Sunday 15 July 2012

Love and Memory at the Lake


My husband Jim and I met and married ‘up at the lake’ as we call our summer place in the Quebec Laurentians.  Jim’s parents met and married at the lake too.  Our grandparents were part of a group of friends, all english Montrealers, who bought property at the lake in the early 1920s and built houses that still stand today.  But the lake romances didn’t end with our families - my next door neighbour at the cottage married Jim’s next door neighbour too.  We joke about something in the water that makes us love-struck, but the truth is that we grew up in the days when we spent summer holidays as teenagers at the lake.  Summer romances sometimes blossom into something more, especially when courting in the canoe under the stars.  Jim and I had our 35th wedding anniversary this year.
I am writing this post at the lake - I wanted to write today about disability, but somehow I cannot bring myself to nudge my heart and soul out of the peacefulness that is here at a cottage full of memories and love.  The essence of this place is that memories of love and family are intermingled with being in the natural world.  We drink our lake water - the air is scented with pine.  


Caregivers often wonder how to ease the stress and worries of caring for someone vulnerable.  People who give care need to cared for too and my experience is that finding a place where memory, love and nature converge is very, very comforting. 


1 comment:

Unknown said...

I remember we attended beach wedding of my friend and they gave us custom hats that we can use as we witness the union of two lovers. I’m glad that I’m part of their celebration.