The Lake

Growing up my summers were spent on the lake.  We would arrive at the lake when school got out and would remain there for the majority of the summer.  We would eat on paper plates shoved into wicker plate holders, we would eat on one, two or three picnic tables - depending on how many people were around.  We would sleep in beautiful old metal beds painted blue, and we'd listen to the sound of rain on the metal little camp roof.  We'd race across the lawn to the big camp when there was a thunder storm - so we could all cuddle and watch the storm move across the lake.  We'd spend hours water skiing.  We'd pick strawberries until our hands turned red.  We'd explore Grampie's tool shed, we'd spend hours getting the well to work.  We'd watch for Great Grammie to drive down the road, knowing she'd have pies, cookies and other treats.  We'd swim with Grammie and raid her dishwasher (which was never used to watch a dis, but was used to store cookies and other treats which were usually off limits). We'd play in the grove, we'd catch salamanders, we'd swing, play space  monster, climb on turtle rock, we'd play any and all games we'd find stacked on the shelves next to the incredible stone fireplace... My childhood summers were a dream.

We don't have a lake house, or the dreamy summer days (work just seems to get in the way), but I hope we can make Oliver and Henni's childhood summers memorable.  One way of doing so is traditions.  For the past several years we've visited the Stockwell's at the compound for a weekend.  It is a weekend we all look forward to and treasure.  It is a time for the kids to play, the grown ups to catch up, and a time to - gasp - relax.  A weekend together makes it so we can talk, play, and breathe.  A weekend together is also refreshing -- a dose of reality that we (parents) are in the same boat.

Thank you to the Stockwell's for having us - for putting up with the boat hoarder, the spilled drinks, and Luna stalking.  We had an incredible weekend and we look forward to more time together.