in the generation I was raised in. How going outside and getting exercise is playing wii sports with the windows opens. I was taught to value something deeper. I do own a television, it was a gift, but I have not not it plugged in for at least a year. The only video game system I own is the old Nintendo 64 from my childhood and even when I did have a car, I still chose to walk. Without my grandpa, I think things would have been much different. I'm very thankful for my simplistic, quiet lifestyle. I think it has rid my mind of much unneeded clutter.

I forgot to mention that my Papa is also a nature photographer. He isn't a huge deal or anything, but he takes pictures of the flora and fauna native to Michigan, and a few websites have published his photos. Anyways, since this post is dedicated to him I thought I would share some of his work instead of work I find on the internet. Enjoy: