‎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?

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

I figured out the Photo Thing!!



Okay, Brethren, here is my new favorite man. His name is Redmond, and the photos don't really do him justice, except the one of him sticking his tongue out at the camera. For some reason he doesn't look as big in these pics as he really is, but you can see his withers are over my head. He is a character, everything must pass through his lips if it is to be accepted. He squeals when I pat him, he celebrates when he knows he jumped a great fence, and he protests severely if he so much as touches a rail. Half the time in the schooling ring when I am trying to go about my business cantering around and warming up, he is bucking 4 feet in the air, and EVERYONE stops to look when this horse jumps a jump. Today at the show I had whiplash from landing over an oxer that he jumped twice the height it was. It was about 4'6", and in midair, the tops of the standards looked faaaaaaar, far below... Keren said someone watching nearby said "Jesus, how does she stay on that thing?!" So he is super cool, and even more talented, I will get video soon, or at least a picture of him all dressed up in his fancy gear. I walked into the Grand Prix ring to flat him today, and the jumps didn't look so big after all :) Tomorrow is my first competition with him, the plan is to go easy and smooth, try to not get launched into orbit, and just get comfortable to move up to the bigger jumps. I'll let you know!!
Love you all, Britta
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1 comment:

thedad said...

Nice horse. Who owns it? I assume you are going to sell it for someone?

I'll be careful to come down when you're home.

Later.

Love, the dad

10:09 AM

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