Usually in late August when we see friends in the suburbs they'll often comment, "Where have you been? I haven't seen you for a while? Did you go someplace? You haven't been around." My standard answer is, "Sorry we missed you. We've been at the lake." But that can be a little vague so I thought I'd write out what it means to be "at the lake". Or better yet, post some pictures. This is a picture of Nixon Beach at Apple Canyon Lake that my then DD13 took in the fall a few years ago. Every summer they set up a buoy line for swimmers marking the depth as well as a raft for the adventurous to swim out to. But it all gets picked up in the fall because this lake freezes. It is pretty but there is something missing. This is a picture of Apple Canyon Lake's North Bay in winter. Note the trees have no leaves, the water is frozen over, and you can even see some snow on top of the ice. The edge of the front porch gives some indication that there are human residents around but this area is truly dominated by nature herself. It is beautiful but something is still missing. We're getting warmer in the next picture. It is the spillway where Apple Canyon Lake empties into a stream that joins up with Apple River and then the Mississippi. It is summer in this photo. And there are people. Special people. The girl driving has been enjoying Apple Canyon Lake since she was 1.5 year old. Move the decimal and in a blink she is 15. The little girl on the back has never known life without summers at Apple Canyon Lake. Still, it looks mostly like nature so far. What's the big deal about being at the lake? It's the friends! Nature is beautiful but friends are fun. There are two kinds of friends at Apple Canyon Lake; "company" and "neighbors". Company are friends from back home we invite out for a short visit. They usually enjoy the experience and we enjoy sharing our special haunts with them. But company is temporary and their visits always end. Still, it is nice to have a shared reference point back at home whenever the topic comes up. The second type of friends at the lake are Apple Canyon Lake neighbors. These are people who live it. These are kids and families who also have lake homes. Their main home is in the suburbs but they spend large portions of their summers and small portions of their winters at the lake. These kids have grown up seasonally around the same thing, being at the lake. They've known each other since they were babies and experienced so much together. They learned to swim together in the community pool where the life guards also know them each by name and water skill level. They have explored the woods; seen each other tubing and wake boarding on the lake; caught frogs, fish, fireflies, snakes, even spiders. They respect nature because they play outdoors. You have to when swinging on a 14' rope swing. They enjoy trail rides in 4 wheelers and golf carts and trips to Galena for pizza, popcorn, ice cream, and chocolate. They have grown through all sizes of life jackets, swim suits, sun glasses, and flip flops. They know how to build camp fires; what it takes to make the perfect s'more; and what the stars look like at night without suburban light pollution. They fish, shoot arrows, climb trees, and explore gullies. They can spot tadpoles, tree frogs, painted turtles, and wild blackberries while riding backwards on trail carts going 15 miles an hour. They know about the treasure tree and that the marina store sells both fish bait and cream. All of them can jump off the diving board into 12' of water and some do it with expert style. Most importantly, they know what it means to be good neighbors. Their families treat one another with respect, kindness, and joy. This is what makes childhood great. Going to the same small town fireworks each 4th of July and hearing the same patriotic songs play during the show. Seeing those small town folks bid crazy amounts of money at the annual 4th of July Fireworks "pie auction" because that's how they fund it. ($250 for one strawberry-rhubarb pie is common.) Somehow there are always snacks around even though there is no place for miles to shop. Somehow the kids always think up something to do even though there are no video games, shopping malls, or outdoor TV's. Somehow doors remained unlocked, lost items are returned, posted signs are obeyed. It's good people that make life good. And a childhood "at the lake" is truly good.
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Brenda G.Enjoying the journey through my kids' childhood as a home educating mom. (And no, I don't have time for a blog but sometimes you just gotta write.) Archives
April 2019
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