- Not the lake I was in. Although, I wouldn’t mind visiting. This one is in Poland. I forgot my camera this weekend and deeply regret it.
There are so many reasons I love being a writer.
There are so many reasons I have to be a writer.
You can’t see/feel/experience the things I observe/absorb/do without it spilling out somehow.
In one single weekend:
Canoeing got canceled because the rains raised the river and some guy drowned. (How sad for him and his family. I hope somehow something good comes of it.)
We played in the lake instead. We swam out to the floaty thing that says, “Don’t swim any further!!!” and then jumped off of it and held hands and tried to touch the squishy, murky lake-floor.
My toes will never forget the feeling of cold, foreign mud.
My ears will never forget the pressure and cold of water too deep for
the sun.
My heart will never forget the thrill of, “ohmigosh I could drown,”
along with the comfort of “but I’ve got loved ones
holding on to me–just in case.”
Then, after swimming and gulping lake water for hours, we get out for a picnic (it was charming) and hear some little girls say, “Ewww. A dead body. I just saw it. F#@$!” LITTLE GIRLS. We were like, “What????????” and then we realized they were just playing. NOT FUNNY. AND WASH YOUR MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP! well, kinda funny, in a sad way.
Then my grandma explains that they are probably pretending that because people did find a dead body, “over there a couple days ago.” WHY HAVE YOU LET ME SWIM/GULP THIS WATER!!!! blech blech blech. I mean, I know lakes are dirty, and they probably all have dead bodies in them, but I don’t want to be confronted with it!
Gosh, how many things in my life do I know but try to ignore so I can go on oblivious and happy.?.
Also, what’s up with all the dead bodies???
Then we had a wonderful birthday fiesta back at my grandparents’ amazing, cozy, beautiful home in the woods and when they prayed for the food, my family prayed for me, too (since it was my b-day) and brought me to tears, because I don’t know what I would be without their love. Also, because I can be so self-centered and idiotic, and they’ve seen all of my worst sides and they still love me and pray for me. Family is so beautiful.
The next day we went on a ride safari through the woods jungle and surprised some really fast deer gazelles and saw a cow lion. It was amazing! And we went to these old caves where the Native Americans used to hang out and we looked for arrowheads. And my husband is Miami tribe, so he was really excited. We carved our names into a rock and read all the other names, including WESTLEY 1914 (which is one of the inspirations for my MC’s name). And I thought of all the other amazing people who played in the shade of the cave over the centuries.
Then I got home and I found out that one of my friends who shares June 4th as her birthday was hit by a drunk driver Thursday night. The same night I was celebrating an awesome contest win and driving to the lake holding my lovey’s hand.
She’s alive, thank God. with the addition of titanium plates in her face.
Somehow, it doesn’t seem fair, but she’s alive, and I guess that’s the best birthday present you could give either of us.
God, thank you so much for life and love and adventure, and please keep all of my loved ones safe.
Peace ♥
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