From The Editor Summer 2024

“Do you hear that? It’s last night’s rain falling from the leaves. Whatever happened yesterday, let it naturally fall off.

Peace be with you today and every day.”

Lisa Danielle (Guest Poet June, 2021)

We begin our sixth year of publishing PAN-O-PLY Story & Art Michiana with this issue. One of my favorite experiences in publishing PAN-O-PLY is the inspiration that comes from Michiana artists and writers. I am privileged to make new friends and acquaintances who are inspiring in their thought, actions and words. I feel a deep gratitude for these special friendships. We hope you feel the same reading PAN-O-PLY.

I enjoy the memories of summer and new adventures. As children my family piled into the faux wood sided Ford station wagon. In tow behind us was a pop-up camper that became our home for weekends. With the car and camper we explored the United States. Experiencing the great outdoors of national parks we learned about nature and history. In 1976, we celebrated the bicentennial in Washington D.C. A guide rode shotgun as we received a personal tour of Gettysburg. The wagon took us to Florida and out to the North West. We were a family in motion and the experiences binds us today.

We hope your troubles fall away, your friends are many, and your summer is an adventure.

Summer is the meringue of the year. It is the dunes, the forest, and towering white clouds as we lay in the warm sun. Summer is the twinkling stained glass of the lake. Summer is late nights on the porch, fireflies in the yard, and long conversations around campfires and endless laughter.

Our souls sing summer freedom and joy! Summer is hope, and renewal. Long days give us time to stretch our minds and rejuvenate. We connect with family and friends. Summer improves and strengthens our spirit. Summer is an adventure. Summer is play.

Project PAN-O-PLY

Every year we ask the community to join us in a Project PAN-O-PLY. We invite the community to create art and writing around a subject.

This year we want to know about your summer story. On the next page, draw, paint, or create a piece of art that describes your summer or your favorite summer memory. Or write a poem, essay, short story, or memory about summer. Send us photography too!

Take a photo of the page post on Facebook and tag PAN-O-PLY Story & Art Michiana or send to panoplymichiana@gmail.com.

We will send a “Greetings From Michiana” sticker to the first 30 people who share their summer story with us. Send to panoplymichiana@gmail.com. Include your mailing address.

We may publish our favorites in a limited release issue of PAN-O-PLY at the end of the summer.

Celebrate the voice of Michiana with us. Share your summer with PAN-O-PLY Story & Art Michiana.

Dan Breen - Editor and Publisher

Cynthia Connell Davis - Co-editor

Drew Morgan - Copy Editing

Katie Craft, Donavan Barrier and Jan Wiezorek - Contributing Writers

Heidi Hain - Advertising Sales

All rights reserved PAN-O-PLY Story & Art and PAN-O-PLY Michiana copyright. Art and writing are used with the permission of the artists. Unless developed for PAN-O-PLY Story & Art, all art remains the property of the artist—any use of the PAN-O-PLY Story & Art content, the logo, or the art without permission is prohibited.