‎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, February 06, 2007

Ruminating in a desk chair

No photos for this post. Strictly mental ruminations.

It was October, 2005, just 15-16 months ago that we (Bill, that is) started this blog to help us all stay in touch with Bert who was on the verge of going overseas at that time. As I look over the 254 postings since that first one (of a picture of Bill and Kayla), I think about everything that has happened over that time - much of it recorded on the blog and some of it not. As I ruminate on that, I realize a few important things. 1. Time flies. 2. Great things happen - new lives are created, people grow and change (regardless of how old they are). 3. Love endures and is the ultimate tie that binds. 4. Life is what it is and I'm damn glad of it. 5. Horses, despite being big sweaty beasts, are superlative beings. AND 6. We think some things are just not 'special' enough to post on a blog but they are special in their own way and we should appreciate them nonetheless. Life is full of the everyday things that don't deserve a blog post. But even those things are good because they are part of it all. Life has so many special moments that we don't commemorate for a myriad of reasons. But we should!

Enough of that rambling.

Bert, you deserve the biggest commendation for your insightful, humorous, and poignant posts. What I relish most is that you've retained your sense of humor without becoming totally cynical. The peephole on Army life that you provided us over the past year allowed us to see just a little of your complex and dangerous life. It has been entertaining, at times breathtaking, and very moving, to say the least.

Rachel, you've been so important to this whole family. Despite your reticence to post on the blog :) , we've felt your presence. You have had such strength and faith in Bert while he was gone and we know it wasn't easy being without him for so long. Now you have this new, wonderful role as mom-to-be. What fun! I, for one, can't wait for the new person!

Thank you, both! And thank ***[bleep], Bert, that you're home safe and sound!
Call me when you come up for air!
Love, Mom
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