The lake. The river. My home away from home. There aren’t many places I feel as comfortable as I do out on the water. There is just something about floating all day and taking it all in. It is difficult to describe the feeling I have when I get the first glimpse of the lake at the start of the season. That sounds extremely cliché, but it’s the truth.
I have had the greatest and worst experiences of my life out on the water. The worst include being caught in massive storms, getting a little to close for comfort to some oncoming boats and my sweet sister almost being taken out by a seadoo….but the great ones are just that, great. I have shared so many laughs, stories, life lessons, memories and more. The good always out does the bad by miles.
I have found myself many times feeling a little down, but all I need is a little river therapy. As soon as I’m on that boat, all my worries were left on land. Something about being out on the water is calming. You are able to see the immensity of the world around you. Nature, in all of its glory, sits right in front of you.
Plus, how could I not mention all the excitement. ‘Redneck Yacht Club’ and ‘Pontoon’ are basically the script to each time I’m on the river or the lake. There is nothing but fun and more fun to be had. There may be a slight hinder in the fun when you take a rough spill off the tube after 14 donuts, 10 foot waves, and having the wind knocked out of you, but you recover with a slight headache and all is well again. (Side note: If this has never happened to you, I promise you weren't having as much fun as you should have been.)
I am extremely grateful for many things, as I should be, but the opportunity to spend every summer as a so called ‘river rat’ is one of my greatest blessings. There are no other memories I will cherish more than those spent at the lake with my favorite people in the whole world. The view is beautiful, but it is more tremendous when I look around and see a boat full of smiling faces.
So to all you beach bums, you can keep your white sandy beaches. Send me to the lake with a cooler, an innertube and a pair of skis. I promise, I’ll be the happiest gal you’ve ever seen.
