‎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?

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

The Jackson Trip - Home from the Holidays

After a wonderful time in Florida over Christmas, we drove home via the Gulf Coast to New Orleans, then headed north.
This famous old bar which used to straddle the state line has survived many storms. But after a recent hurricane, the states agreed to move the line 48 feet around the building, so now the Floribama sits only in Florida. We stopped by there in the afternoon of New Year's Eve. They were expecting 2,000 people. We decided they wouldn't miss us so we moved on. We had a terrific meal and saw Nadira Shakur at LuLu's in Gulfshores, Alabama that night instead.
This was New Year's Day and we were waiting for the ferry to take us across Mobile Bay. But, alas, it never showed up. Seems they were closed for the holiday.
I think Buddy still had hope the ferry would come. But eventually we drove around the bay and stayed the night in New Orleans.

Since we got in so late, we picked up dinner at Brothers' Food Mart. Bill's favorite fried chicken in the whole world!The nexxt day, we stopped at the Central Grocery for mufflettas before heading north. It was the day of the Sugar Bowl and there were so many people we couldn't even get near the Cafe du Monde.
We stopped in Natchez and marveled once again at the majesty of the Mississippi.


You can almost see the Confederate soldiers on the far shore.
The mist was coming in as the sun was setting.

We found the cemetery Greg Iles' refers to and the Turning Angel - not quite where he said it was but it was there.
This roadside BBQ spot had the BEST pulled pork sandwiches!

Well, like I said, just a few photos... should have taken more. And now the explanation about "the Jackson Trip". When we left Florida we drove through Jackson County and then for no particular reason we got inspired by how many states have towns with the same names. So as we traveled we looked for other 'Jacksons' and explored a few. We took the back roads to go through Jackson, LA. Then we veered off the direct route to see Jackson, MS. We stayed overnight in Jackson, TN. The one in Kentucky was way too far east to visit on this trip but we pointed at it on the map - so that counts. We couldn't find one in Indiana or Illinois but we were really rolling by then anyway. The final, but best, Jackson was in Wisconsin where we visited our friends, Kathy and Ron.

As you can tell, we got home ok. Home to Independence, MN. Hmmm, that gives me an idea...
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Karen and Bill,
Next visit to Crystal Lake, IL you will have to meet Jackson himself, a lovey dovey chocolate lab, my granddog Jackson just 10 minutes from us. Love all the shots.

Linda LeBlanc and thanks for the key to respond.

11:53 AM

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