For some reason or another, every night there seems to be someone who needs to wake me up. Last night, Andy got in trouble for some "misplaced" backpacks that turned up missing from the supply container. He got busted and has been feeling sorry for himself ever since. Now he thinks he has malaryia and has confined himself to his/my room. The chain of command is moving him to another section so he doesn't have any more tension with SGT K. That probably means that I am going on nights because now I am the only remaining fltops guy who hasn't gotten in trouble. Who knows if I will change shifts but I know that now I will have his workload dumped directly onto my shoulders.
By the way, happy birthdays to Tania, Dave and Dad. Thats a lot of candles.
I am glad you are feeling a little better Grandma.
Congrats on finishing another house TnT. I have my fingers crossed for you to sell them.
I got Tania's and Mom's packages in the mail. Now I should have enough candy to last a little while. Did I ask for Reeses or did you guys just know, I can't remember. Eitherway, I might be the only person in Afghanistan with tasty peanutbutter snacks.
I spent some time wandering around and took alot of good pictures so you guys can see what it is like here. Beleive me thistime that it won't be too long before I will start posting them. I took some photos of some Romanians and one of them came running over and started questioning me about the camera. I told him I wanted my family to see what Romanians looked like. I think he didn't get the sarcasm. He was polite about it after he realized that I wasn't a commie spy.
Tune in next week as the story unfolds....da da daaaaa!
Lots of love and a little bit of drama
-Bert
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?
1 comment:
Bert do you need/want some sunglasses/goggles for excessive sun/sand or does the army supply thick rimmed black glasses I will send you a pair if you wish Todd
YES O
NO O
Use #2 pencil only
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