water in my soul

i'm back from ten days in minnesota and wisconsin. ten days was almost too long; my heart aches for the big skies and blue water, even the heat and the humidity - it has a different feel there where the air is cleaner. the days were not necessarily without activity, but what happenings filled them did so with ease. there were moments for deep breaths throughout the day. i only notched one nap but it was a lovely one on the most uncomfortable couch you could imagine. somehow, with the lake breeze coming in the window, the dog next to me, and the sound of dad working on his latest project outside, i drifted off to a sound sleep.

i have been visiting the cabin for thirty-one years. it has been in dad's life much longer. somehow i am certain it has become intertwined in our lives, part of our souls; it makes us who we are. i never forget to be thankful for having this place and its memories. each time a bald eagle flies overhead or a loon calls out in the dark, it is like the first time. it cannot be taken for granted because it is constantly amazing, showing new sides of itself. a huge thunderstorm rolled through one afternoon while mom and i were out buying perennials for a garden i had planned; was saw it in every stage, coming, drizzling, pouring, booming, blowing, and marching on to the next town. the sky changed color by the minute. by the time we arrived home the sun was back out and a breeze was blowing perfect cotton ball clouds along through the blue sky. no where else does it look so fantastic.

i also had time to spend with friends in the boundary waters, a spectacular place where motors of every kind are prohibited and the lakes are rimmed with ancient stone and towering trees. it is hard work getting into the backcountry there; portages with boats and bags and paddles make you earn each stretch of water traveled. strong head winds seem to thwart any forward progress. but just as the wind in your ears can be deafening, so can the utter silence. at times the water sits still in its cauldrons, not even lapping the shores, reflecting truer than a mirror. dusk and dawn are more precious here than just about anywhere else i've ever been, and they linger for hours. mist hangs on the trees and water in the mornings, waiting for the sun's warmth to disperse it. winds come and go and finally settle with the setting sun. loons calls echo off the rocks just as your own laughter had while swimming and jumping off rocks earlier in the day.

after our canoe trip we spent an impromptu evening in a lodge on the north shore of lake superior. we laughed and joked about the retro plaid carpeting, wobbly table-top fan in the room, and stuffed animals on the walls, but the view of the lake in the morning was nothing to joke about. waking up to lake superior is magical. cool air was coming in the window and another perfect summer day was getting started. the heat was rare for the north shore, but taking advantage of it was easy - we donned swim suits and ran into the 45-degree water, jumping in and running out as quickly as we could. we sat on the big warm rocks and overcame the chill, dug around in the stones, looking for agates. we spent an hour or two there, and i felt more like a kid than i have in a very long time. i have never lived near lake superior but there is something about it that feels just like home to me. each time i see it in the rearview mirror as we climb out of duluth i am hit by a bit of sadness to be leaving it behind. but it is a constant; it will be there when i return.

back in minneapolis you are never far from a lake. as we drove to get coffee and breakfast on saturday we were a stone's throw from lake calhoun, with all the runners and cyclists out before the day grew too hot. after i visited with grandpa on sunday i drove near lake harriet to allow myself time for a deep breath. so many memories in that place, of family and, now, friends. there may be more famous places to spend a summer vacation, but to me it doesn't get better than being in minnesota and wisconsin. i only wish i could stay longer. there is so much water, and it makes me feel like i'm at home.