Some Things Never Change
July 11, 2009 at 6:53 am , by Emily
Yesterday ended with one of those perfect evenings, where everything was good, everyone was smiling, and I wanted it to last forever. It started with something small – my son smearing himself with spaghetti sauce at the dinner table instead of eating it. I bet you would’ve done what I did. I took him out of his seat and threw him in the lake.
And so began an evening of splashing and fun, just me and my kids, like no other evening since we arrived here a month ago. I helped my daughter practice swimming on her own. The kids jumped in over and over again. I swam way out, letting the light waves pass over me. The sky was brilliant from the setting sun.
As I swam, looking back at the dock where the kids played, I realized how everything is the same here. Everything that matters anyway. My kids are learning to swim off of the same dock that I learned to swim the day that I ran down and jumped in forgetting my arm floaties at the age of 4. They spend hours jumping and splashing in the same place that my own brother and I did. I can’t help but sit and watch them and think of the endless hours spent trying to stand on our inflatable rafts, tipping each other over, dunking each other under, and tiring ourselves out during endless summer days.
I have all these memories, wonderful memories. When I see my kids making the same ones in the same place I know why this place is special. It has little to do with nice homes on the lake. It has to do with the people, the things we do, the way we spend our time. This is why we vacation here.
Now that I am an adult, I get to experience this place in two ways – the way of a grown up who has dishes to do, laundry to fold, and kids to keep alive by the water. But also as a kid again. I get to do cannonballs off the dock, splash and play with my kids, and experience those endless summer days from 25 years ago all over again.
This is a place where the view never changes, the people are the same, the days are the same. The sounds are the same. The same wooden screen door that I slammed shut my entire childhood is the same screen door that I spend my days telling my kids not to let slam. Don’t tell them, but I like when it slams. That slamming screen door sounds like summer at the lake.
In this crazy fast paced world where it feels like there is a never ending demand for bigger, better and more, it is nice to know that I can always come to this place. A place where some things never change.
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by keri
On July 11, 2009 at 9:04 am
Such a lovely post and the picture is beautiful, Makes me wish I could jump right in too!
I think it’s wonderful that your children can experience the same things you did, such a lovely gift.
keri´s last blog post..Free Pattern Friday: Simple Ribbon Headband
[Reply]
by cindy platt
On July 11, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Word. Milk every second for this day will never come again… until you are doing it with your grandchildren.
cindy platt´s last blog post..How to Nurture a Writer
[Reply]
by Chele
On July 11, 2009 at 6:05 pm
WOW Emily! You really are a great writer! I wanted to read more!! Thanks for posting this, it made my day!
Chele´s last blog post..No Shame Here!
[Reply]
by lori
On July 11, 2009 at 6:11 pm
What a wonderful way to spend your summer! When you leave, take the memories with you and let them calm you in times of stress.
[Reply]
by melissa @ the inspired room
On July 13, 2009 at 1:01 am
So great to have a place like that to build those priceless memories!!
melissa @ the inspired room´s last blog post..The Pottery Barn Basic Sofa Saga & Confessions
[Reply]
by melissa stover
On July 14, 2009 at 12:00 am
that’s what i love about raising my children in the same town i grew up in surrounded by all my aunts and uncles. it makes some kind of unique connection and in some ways i still feel like a 10 year old kid.
melissa stover´s last blog post..The mid-year blahs
[Reply]
by Erika
On July 16, 2009 at 9:32 am
Boy do I wish I had a lake I could throw my son in sometimes! LOL I LOVED that and I just KNOW He did too. Great times for your family and I know you just love being able to bless your children with the almost same experiences that you had growing up. Great blog.
Erika´s last blog post..Learning to share…
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by Nicki at Domestic Cents
On July 21, 2009 at 7:56 am
I love this post Emily. I’ve had those days, wishing they were my ‘normal.’ Sounds absolutely blissful.
Nicki at Domestic Cents´s last blog post..A Step Back To Move Forward
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