Just Write {43}

July 10, 2012

The lake is my happy place. My home. I love the way the water catches the light and the way the spray feels coming up over the sides of the boat. I love the faint fish smell mixed with sunscreen and fresh air. On the 4th of July, I loved sitting in a tube with Ryan, bouncing and laughing like little girls. (Yes, my husband, he does go right ahead and laugh like a little girl. It’s actually more inspiring than it is disturbing, surprisingly.)

We bounced and let the sun reflect off our white legs and our boys watched from the boat, timid. Then we swam and Miles’ face lit up when I dumped myself over the back of the tube in a backwards somersault.

Lakes make you feel more alive and it’s been so hot that the water was warm, I swear. It kept us from feeling the 100 degrees. That’s what a lake can do; it can change things. And when you’re in one, on a hot and humid 4th of July, you are summer and you’re free.

A couple of days later, outside of the lake and in the air conditioned house I was working and working, getting writing gigs done. I had that feeling of guilt in trying to juggle typing and mom-ing at the same time. I was touching base with my friend Deb about an upcoming work trip to LA and Asher came up behind me and put little towel on my back and called me Supermom. He patted me lightly and ran off to play with Miles.

I couldn’t help it, I told Deb and then she said she needs an Asher. It made me think that Asher is a lot like a lake–a jolt of joy that reminds you that it’s summer and you’re okay.

This is the 42nd installment of Just Write, an exercise in free writing your ordinary and extraordinary moments{Please see the details here.}  I would love to read your freely written words so join me and link up below. You can add the url of your post at any time. Just be sure it’s a link to your Just Write post, not to your main pageThen please link back to this post in your post so people know where to go if they’d like to join in.) (Any links not following those two guidelines will be deleted.)

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{ 11 comments }

Shelly Miller July 10, 2012 at 8:17 am

I’m counting the days (ten to be exact) until our family does the 22 hour drive to our family cottage on a beautiful lake in Ontario. And you said it perfectly. Something about being on a lake that makes you feel free and giddy like a little girl all over again. Thanks for instilling that anticpation of joy here this morning.
Shelly Miller recently posted..Shed the Guilt, Because You Are Enough

Tricia July 10, 2012 at 8:28 am

I just want to read this over and over. The smell of fish and sunscreen,the feeling of being summer, and you the super mom. This makes me smile and feel more summer on this non-vacation day. Thank you for sharing :)
Tricia recently posted..The nurturer

Julie July 10, 2012 at 9:18 am

I love this. It totally brings back memories of times that my family went camping or on vacation and swam in the water. Seeing (or rather reading) that other families create their own memories like this makes my heart swell. You are blessed. *smile*
Julie recently posted..I love it when he calls me “Juju”…

molly July 10, 2012 at 9:26 am

I am a water person. I am also a summer person. I love smelling sunscreen on their baked skin.
molly recently posted..Good Tired

robin July 10, 2012 at 11:06 am

kids are totally jolts of joy. And isn’t it amazing how something as simple as a lake can create such joy and great memories!
robin recently posted..talking openly about the One you love

tracy@sellabitmum July 10, 2012 at 2:13 pm

I’m having a very hard time management my work/life/summer balance right now. I’ve found myself crying on the bathroom floor more time than I’d like to admit..and that’s no vacation.

Love this my friend. Also love that Asher.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Because I’m Hotter in My Contacts I’m Taking the #BiotrueChallenge

Gina July 10, 2012 at 2:20 pm

Lake does equal summer. For me too. It’s such a simple, simple thing…the water, the smells, lending to the ability to just hang. It sure made the 105 degree heat wave pass more easily as we floated the temps away. Love the end with Asher. Special time, special kid!

Erica@PLRH July 10, 2012 at 2:35 pm

I love this. My happy place is a lake also. The place where I grew up so many years ago. Now I live in FL and fresh water lakes are out of the question with the snakes and alligators. The ocean is beautiful but not the same. I miss my lake.

Gianna July 10, 2012 at 2:44 pm

OH, that is so sweet!
Sometimes when I’m the most upset that I’m scaring myself, that’s when my oldest pats my arm, looks up at me and says, “I love you, Mom!”

She makes it all worth it. Her heart is so BIG.
Big like a lake. I love it.

And honestly, I think only a true MN girl would compare her child to a lake! Ya know?
Gianna recently posted..It’s Hot.

Elizabeth July 10, 2012 at 5:32 pm

I love your words here, Heather. I have just experienced this, summer lake joy in Michigan, a brand new place for me. The lake and all water really have a profound way with our souls. Yours words today brought me joy too. Thank you for sharing your gift.
Elizabeth recently posted..Breaking the Break

Heather July 11, 2012 at 2:17 pm

So very true, about the lake, and I love how you linked it to the freshness of a child :)
Heather recently posted..Hold On, Summer

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