Mackinac Bridge….. by Kevin Povenz

I was going to write some commentary about US News & World Report’s latest ranking US States that has Michigan as #46 of the 50 states. Then I read the writeup on Michigan & looked at the facts. It wasn’t easy for a lifelong cheerleader for Michigan like me, but it’s pretty clear that while we have an utterly incredible foundation that includes the manufacturing might that powered the rise of modern America, one of the strongest presence of major universities in the nation, more varied produce & farm products than any state but California, and a globally unique concentration of freshwater that gives us more shoreline than any state but Alaska, we’ve done a terrible job preserving what we have & investing in our future over the last several decades. I remain unshakeable in my feeling that there’s no place I’d rather live than right here, but I love this place enough to see that they have cause to rank our state near the bottom. What do you think?

Kevin’s photo captured my feeling about this ranking perfectly. He shares that he & his wife spent last weekend with good friends in Charlevoix for the Venetian Festival then headed to Mackinac Island for a couple nights, staying on their boat, consuming ice cream, and enjoying what the area provides. Follow Kevin on on Flickr or at Kevin Povenz Photos for his latest!