Megan or the North Wind does not suggest replicating any actions completed in this story. Walking on ice is not safe, and while ice may look safe to walk on that is not always the case. If you do choose to copy the actions completed by the North Wind’s Opinion Editor make sure you go with a buddy, have fully charged devices in case you need to reach emergency responders and let people know your location prior to venturing out onto ice. 

This week I checked something off of my bucket list I never thought I would be able to accomplish. 

One of the largest landmarks in Marquette is the mighty Lower Harbor Ore Dock. Located in the downtown area of Marquette, it serves as a beacon for the city, and for the ships that visit town.

I never once thought it would be even fathomable to touch, let alone stand on and dance in. Folks, the other day it was possible.  

When starting school at NMU I created a bucket list for things I wanted to complete during my time, because no other place in this country is like the U.P. 

All those years ago when I made this list I didn’t even put touching the Lower Harbor Ore Dock on the list, I never thought it was possible. The ice doesn’t freeze over every year, and growing up on a lake town ,death by falling in ice was a common headline for people visiting. 

This year, people were ice skating right next to the Lower Harbor Ore Dock! 

I couldn’t believe it. 

So like a sheep, I corralled my friends to the marina parking lot and we moseyed our way onto the ice. 

We were all straight up cheesing. This was the first time any of us had been so close to the Lower Harbor Ore Dock, and it may be the last time. 

An experience like this is what college is all about. Coming together with people you wouldn’t otherwise know to enjoy first experiences with. Being a senior, I don’t get to experience the joy of firsts anymore. I’ve been in Marquette for over two years now, and lived in the town full time for almost a full year. At this point I’ve seen and experienced just about everything I could in Marquette.

Walking to the Lower Harbor Ore Dock on the ice and venturing further into its walls gave me an adventuring rush I have not felt since I was an itty bitty freshman on campus for the first time. 

I wish I could go back in time and appreciate this town more, because Marquette has shaped who I am today. When I was first adventuring in this town I felt joy, but it was a simple joy. The joy I felt this weekend while inside the Lower Harbor Ore Dock was a fuller joy. I took a pause, smelled the air and was present in the moment. The impending doom of homework or paying my rent wasn’t on my mind, the only thing I was worried about was the feeling of being in the moment, and enjoying it. 

So when you’re enjoying new things don’t let other disturbances get in the way. Be present while you’re experiencing things for the first time, because you can only experience something for the first time once.