Yesterday was the last lake day of the summer, and I never ever not once brought my camera to capture the fact that I was returning to the lake of my childhood, the lake where Jen and I once let ourselves drift in an inner tube until we were in the far, reedy corner and refused to put our legs in a paddle because it was too gross so someone had to fetch us. Besides, the lake isn’t all that photogenic. There’s a lot of shallow water, and some ducks, and lovely shade trees, and picnic tables. But there, that spot on the way out is where we once stopped to pick some kind of berry that must not have been poisonous because we’re still alive. And there are the paddleboats we begged our mothers to rent, probably the very same paddleboats, and the little shack selling sweets.
The people who run the park have not updated their website to say what will happen to the park – drained, filled, allowed to turn into a West Nile haven – now that the dam that created it is removed/being removed. There are no signs at the park itself. But, chances are, that was the last lake day ever. People with kids are starting school, and that means that I have to get ready to start school at the end of September. My warning signal.
Fortunately, the weather is finally summery again. The tomatoes keep ripening. The sunflowers won’t stop growing taller. I could still go play badminton in my parents’ back yard.
6 comments
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August 29, 2007 at 9:28 am
Di
I’m gonna miss that lake. It was such a great place to watch Ospreys and bald Eagles wrangle over their fish.
August 29, 2007 at 10:29 pm
maria
We got kicked out because we stayed till almost past 8pm… Grumpy groundholders…
I will miss that lake!! I hope we can find a new place.
Who is Di? Do we meet at the lake each week?
maria.
August 30, 2007 at 10:11 am
jessmonster
Di is my cousin – or really, my cousin’s wife – and another lake fan.
August 31, 2007 at 12:43 pm
J
You know, I tried to post comments, and they’ve gotten erased. Erased, I tell you!
Anyway. Here goes.
I wish we’d gotten to see your lake this summer. It must’ve not been too far out or you wouldn’t have been able to visit as often as you did. Well. Sheeze.
August 31, 2007 at 10:28 pm
jessmonster
Well, I certainly have not been erasing them. The lake is near Sandy, so it’s about 45 minutes for me. What are you so disgruntled about?
September 2, 2007 at 10:33 am
J
i just don’t know.