AHHH, the lake!

   I was sitting here trying to decide whether to do a post tonite or not.  I'm kinda tired, but just can't get the thoughts to settle.  So, if I write, maybe they'll quiet down.  I've been doing alot of thinking about things I could do entries about.  I did promise not to whine, moan, or groan here, so that take half the fun out of the things running through my head. ; ) 

   Tonight, after a shift that had LOTS of floor mopping(and sweating),  I stopped at the lake to go swimming.  I go to North Higgins Lake State Park.  This lake is in my fond memories of childhood, and one of the reasons for coming home.  Tonight, I was reminded why.  I met a man and his two sons.  They were camping for the night, on their way home from the U.P.  (Upper Peninsula of Michigan).  They had seen some of the most beautiful places the U.P. had to offer, but the things he kept talking about were the memories of coming here on vacation as a child, and the adventures of those trips.  His face was aglow with the memories. He kept repeating, how beautiful this lake is and how he used to waterski, and swim here.  I told him that I live about 8 miles away and that I come here often.  Not only to swim, but to listen to the waves, and watch the sky change color in the evening.  How I find comtemplation and peace here.  I feel a connection that I feel nowhere else.  We talked about our induvidual lives, and his sons were introduced.  The youngest, walking around with binoculars, swearing he'd just spotted an eagle.  Probably not, but I told him it was certainly possible.  The older son, running up with a shell, or feather for examination and addition to his collection.  I have several of those in my collection at home.  Dad asked me how to remind his sons of this beautiful place, which he has loved for years, I said "Just tell them how much it meant to you to be able to show them this place of your childhood memories" and to save a few of those shells and feathers.  Seeing them together reminded me of the first time I brought my son to this same park.  Well, actually the second, he was too young to remember the first, being only 2.  He  came for 10 days over the 4th of July in 2005.  We went swimming and stayed to watch the fireworks over the lake.  That turned out to be the last ones to be held there.  Anyway, he told me that he now understood why I would never go swimming in Ohio.(yucky water)  I explained that it was more than just the beauty.  That this lake will always be a part of me.   I'll always remember camping, meeting kids that you never saw again, but were the best of friends with for that short period of time.  The smell of the campfires, listening to the crickets and other critters(nope, don't want to know what they were), eating way too many burnt marshmellows.  I'd like to say Thank You to Brian, Alexander, and Andrew, for reminding me just exactly why.