Goodbye Lake and Goodbye Loons
We were shooting for 8:00 a.m. We left the resort at 8:45 (C.T.).
We had planned for time to get ourselves ready, have breakfast, and pack up the car. But we forget how long it takes to take out the trash, sweep the floor, and say goodbye to the cousins.
Of course, we also had to say goodbye to the lake.
As we looked out over the water, as smooth as a mirror reflecting the hazy sky, we reflected briefly on the past year. It was a difficult one with the loss of both of my parents. I’ve thought of them every single day while here at the lake. They loved it here as much as we all do.
Last night, I dreamt that they had come for a visit. They were sitting on our couch laughing. I woke to the realization again that they would not be coming to visit us at the lake. Or anywhere. Sometimes the feeling of loss hits you. Even in the middle of the night.
In our usual fashion, as Tom and I are saying goodbye to the lake, we not only reflect on the year gone by, but we wonder aloud about the year to come. About what might transpire before we stand in this spot again. This year, we both hope for more laughter and fewer tears. In our current family situation (a half-full nest, a one-year-old grandson, and adult kids pursuing careers) we anticipate there will be much joy. Lord willing.
I let out a heavy sigh and said “Goodbye, Lake.” Saying the words reminded me of the book Goodnight, Loon that I bought and read to Ollie last week. The memory made me smile, and as the day went on, I added a few more lines of my own:
Goodbye lake and goodbye loons.
Goodbye haze and lazy days.
Goodbye porch. Goodbye perch.
(Good luck, Chloe, on your job search!)
Goodbye wind and goodbye waves.
Goodbye sun shining over the waves.
Goodbye ice cream. Goodbye S’mores.
Goodbye slamming screen porch doors.
Goodbye bike trails. Goodbye bear.
Goodbye black flies everywhere.
Our trip home was uneventful. We have a new “tradition” (if two years counts as a tradition) of stopping at Brewed Awakenings, a cute little coffee shop in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
I was recently reminded that Grand Rapids is the birthplace of Judy Garland, since I started listening to the podcast “No Place Like Home.” It’s a combination of mystery, nostalgia, and a little midwest humor. It tells the story of the theft of the Ruby Slippers from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids (MN). We didn’t have time to go through the museum, but we stopped for a quick look and met the former director, John Kelsch, who plays a large role in the story. Back on the road, we turned on the podcast and caught up on all the episodes. (Note: No, Leah is not holding the real ruby slippers!)
After a lunch stop at Culvers in Rice Lake, a couple of gas stops, and a supper stop in Rockford, Illinois at Sweet Basil Cafe, we finally arrived home shortly after midnight (E.T.)
As much as we love our time at the lake, there really is NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
2021 Lake Log Recap
Every year, I wrap up the year’s Lake Log with a review of the details. Here’s our 2021 Cass Lake vacation, in a nutshell.
Dates: July 2 thru July 17. This was our 17th consecutive year at Cass Lake, our 16th at Birch Villa Resort.
People who vacationed with us: Both weeks – Tom, Linda, Leah & Chloe (cabin 7); Paul, Melissa, Thomas, Ben & Elle (cabin 6); Roy, Deb, Luke, & Leah (cabin 5).
First week only: Seth, Maddie, and Oliver (with us in cabin 7); Bill, Beth, Nicole, William, Elise, & Zachary (cabin 1); Tom and Barb (Melissa’s parents, 1st cabin on the hill).
Price of gas: $2.89-$3.09 (about a dollar more than last year!). We drove our 2016 Ford Edge with the bike rack, holding my bike and Tom’s trike. The girls drove the 2011 Prius.
Total number of fish caught: 118 (111 perch, 7 rock bass). We ate 34 of those for our fish fry. Total fish to take home to the freezer: 84 (79 perch, 5 rock bass, in 19 bags).
Restaurants we visited: Hazelwood Food and Drink (in Minneapolis), Zorbaz (Park Rapids), Ruttger's (Bemidji), Tutto Bene (Bemidji), and Bar 209 (Bemidji).
Biking/Walking: This was a rebuilding year for biking, as Tom is recovering from a knee injury and to protect his back has just started riding a recumbent tricycle. He rode 53 miles total during six rides on the Migizi Trail and at Norway Beach. I rode 64 miles over five rides on the same trails. I also had a goal of 10,000-steps (or a bike ride) each day, which I accomplished 14 out of the past 16 days. (Let’s hope I can keep that going!)
Churches Attended: We were back to in-person worship this year at the Evangelical Free Church of Bemidji.
Other activities: Shopping trip at Mall of America; Shopping in Walker, Park Rapids, and Bemidji; playing lots of games (Shanghai, Trekking the National Parks, Five Crowns, Push, Magic the Gathering, Smash Up, Catan, Azul, Bananagrams); Tubing (Seth & Leah); Embroidery (Chloe); Cross-stitch and Diamond Painting (Leah); Studying (Leah); Job searching (Chloe); Reading (Tom, Chloe, Maddie, Seth, me); Writing (me); and playing with Ollie (everyone!).