‎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, August 21, 2006

Oslo - What a wonderful time!

We spent many fun hours on Heidi's deck. Her 2nd floor apartment is so warm and homey, yet allows her to go on all her amazing trips without a second thought. It was a very comfy place to stay. Heidi's kitchen is so bright and airy!
Our last night in the Oslo area was spent on the picturesque Aker Brigge - the famous downtown wharf of Oslo. Heidi, Johs, Marit are posed in front of the restaurant where we ate a delicious meal.
The food was wonderful, the company delightful. The view from the window like a postcard.
There was a painting on the restuarant wall depicting the sinking of the Andrea Adorea in 1956. The Italian ship collided with the SS Stockholm - which was the ship my mother and father and I were supposed to take on the way back from Scandinavia on its return voyage to New York in the fall of 1956. The Stockholm didn't sink but needed major repair so we had to stay many weeks longer than we planned. Many lives were lost on the other ship.Oslo's town hall dominates the downtown wharf area. The boats along the wharf are fun to look at! Some party boats. Some working boats. Some from Oslo. Some from far away places.
Tord, Edith, Karen and Bill enjoyed a walk along the quay before dinner on our last night in Oslo. Check out the anchor chain behind us. Next we head to the fjords.
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