Up North: Avec plaisir!

‎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?

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Avec plaisir!

Paris has been calling to us for some time! So, now we have to go (before we're too old to enjoy it)! One week in the City of Light. We have a small weekly rental apartment in the Le Marais neighborhood in the oldest part of Paris. The apartment is in a 400 year old building. We're betting it's been renovated a few times since then! It's near the Arts et Metiers Metro stop and only a 10 minute walk to Notre Dame and the Seine. We plan to see museums at a relaxed pace, taste wonderful foods, shop at the local markets to cook at home sometimes, walk along the Seine, people-watch, take photos galore - and do some serious damage to Bill's credit cards. We have been wanting to do this for ages and had heard that you only live once - so we're off on Oct. 3 using 10 years of frequent flyer miles. Bill is becoming fluent in French! Mais, oui! C'est bon! He already knows how to ask for "une gran cafe au lait avec pain chocolat". And I won't let him ask for California wine! Ok, then. We'll post some photos after we get back on 10/10. Just thought you'd enjoy how much we are enjoying the planning. It's almost as good as going - well, maybe not! In serious Kantwait mode.
Karen & Bill