Boating and a Birthday on Lake Michigan

Out on the pontoon boat first, before the party. The water near shore was flat and green with the trees hanging right down to it, and the wind kept blowing everyone's hair sideways once we got moving.

Then down to the beach for a while. Lake Michigan was working itself up — real waves breaking, foam running all the way up the sand, and the water that odd green it gets when the sun hits it through clouds. Cold storm-colored sky sitting over the horizon the whole time. Still warm enough for the beach in a bucket hat.

Back at the house it was birthday time. The cake came out in the kitchen with what looked like every candle in the drawer stuck into it, two of them holding it up together while everybody crowded in from the counter. Presents after — tissue paper everywhere, a blue gift bag with silver stars, pink tulip cups lined up next to the Diet Coke.