That 29 Years Went By In A Hurry

Can it already be 29 years since we bought our little slice of heaven in northern Minnesota? Sadly, the answer is 'yes'. Her Majesty received a phone call from a realtor friend in 1994 who lived on Ten Mile Lake a few miles north of Hackensack, Minnesota and the woman said, "If you want a lake place buy now because this one will go fast." And so we purchased sight unseen. With lake homes it isn't the greatness of the home it's the shoreline and we had 250 ft of it and so we bought. 

We have made massive improvements in the place made over the years. Unlike most lake homes we had a basement but that's all it was; it had a concrete floor but now we have a living room and bedroom. The previous owner was a guy who was forced out by our neighbors. He had a habit of putting salt licks in the yard then shooting the deer who wandered onto the property. That's a 'no-no' in most parts of the world. Basically, the cabin was a shell. The owner didn't care much about decor on the inside so we were left with the task of redoing pretty much everything. It's worked out well. 

There have been major changes made over the years during my times up here and the great part of them deal with my attitude. When we bought I was 48 years of age. I'd get up here from Ohio for two weeks. Her Majesty was a school teacher and she'd spend the summer. When I did come I'd have to 'Go, Go, Go' at everything. I bought a boat, of course. I mean a guy has to get out on the lake and fish. I'd play golf and I'd go to the casino. Of course, I'd hit all the bistros and sample their variety of fine beers; Hamm's, Milwaukee's Best, Grain Belt. For me the best beers were the cheapest. I mean, after three who cares?

A couple days ago I was telling The Queen something that made her gasp. I was sitting around the fireplace and said, "You know, I could live up here. At my age I would be content to sit around the fire pit looking at eagles flying overhead. I can gaze upon the water and imagine there are huge walleye waiting for me but I'll be non-visible to them for a couple of reasons: (1) I sold my boat. Upkeep got to be a pain in the rear and with me being here so little what was the point and (2) I'm too damn old and too damned tired to do much of anything except put another log on the fire." The Lady was aghast at my observations. Furthermore, I was aghast at my thinking, too. I ask myself, whatever happened to the guy who threw caution to the wind on anything? I have the answer. He got old.

Here's a prime example of how I've changed in my thinking. Last Sunday Queenie drove into our drive after a visit to the grocery store in Hackensack. With a population of 600 it's, after Walker, our metropolis. Anyway, she mentioned that every dashboard light on Suburu was setting off signals telling us the car is on life support. Since it was the Labor Day week-end I knew we wouldn't be able to leave the compound and know what? I didn't care because I still had the fire pit to keep me busy.

We had the car towed into Walker, pop. in winter 900. It swells to thousands in summer because it's on the southern shore of Leech Lake, one of Minnesota's largest. If you didn't know Walker is in Cass County. There are 230 lakes in the county which means there are thousands of thrill seekers looking for summer fun and most of them shoot up here from Iowa.  

I'll await the verdict on the car. I shouldn't be so negative on the outcome but before it was hauled away I gave it the last rites. It's the least I could do.