Up North: There and Back Again Again

‎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, January 08, 2011

There and Back Again Again

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Bill and I went to Florida for Christmas. No delayed flights or airport overnights for us. It was actually a 4,100 mile road trip. We had a terrific time (despite cold weather, frozen water pipes (in Tampa), and coughs, fevers, and flu-like symptoms for many of the family). The kiddos (Soren, Cassidy & Ryder) are SO darling and growing SO fast. It's the coolest thing that they are growing up so close to each other as cousins. I'm proud and happy that my children have decided to live close and support each other. We got to know Rachel's Grandma and brother, Ben, who were visiting from WI and SC. We plan to visit more often in 2011, but, no, Bill and I are not moving to Florida!

The trip included stops in Iowa City, IA, Atlanta, GA, New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel, FL (both near Tampa), St Augustine, FL, Charleston, SC, Myrtle Beach, SC, Charleston, WV, Wytheville, VA, Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Davenport, IA and Owatonna, MN.

Buddy liked seeing his cousins, Anubis and Lealu, and new friend, Lucy (Annie and Dave's dog in Columbus). And he got to play on the beach - lapping at the waves but never getting his paws wet, of course. Thanks to LaQuinta Inns and their pet-friendly policy, it's easy to travel with a dog.

We visited friends along the way - Hump (Mike Humphries in St. Augustine), Bubbette (Ellen Chan in Atlanta), Wanda, Annie and Dave (great New Year's Eve in Columbus), and Steve and Jane Hoffman (New Year's Day in Indianapolis).

Here are a few photos.
Have a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Karen & Bill & Buddy

CHRISTMAS EVE AT BERT AND RACHEL'S HOUSE

CHRISTMAS DAY AT TANIA & TODD'S

St. Augustine, FL had a very cool OLD town - pedestrian only. The Fort itself was massive. We visited the Pirate Museum (recently moved here from Key West.)

Beautiful Charleston, SC. was kind of like a small, well maintained New Orleans. Cool architecture and a gentility to it that was atmospheric. Cobblestone streets, small quaint shops, streetcars, balconies and lots of wrought iron.