You planned your vacation, and with anticipation you set out on your adventure not quite sure of what you should expect. You are prepared for anything, and everything. You've traveled far, and now at last you find yourself searching for the sign that will point you in the right direction. It appears and before you know it you have turned down the road to the lake. The trees surround you and you can feel that hard packed dirt road that reminds you of when you were young. Going fishing or camping with your parents. It is all coming back to you. The smell of fresh water, pine trees, wildflowers blow through your open window. Up a head you see a sign that reminds you to drive slow because children are playing. Below the sign names are listed. The Grandchildren of Ed and Colleen Taylor. You see the swingset with children playing at the park and then the road opens up to a large lot. You are there. You feel like you have been here before. In your dreams, perhaps. It feels familiar. It feels like home.
You park your truck, and trailer and slowly stretch the miles off your tired body. You open the door, and find yourself standing beside your boat. Looking around you see the water. Rainy lake, the boat launch, the trees, the cabins, and the small store. Everything fresh and clean... like looking at an old photo. Your host appears and welcomes you. Casual, and professional. His Grandchildren run to catch up with him. Within minutes you are pointed to your cabin and begin to put your boat in the water. It's been a long day, but you are suddenly refeshed. You won't need that nap, since your energy seems restored already. Even unpacking your groceries, and camping supplies is effortless. All with anticipation of heading out for that boat ride. Your chance to explore the area. You have found the perfect place to getaway from all the business of what seems now, as the outside world. You are in a world of your own. Your cabin is more than what you expected even though you have seen pictures of it online. The view tempts you to pull up a chair. But you descide that you will save that book for later. When the sun is setting, and your steak and potatos are cooking on the Bar-B-Q. That is of coarse your backup plan for supper. What your really hoping for is a fresh feed of fish. This keeps you going, and before you know it you are pushing off the dock. It seems like slow motion, pulling that first fish into the boat. You realize you are watching yourself as though watching a movie. Trying to capture this moment so it will last forever. And then, you have another fish on the line. Now there is no time to be wasting, the fish are biting, and you have some serious fishing to do.
Your family realizes that you are in your own little world, having your very own experiences. But they don't mind. They let you have them, as they themselves are caught in a time frame of peaceful existance. The colors on the pages of the coloring book look better than ever. Almost alive, as the wind gently blows the corner of the page she is working on. She is almost done her work of art, and has already planned what she will be doing next. She needs Mom to finish peeling the potatoes for supper so they can walk down to the park. First she will play in the sand and make a castle, then she will play on the swings... and when she is done she will dip her toes in the water to see if the water is warm enough to swim in. Finally she feels the sand on her bare feet. It is wonderful and warm. The other children must have gone for supper because she is alone at the little park with her Mom. Then she sees her brother standing at the end of a dock with a fishing rod in his hand. He is wearing swimming shorts and a life jacket. Slowly and steadily he continues to cast his hook into the lake. He's trying to catch the big Northerns that live under the dock. The ones that feed on minnows thrown in by the camp owners all summer. He doesn't mind that the only thing he has caught so far is sea bass. Which look a lot like weeds. He is just standing there in silence. Casting.
As the sun begins to set the family gathers around a picnic table on the deck of their cabin. The fish are frying, the potatoes are cooking and the salads have already been made. Looking out they see the stillness of the water and the reflection of the sunset. It is a state of meditation, and reflection that seems to keep the entire family in a trance as they wait for supper. A fisherman's feast with his family, and then at last, exhaustion sets in and the family members find their rooms and settle into bed. The blankets are warm and cozy and the window is open just enough for the family to listen to the sounds of night on Rainy Lake. A clean cool breeze carries the scent of nature into the room and it surrounds each sleepy soul with sweet visions of the day. At last in sleep, the family rests until the morning birds and sunrise will wake them for another day in paradise.
By: Candice Kadikoff
