Those were the days. I was lying in bed thinking about summer fast approaching and how those were my favorite days growing up on Lake Sylvia in Annandale, MN. My parents were both school teachers, so they had the summers off, which was glorious and some of the most fun times that I can remember. Everyone came back to their cabins on the lake in the summer. What I miss the most is the sense of community and connection we had back then. Those were the days I will never forget, those are the days I will never regret; reminds me of the track by Lady Sovereign. She is an English rapper that tells it like it is. It's a pretty great track actually in case you want to have a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-_6AnIwjCg
I remember walking around barefoot all day on gravel roads until dusk eating sugar mixed with koolaid powder. I remember rocking the inner tube on the lake trying to knock each other off. I remember sun bathing to the point I was blistered on my shoulders and nose. I remember going from house to house and getting candy. Back then love was shown in the form of sugar or at least that was my experience. I remember swinging on the swinging chair on Marlys's patio over looking the lake. I remember Marlys giving me hershey's chocolates. I remember Marlys gifting us our first black cat Jingles. I remember Marlys and Sandy coming to my grandparents day at school, because my grandma wasn't very nice, and didn't really come to visit very often. I remember getting to eat brownies and chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast when staying with Marlys and Sandy. I remember playing starlight moonlight with the neighbors. I remember my best friend Rachael Ferry at my house pretty much all summer. She would stay for weeks at a time. She brought so much joy and laughter to my family. She would recite all of Little Mermaid to me word for word and song for song. She is so smart and funny. I remember sleeping in the boathouse, sneaking out, and walking to the end of the gravel road to run in front of cars from miles away. I remember sneaking alcohol and cigarettes at a young age. I remember playing all day and night with very little TV time. I remember playing with both barbies and cars. I remember being a daddy's girl or tom boy. I remember pancake John and popcorn John. He made the best popcorn and pancakes. I remember when pancake/popcorn John fell off the ladder building us a tree fort. I remember pancake/popcorn John spilling a can of stain on my lifejacket. I remember Bonfire Bonnie and Burning Bonnie and all the bonfires and the neighbors coming over. I remember the frozen pizza. I remember the shit on a shingle that my Dad made when my mom was out of town. I remember my Dad burning everything that he grilled. I remember fishing for sunnies, walleyes, and northerns on Lake Sylvia. I remember the paddle boat. I remember taking the fishing boat out looking for boys. I remember all the pontoon rides. I remember Bob taking us water skiing. I remember learning how to drop a ski and slalom ski. I remember tubing behind the speed boat. I remember people just randomly stopping by to visit. I remember all the card games. I remember all the parties.
So I long for the days when we become more connected as a community and more open to spontaneity and connection. I long for the days of no electronics at the table. How do we bring this back?
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