Memories of My Youth

I did it to myself today. Since I am imprisoned in Detroit metro this weekend, I planned to drive to Chicago metro to visit my cousin Tom. I missed out the last time I stayed a weekend in the Great Lakes December since this fucking weather took me down for the flu all that weekend. Now I am healthy to take the drive.

On the way I took a detour off I-94 to Sister Lakes, MI. What a time to forget my camera!! Dewey Lake (one of the Sister Lakes) was the lake that my parents had a summer cottage when I was growing up. Every summer that was my home on Huckleberry Lane - Dewey Lake. This is a natural lake where I remember picking out clams, snails and tadpoles. I was a tomboy!! No girly-girl would ever touch those slimy things. I managed to find the patience to fish with my father in that lake and caught crappies (pronounced 'croppies') and wide-mouth sea bass with worms on hooks and fake minnow lures. Many summers I spent there just looking out at the lake at dusk and many mornings I woke up to the glass top of the lake without any ripples yet. We had a ski boat; learned how to water ski there and also lost my innocence there as well. Wow - I miss those times.

The detour was a challenge since it was > 30 years ago when I was last there; couldn't remember all the turns. I had to stop off at a gas station to ask how to get to that lake so I can remember the lot where we lived for the summer. Finally found it! More houses built around the cul-de-sac, and the homes there have second stories. They weren't like that when I was there as a little girl. My have things changed. Even the cottage that we lived in the summer no longer exists. There is a different structure there and the old weeping willow tree in the front yard that had a tire swing is gone. At least the existing house is as small as the cottage we had on that lot. Owners name "Chalpoukpa's" on the sign above the entry of the door. The next door neighbor's structure added a second floor yet the 3-unit rental on the other side was the same; just different painted colors. I was compelled to run through the snow out to the lakefront. The lake is frozen over, I saw a guy out in the middle ice fishing. Otherwise the memories of watching the water day and evening came back even with the snow and frozen lake in front of me - it was bright and sunny out. Then all of a sudden the memory was ruined by a father and son taking out their ATV's onto the lake. So much for the peace and quiet. Driving back out of this area made me realize that the road back when I was young was much longer to walk than I see as an adult. I took another turn down the street where I picked wild rasberries. No more - full of houses - those fuckers!! Sigh! Back to I-94 and into Chicago for my visit. Later!