‎63 Years of Memories....

‎63 Years of Memories....
that's what I have now. The photo below shows the chair on the point which for so many years was my father's favorite after-supper place to contemplate and cast for walleye. As much as I feel guilty about what's happened, I know he would understand and even say there's nothing to forgive. He lived life fully and moved on many times. I'm the one with the unique experience of being attached to a beautiful place for my whole life. And despite all my best efforts, yesterday the 'cabin' was sold. I signed the papers and, truth be told, a weight was lifted. A new life lies ahead without the obligations, but with all of the wonderful memories. My unrelentingly positive attitude says this is truly how it is, but my heart is still sad.

There are some things in life for which the balance between the obligation and the joy of ownership often cannot be sustained forever. It became clear that I was no longer up to the task of taking care of the place quite a while back. However, knowing what needs to be done and doing it are often far apart. Finally, no choice was left. It had to be sold.

Now it's gone. No more worrying about how long the grass or how deep the snow is up there. No more sublimely pleasurable early morning cups of coffee sitting on the dock when the color of the lake is like pale blue glass and the air is completely still. No more endless repairs, high taxes, and utility bills. No more late nights around the fire pit with friends and family - warm from both fire and friendship. No more frozen pipes or emergency calls to the furnace guys. No more saunas and midnight skinny dipping that make you feel like you'll live forever while your connection with nature is confirmed by the gazillion stars of the milky way and the loons calling out in the dark. No more concerns with low well water levels or water so hard and full of iron the clothes turn yellow and your newly washed hair feels like brillo. No more finding the way home by boat in the dark after a long day on the lake feeling like this is the only place you really, really belong. No more praying that the boathouse will make it another year without collapsing. And ultimately, no more making new memories with friends, family and loved ones. No new memories, that is, at Half Bay, Lake Vermilion, Tower, MN. New life... here we come!

How do you thank a place for memories?

Saturday, March 18, 2006

beverages


Well I have learned enough Pashtu to decipher the meaning of these two products. The recipies are very different from the American versions. I thought it would be cool for you guys to see some daily stuff so for the next few posts I will be putting in some "walking around" photos.

Of course I am trying to keep my caffine intake to a minimum (with the exception of the chocolate that is in reeses). So here is the "imported", caffine free beverage of choice for the 45 mins I take to relax on a friday night...

Here is me on the trip over. This image was taken in aboard a c-17 in Turkmenistan...


Lots of love and lots more photos to come

-Bert

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1 comment:

Lottie Dah said...

Hello 10th Mtn.
It's kind of fortuitous that you're in such a mountainous country. Are the Afghani mountains snowcapped? I presume they are as barren as the rest of the country.

The beverage cans were wild. Can you read any in Afghanistani or even recognize the letters? A long time ago I learned a little Greek and I know just recognizing the letters in a foreign alphabet was a task in itself.

Was that an ODoul's you're drinking in that one photo? I look forward to seeing more photos.

Is your roommate out and about yet?

I've got a bunch of stuff that I'll be sending you tomorrow. So keep your eye out for the package. Did you see the 'Where's George? dollar bill'? What are you going to do with it? Spend it in the market perhaps? Be sure to look it up online and log in where you got it before you spend it or pass it on. Both Bill and I have been to Las Vegas and meant to take it there. But your destination was much wilder.

Snow is melting like crazy. Winter has turned the corner and the robins have returned. It's weird that they migrate in flocks but are territorial othewise.

Ramble, ramble, ramble.
I'll ramble on out of here. Take care.

Hugs and Love,
Mom

11:22 PM

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