‎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?

Monday, April 10, 2006



I thought this was a good picture. The two fatbodies in the forground are highly paid underworked American Haliburton contractors. They are enjoying their fried grease burgers while wathcing a international match between the Romanians and the Dutch. Leave it to the Europeans to go out and play soccer when there are french fries and burgers to be eaten.

As per mom's non questions. I went to the HajiMart with Sgt Byrd and SSG Dye. We drove to the airfield gate and then walked the rest of the way. There is a cordoned walkway of sorts with constantina wire on either side to funnel people to the gate. You pass by two Romanian guards in armored personnel carriers with .50 cal machine guns looking for carbombers.

I changed shifts again. Now I am workin 0600Z to 1800Z. Hopefully this means that I will only work 12 hours a day.

Also I think that my leave dates will be 20 DEC - 10 Jan or there abouts. I am 85% confident that leave will be in December though. Even if I can give an excact date when I leave here, I could end up getting stuck somewhere along the way as it did take me almost a week to get here.

Lots of love and a little social comentary from...
-Bert
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)