Happy Independence Day
We have a saying in the Northwoods: There are two seasons, Winter and The Fourth of July. The latter is a quick 24 hours of tradition, which always includes a trip to the parade in downtown Lac du Flambeau. Except for when the 4th fell on a Saturday, we haven't missed it in 16 years. What was different about it this year is that our girls, Camille (left in photo) and Willow, didn't participate. It's not enough I had to face my daughter becoming a teenager this year, I also had to face that they're both now too old (or is it too sophisticated?) to participate in the kiddie bike parade that begins the festivities? Awwwww.
It's been a beautiful day here in the Northwoods. Perfect, in fact. Happy Birthday America.
After the parade, I sat on our front porch to read and keep an eye on the shop, when our guests from Lakeview Lodge happened by. A lovely woman named Joanie, who has come to the resort with her family for 11 years, came and sat with me for what we try to make a nice, annual conversation. This year we had a lot to talk about, including the death of her mother, Barbara, who was the person with whom I originally spoke and "sold" Sandy Point as a vacation destination for her family. Her mother had been ill for quite some time and Joanie was kind enough to phone me in April when they lost her to let me know. I'm grateful to our guests who do this--include me in the family news--rather than wait until they arrive and start out the vacation with bad news. Anyway, she told me that when they put photos together to display at her wake/funeral, they found very few photos of Barbara. All of them were of the kids, of course. Apparently Mom/Grandmom was behind the camera. Joanie encouraged me to make sure there were a few photos of myself available in the family archives so some day, my kids wouldn't face the same thing. Funny, just hours earlier at the parade, Mike grabbed the camera from me and said, "you're always taking the photos! We need one of you!" This is why I've opted to share this photo today.
And by the way, Joanie indicated that what photos they did find of her mother, were all taken "up North," both here at Sandy Point in her later years and in the earlier years they had spent at at resort in Hayward. Something about the Northwoods, I guess, brings out the need for us to record our happy memories and traditions.
Follow-up on Broken Bones
One week after Camille's bone setting surgery, she's recovering nicely. Thanks so much to all who've called and written inquiring about her progress. She came through the general anesthesia very well and for only a second in the recovery had a "Where Are We?" moment.
Her hot pink cast above the elbow will be on until July 11 (just four days before her 11th birthday) and then she'll get a waterproof, below-the-elbow cast put on for two more weeks. We'll keep you posted, but I'll bet she'll be water-skiing with this new cast. As for now, she's found a way to enjoy the lake with broken bones, bless her heart.
One story that must be retold . . . when her five-year-old friend Nick, who is at the resort this week with his wonderful family, heard Camille had broken her arm, his first response to his mom was, "oh, is she DEAD?"
No, Camille is NOT dead and her broken arm is not much more than a HOT PINK trophy with hospital bills to come. Ugh.
Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Drive Golf Carts
All day long I had the feeling something BAD was going to happen while watching the kids zip around the resort in our new golf cart. We kept the old cart and offer it to our guests who need a little assistance getting around, however, the girls didn't keep the old rules in place. They are supposed to ask permission to use the cart and NOT use it for joy-riding.
Well joy riding turned into pain riding when a sharp-turn near the lake caused a capsize. Willow, the driver, was fine, and so were two resort kids--thank GOD! But Camille's arm is broken in two spots and on Friday she has to return to the hospital where she was born in order to undergo surgery to set the bent bone. OUCH!
Do you think they learned their lesson?
Model Children
Willow and Camille have been earning their keep around Sandy Point Resort so far this season. Not only are they helping out in the shop and running messages--their usual chores--they're also making beds and cleaning bathrooms. For 13 years, I've wondered when this day would arrive.
When we first bought Sandy Point Resort, we didn't have children. I joked about hoping to give birth to a 16 year old boy in order to help out with all the chores. Turns out, teen-aged and adolescent girls are just as helpful. We just had to wait a few years.
At left Willow shows off another of her "skills," as a model for Dream Life Designs Jewelry. Featured is a four-strand turquoise nugget necklace. Available in the online shop. Willow and Camille have both been "model children." If you click on the menu bar where it reads SHOP and go to the jewelry department, you'll see our latest designs and their modeling efforts.
Have a gem of a week.
Aren't They Beautiful?
