Unprecedented Sunday
It’s Sunday morning at the lake. And as usual, the texts between my sister, my cousins, and me indicate there are two things on our minds: Church and The Picnic.
Church
The church we usually attend here (the Evangelical Free Church of Bemidji) was having their big “re-opening” day today. I read through their procedures online and decided we wouldn’t go. For one, we might feel a bit strange as visitors on such a different Sunday. And second, I would have liked to see stricter precautions (e.g. masks required and not just recommended). They did offer a Livestream though, and I tuned in for most of it at 10:45.
Before that (9:30 a.m. here, 10:30 back home), we were able to worship with our own home congregation, an unprecedented occurrence on a family vacation. We tuned in to the Livestream, and were happy to find the internet strong enough for us to watch it uninterrupted! Then we joined several of our church families for the Zoom chat and prayer time that now follows the service. The internet didn’t handle Zoom as well but we were able to join in for most of it.
The Picnic
After being blessed from above through our various online worship services, the picnic preparations began. Since the grocery store had closed earlier than expected the night before, some of the relatives set out for their store runs. Getting ready for the picnic is always a team effort. Trading tin foil for salt and pepper. Sharing ovens and dumping fruit salads together…watermelon from my cabin, cantaloupe and honeydew from yours. Whatever you need, someone has it!
Our annual picnic was smaller than usual this year. Leah and Chloe were still en route to the lake, as were Deb and Roy and their family. Melissa’s parents opted not to come this year due to COVID-19. And sadly, my parents were just not able to make the trip due to Mom’s Alzheimer’s. This is the first year they have not been able to vacation in Minnesota, having only missed in the past due to other vacation plans. Seeing an end to their lifelong tradition is difficult, and taking our place as the “elder statesmen” brings on a new and slightly uncomfortable feeling.
The rest of the day
It was so hot and having not slept well the night before, I was ready for a Sunday afternoon nap. It felt great! Tom snoozed a bit too, and when we woke up we discovered Beth’s brownie sundaes were being served. We devoured them as we visited.
The biggest laugh of the day came when Beth got up to go back to her cabin, not realizing she was leaving Melissa, Tom and me on the opposite picnic table bench, with nothing to counterbalance our weight. The table fell backward, Melissa jumped up, I plopped backward onto the ground, and Tom managed to hang on as the table righted itself again. (Thankfully, no cameras were rolling!) Since no one was hurt, we all burst into peels of laughter! It was also a sign that our picnic, naps, and brownie sundaes had left us heavier than we should be! We decided it was time for some exercise.
We hopped on our bikes and took our first ride of 2020 on the Migizi Trail. Except for people by the boat dock and in the campground, we didn’t see another soul on the trail. That is, unless you count the nasty black flies that were thicker than ever and insisted on biting us on the hand, back, and bum as we rode. Oh well, it wouldn’t be Minnesota without a few bugs!
Minutes after we returned from our ride, the back door opened and we heard excited voices shouting “Hello!” The girls had arrived! Not long after that, Deb and Roy and family showed up. It’s always fun connecting with cousins and seeing the longtime friendships the kids have formed with their cousins and second cousins.
Although some parts of this Sunday were unprecedented, there was still much comfort in the sameness. The girls, who both missed our Cass Lake vacation last year, commented that it seemed like so long ago since they had been here, and yet, everything felt exactly the same.
We missed our “normal” church service. We missed having the whole gang here for the picnic. And we missed my mom and dad’s presence.
But there is still much to be thankful for.