Lori Rose photo My brother, David Rose, relaxes in an “interesting” way near our camp on the Escanaba River, circa 1980.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following column was written by Lori Rose, former Daily Press staffer and sister of Friday columnist Karen Wils, who is on a medical break.

ESCANABA — Finally, at long last, it arrives.

A cool breeze sneaks in from the north, pushing out the hot and humid weather, drenching the neighborhood with relief.

The sun slips below the western sky and contented crickets sing. Your barefoot toes tread on the now-cool, lush feeling lawn. The planets take their place overhead.

The dog yawns and stretches from his place by the garage, milking the moment for all its worth. From somewhere, an errant bat swooshes by overhead.

There are delights to be had everywhere in this place, this odd chunk of land between Wisconsin and Ontario that we call Upper Michigan.

Sometimes, it’s easy to take it all for granted. We might easily be deceived that everyone has such a life experience.

In this very odd year, where the past and present have suddenly collided, we should be grateful for the healing balm that is life in the beautiful U.P.

People have been forced to use their imagination, seeking the smaller pleasures of life in their own household or backyard. As the warm weather came, some were eager to explore places they’d always wanted to see or had heard about.

My family’s Facebook postings and emails have been filled with colorful images of kids, mamas and daddies rediscovering “quality time.” A sweet one-year-old boy all in earth tones sitting calmly on a mat of forest green, taking in the sights. Someone’s feet standing on pebbles, seen through the crystal clear water of Lake Superior. A dad teaching his four adolescent girls the art of kayaking.

There have been amazing views of the sky online, from rainbows to comets and fleecy clouds to dramatic fiery dawns and sunsets.

Fresh berries, flowers and gardens have greeted us all, from the cutesy sunflowers with googly eyes to the spectacular closeups of dewy butterflies and incredible hummingbirds.

My family has been fortunate in living not far from the great lake of Michigan and also having river frontage and a camp north of the city. Since I was young, it’s always been second nature to go swimming by the gulls and beach bunnies or wading among the crayfish and ospreys.

We were also blessed to have a responsible set of siblings at the bay or a dad nearby fly fishing when we were up on the river. Secondarily, there was Mom with cool lemonade, watermelon or some other treat when we got home and dried off.

I have a Facebook friend who recently noted how he’s come to enjoy every moment on Escanaba’s eastern shore. He wrote poetically how things that he enjoyed or put great significance in as a younger man don’t necessarily mean that much anymore. He’s tapped into a peace of mind that only time can bring.

Now, it’s preservation and recipe season. Men and women, young and old, look forward to new taste combinations. For example, someone just sent along photos of a fruity jam with — get this — amaretto flavor!

We have a short growing season here, but oh what variety. Asparagus, beets, corn, dill pickles… I could go on through the whole alphabet, probably.

Then there’s the flower variety. Everything from the tiniest spring violet to the massive hollyhocks and hydrangeas.

Yes, there is so much to be thankful for. A million questions and concerns may zoom through our heads this year, but let’s take a little time to focus on the smallest of miracles.

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Karen (Rose) Wils is a lifelong north Escanaba resident. Her folksy columns appear weekly in Lifestyles.