People from all over the country come to Madison to take advantage of the world class academics, research facilities, and beautiful campus. For those who don’t hail from the Midwest, something that always peaks their interest is Lake Mendota. To some, it’s just another lake. To others, it’s a beautiful body of water that never fails to impress. Today, everyone knows someone with a cabin on a lake up north. One of the first things many Midwesterners look forward to as summer approaches is the annual pilgrimage to their own personal heavens consisting of ample amounts of water, sun, and good times.
Those lucky enough to live anywhere near one of the great lakes know the secret behind lake life. One body of water’s ability to suddenly wipe clean all of your stress and prove to be more relaxing than anything close to comparison is still a mystery. In fact, my very own happy place happens to be a lake. I could live and die on a long wooden dock stretching over glass-like water as the sun rises and its rays slice through to the bottom. The utmost silence accompanied by the occasional loon call or buzz of a dragon fly is the definition of pure bliss. Activities such as fishing, tubing and sailing keep you busy during the day. While a bonfire lights up the night paired with s’mores and a summer shandy or two. The key is to get away. You stop worrying about your 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job, impending graduation, money struggles or anything else that doesn’t involve the water. Just as the shore line is wiped away and renewed each day so is your stress free mindset.
Reconnecting with friends and family on the water forms memories that last for a lifetime. The saying “going up north” doesn’t simply mean driving up state. It means for a minimum of 24 hours you’ll be off the grid, sitting back and relaxing. It means that normal everyday life is put on hold and the only thing between you and the water is the dock you’re standing on. It means the only emotion that should be on your face is a smile and laughing is as contagious as ever. Not a single moment goes by where you don’t love exactly where you are, rain or shine. You wish those long nights full of card games, ghost stories, and dad jokes never come to an end.
Unfortunately, everything must come to an end. The last day always seems to have a certain indescribable emotion in the air. Not sadness, but a kind of bittersweet feeling knowing that you’ll be leaving the one place where your best self comes out. The time you spent there was unforgettable nonetheless. As you throw your coolers, lawn chairs, and bags into the trunk you can’t help looking back with an enormous grin knowing full well that you’ll return soon and when you do, it’ll be the just as good as you remember.
