Smoke

This morning, like every morning this past week, I checked the level of haze before planning the rest of my day. The Midwest, as well as much of the country, has been experiencing poor air quality from the Canadian wildfires. The weather has been pleasant otherwise. The cool air from Canada brings a relief from the heat along with the smoke. It would be perfect hiking weather if we didn’t feel it necessary to breathe while doing it.

My friends and I in the 55+ community we live in have been bothered by scratchy throats and headaches, which are the immediate symptoms of the poor air quality. Most of us are not so worried about the risk to our health long term (our long term keeps getting shorter every day). My generation has been microwaving Tupperware, cooking on scratched Teflon surfaces, and eating food with a chemically induced shelf life of 1000 years. We are living on borrowed time anyway. We are concerned for our children and grandchildren. Mine have the convenience of hearing the AQI (Air Quality Index) for their area without having to look it up. Just another service I provide without them even thinking to ask or wanting to receive it. You’re welcome.

Before this recent incursion from the north, Tom and I starting planning an extended camping trip eastward along the Canadian border. Winds change, fires eventually burn out and so we are continuing to be optimistic about our journey. We plan to drive along the northern border of Wisconsin to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Crossing into Canada at Sous St. Marie, we will continue east to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, returning home by way of New England. September historically marks the end of peak wildfire season, so we have reason to hope that our way will be clear.

We are highly motivated to make this journey, so we may rationalize a way out of changing plans even if the smoke persists. Our mantra in this season of our life has become, “If not now, when”. Tom has another birthday right before our departure date. It serves as a reminder of the biological clock we all have ticking. Waking up everyday with another weird ache or symptom of some kind is a wonderful and consistent surprise among folks our age. The only remedy is to keep planning adventures - keeping putting one foot in front of the other. That, and of course Jazzercise and/ or Pickleball.

In much the same way, our mantra in this season of our country’s life has become, “If not us, who?”. We are both busy volunteering when and where we can to benefit those most impacted by the changes and cuts. It may be like fighting a fire with a squirt gun, but it makes us feel a bit better.

Keeping an eye on what is being blown in on the changing winds is unnerving. It is, however, what I feel compelled to do - if not for us, then for the kids and grandkids. I hope we all can stand until the smoke clears. I have faith that when it does, we will all be stronger for it, with a clearer vision of what is important.