Lewis & Ondarko - Best Friends 03 - Now and Zen (24 page)

There is another, smaller park on the island called Big Bay Town Park that is closer to town, offers camping, and is free to the public. It has access to the longest beach on the island, and adjoins the state park.

The island itself is fourteen miles (21 km) long and three miles (5 km) wide. It is the only developed island of all the Apostle Islands, although there are lighthouses on many of the islands and small, preserved fishing communities on a few. The 2000 U.S. Census reported the permanent population of the island as two hundred forty-six, which does not include seasonal residents. The island is a popular vacation spot for people from all over the Midwest. The Golf Club sports a course designed by Robert Trent Jones that features double greens.

The island can be reached only by ferry during the summer months; in the winter, ice usually becomes too thick for ferry traffic. When ice conditions allow, the “ice road” officially opens to vehicle traffic from Bayfield across the frozen surface to Madeline Island. The ice road is traditionally marked by Christmas trees. If ice is too thin for automobile traffic but too thick for ferry traffic, access to the island is by airplane, snowmobile, and windsled only. The windsled often operates in early winter and spring. On the eastern end of the island is an enclave of the Bad River Indian Reservation of approximately 195 acres (0.79 km2).

The word solstice derives from Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).

The events in this story occur during and around the summer solstice. Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most recognize solstice as a sign of fertility - involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals, or other celebrations around that time.

The summer solstice occurs exactly when the Earth’s axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun at its maximum of 23° 26’. Except in the Polar Regions (where daylight is continuous for many months during the spring and summer), the day on which the summer solstice occurs is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight. So the seasonal significance of the summer solstice is in the reversal of the gradual shortening of nights and lengthening of days. The summer solstice occurs in June in the Northern Hemisphere and in December in the Southern Hemisphere.

It has recently become a popular belief in the United States that the meteorological season of summer begins with the astronomical phenomenon of the summer solstice. Other regions reckon the start of summer to the beginning of the month of the solstice, or even the month preceding it.

WE, THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF THIRTEEN INDIGENOUS GRANDMOTHERS
, represent a global alliance of prayer, education and healing for our Mother Earth, all Her inhabitants, all the children, and for the next seven generations to come.

We are deeply concerned with the unprecedented destruction of our Mother Earth and the destruction of indigenous ways of life. We believe the teachings of our ancestors will light our way through an uncertain future.

We look to further our vision through the realization of projects that protect our diverse cultures, lands, medicines, language and ceremonial ways of prayer and through projects that educate and nurture our children.

Website for Council of Thirteen Grandmothers:

www.grandmotherscouncil.com

To learn more or to visit Madeline Island:

www.madelineisland.com

We are proud to announce that the series is now on e-books, but in order to get the word out, we need your help. Please e-mail to as many of your friends and relatives that all three books are now available for e-readers. Help us spread the news, so we can continue to write these charming little mysteries. Let us know on Facebook at
Best Friends Mysteries
that you have done so, and we’ll thank you and send you a gift.

Some of you have asked whether we do writing seminars. Yes! We do writing retreats and book signings. For testimonials and more information, including fees, contact us at [email protected].

If you have a book club that is reading one of our series, invite us. If we can, we will come when you discuss it. It’s great fun and a way to make your turn as book club hostess one your friends will always remember.

Thanks for your help.

Deb and Pat