Monday has gotten a bad rap. Traditionally we've hated to see Mondays arrive as they signal the beginning of the work week. Here on our little vacation, however, Monday brings welcome sights and sounds, or better said, a lack there of. You see, our little paradise remains rather quiet Monday through Thursday. The only folks who are here are the folks who have traveled far to get to this quiet little lake, and who tend to respect others who have ventured great distances to enjoy the peace and quiet. Weekends, however, find the locals flooding in. The sights and sounds change dramatically for 48-72 hours. Here is a page from my journal of my observations on Saturday:
What is the point? This scene includes such a vast array of people in pursuit, pursuing an answer - their answer.
There are the grandparents who have set aside these days to invest totally of themselves into the life of their ten year old grandson. He has just emerged from their camper in his red bicycle helmet, eagerly awaiting his Grandpa's success in removing his bicycle from the roof-top carrier on their car.
Next to them an entire family of anglers have settled in. They are serious about their fishing as is evidenced by the amount of their gear that litters the bank of the lake, and the patience it must take for them to have spent every waking hour this day bating hooks and casting out lines, with little or no luck as best as I can tell.
Still further down the row are four young adults. By all appearances they are gearing up for a weekend of the sort their parents would likely disapprove. Their loud music spoils the calm on the lake. Their conversations and accompanying laughter get louder with each can of Budweiser they consume. The last round of raucous laughter came when the two boys stripped to the waist and jumped into the lake in their blue-jeans some ten yards from a big sign that clearly reads "No Swimming Allowed". The girls retreated briefly into their cabin, emerging in scant bathing attire to join them - one of the girls daringly stressing the limits of the material that composed her bathing suit; a "whole 'lotta butt and a little bit of britches" would have been my father's description of the scene.
Finally there is that family of six at the end of the row. Mom, Dad and four children sequestered here for a chance to reacquaint themselves after what has been a busy year - work, school and activities having carried them all in opposite directions for most of the time.
Well, that's how it looked on Saturday. This morning it is much nicer. Quiet. Calm. The sun rose and I've been watching it dance off the water all morning while the rest of my family sleeps in. I've got pancakes and maple flavored sausage ready to go on the griddle when they wake up.
Oh and speaking of meals - for those of you who have heard of my campsite grilling exploits, we're off to a good start. The seasoned shrimp sosates were a hit on Friday. My chile-jack chicken with pineapple went over really well on Saturday night. Shari and I found it was especially tasty when accompanied by a Wailua Beer (a Hawaiian Wheat Beer w/Passion Fruit). Last night we went simple - Montreal steak tips and grilled veggies (potatoes, carrots, roasted peppers and onions). Wish you were here.
yum! I had a salad at wendy's for dinner. =( haha, come back! I want some pineapple chicken =)
I'm glad you all are having a fun time though.
Posted by: amanda | July 28, 2008 at 09:06 PM