Those of you who know me know that the place where I feel most like me is my lake in NJ. Being in it, or near it calms me...but I prefer being in the water. Actually being in the water - on 'my' rock looking out at the lake allows me to feel as if I'm ageless. I feel 5 years old - and my wise 31 year old self - and I'm able to imagine all the years in the future with children of my own swimming off the dock - and grandchildren too. I hope that I will be 85 and standing on that same rock one day. My rock also allows to me feel as though everything is okay - for those moments all worries or thoughts are completely gone.
This is the fifth summer without my mom around. (five summers!) I cannot express how five summers have passed by so quickly. I often look up at the house from the lake and can imagine her inside...getting dinner ready, taking a nap (she loved her naps)...just being. But there are those times where it truly feels like she's been gone for much longer than five summers. The house doesn't have that homey feel it once had (though my dad tries his best). Her presence can be seen but not always felt.
The time I spend at home during the summer is time I try to relax and enjoy what I'm so grateful to have - my family home, the lake, my dad, my friends, my cats. However, often when I'm driving back up north I find myself crying. I'm crying for all that I don't have, for all that I'm missing. New Jersey can be a difficult place for me to be - even with all that is there that I cherish and love.
Two weekends ago I found myself, for the first time in a long time, crying on our drive back to Massachusetts because I didn't want to leave. And that made me happy - because the reason I didn't want to leave was because I had a truly wonderful weekend. A perfect summer weekend on my lake. It felt so familiar. It felt familiar and wonderful and nostalgic all rolled together.
Graham, Peter, our friend Janelle, and I spent the weekend swimming and water skiing and taking naps and swimming(!) and just enjoying the lake on a weekend. Actually, one of my favorite parts was waking up early on Saturday morning and water skiing with Graham and his friend Paul. It was an overcast morning that turned into a complete downpour. Paul and Graham went before the squall and had decent water. I got to go after the rain - and the water was wonderfully smooth. It was the perfect way to wake up.
The main event of the weekend though was the Centennial Ball at the Lake Hopatcong Yacht Club. My favorite part about being a member is the history that surrounds the place. I won't profess to know every detail about Lake Hopatcong's history, but I do know quite a bit. I've spent many hours wishing I could go back in time to around the turn of the century and see what the place was like. Two weekends ago we had a small opportunity to feel a bit of that.
The four of us did our best to dress the part. I think we did a pretty decent job. And to top it all off...I won an award for 'best hat'!
after the award, the hat came off and we danced!
The club 100 years ago.
The club now.
edited to say...my outfit and Janelle's were rented from the absolutely wonderful Nan at Antique Costume & Prop Rental. She's by appointment only and her place is so fun!! She has costumes from every era in time you could want.
