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to the lake: days 1-4
July 29, 2013

day 1

early rise, pack, clean, work
gram and bakka off with kids
time feels longer, gentler
quiet, like it once was, years 1-11
missed the kids and talked of them often, in that easy, joking, referential way
between uninterrupted kisses, understanding we’d hold their hands,
know their needs before they asked
in just a few hours.
the drive
wind through windows, old dog ears flopping, even with giant mountain horizon
talk of politics, forest fires, potlucks and trivial tidbits we’d forgotten to share,
thoughts left floating, waiting, needing the moment when
we needn’t say just one minute honey
arrival, slow drive down the gravel of my childhood
same kids, different generation but the same still
time stopped in the way we all want time to stop
family

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day 2
my aunt died last year
a memorial, her place near the flathead river
i see memories in every branch bowing with wind, every touch between kin
we are all kin
these people, this place
two people, my grandma and grandpa, started it all
and never get to know how it panned out
or maybe they were there
my aunt’s two daughters. grown, awesome, with families
tears, hugs
and a river runs through it

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day 3
lake, dock
sunscreen, laughter, hot, cousins
running, sharing, swimming, jumping
more family arrives and then more
wished andy was still there
storytelling about this place, the very place they sat
60 years ago when they were knobbly, bruised kneed and sun-slapped happy
it hasn’t changed
but i see laugh lines, the next generation
and the one after that
live piano music by whomever is moved to play
little girl uninhibited, purely gorgeous dance choreography
gin and tonics with my cousin who is my sister
our four blond girls play go fish, talk about sandwiches, fairies and crawdads
bony, dirty limbs under our feet as we wash, stir, chop our meal for 18 of our people
campfire, same as every night; always feels exciting
my heart could burst with contentment

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day 4
to flathead lake
to the home and wide weathered dock of my childhood memories
my dad lost his wedding ring here 41 years ago exactly
yellow jackets hovering
as they did that day when he and his friends
dove
dove
dove
they’d seen where it landed and it was right there
but not
deceptively deeper
depthless
mama? tell me the story again of bakka’s ring
in between sips of cold beer, reapplication of sunscreen
storytelling by my dad and his childhood friends
many daring and dangerous tales that i am finally mature enough to hear
or, more likely: this day, this space, this company created the perfect storytelling vortex
leaps into impossibly teal water
the breaststroke through archaic glacial melt

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adventure  / montana  / mother  / Uncategorized

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20 Comments


BRH
July 29, 2013 at 4:46 PM

Heavenly and beautiful. I still have chills now, writing my comment. 🙂



Sue
July 29, 2013 at 5:05 PM

It is settled. I want your vacation at the lake every year. The poetic description and the pictures make me want to jump right in and stay there…for at least a few days, if not a few months. Beautiful!



Maria
July 29, 2013 at 5:11 PM

Amazingly real description of glorious summer days. I loved this post. Funny…I remember last year’s post about the lake & found myself getting excited about seeing this year’s post. It delivered. I’m so happy you all get to experience this.



Angie
July 29, 2013 at 5:17 PM

Your writing always gives me a lump in my throat, in a good way. Just beautiful.



Jacki
July 29, 2013 at 5:53 PM

Family, friendship, traditions … magic! thanks for sharing a glimpse.



Kendra
July 29, 2013 at 6:09 PM

Wow! This is beautiful.



nicolette
July 29, 2013 at 6:14 PM

intensely beautiful poetry. lovely images.

lots of love for this one!



amanda
July 29, 2013 at 6:23 PM

LOVE! I so want to visit Montana someday. I feel as though my little family would fit in well, and it HAS to be warmer than Duluth, MN:) P.S.-Received my items from Lilian Eve Designs and I LOVE them! Thanks again:)



Leah C
July 29, 2013 at 8:13 PM

We spent my daughter’s first birthday at that same spot and dream of returning yearly. My oldest sang the ABCs to the after dinner crowd around the piano.:)



Jenny
July 29, 2013 at 10:43 PM

I miss the lake, having lived there for several years….need to revisit and take my girls.



Dave
July 30, 2013 at 9:20 AM

My goodness, the camp is stunning. I love the cabin and the open piano shelter. Clear water, bare feet, camp fires, and family all make for happy memories. Thanks for sharing!



Leighann
July 30, 2013 at 2:52 PM

Ooooh! That water! Reminds me of our lakes here in Northern Michigan, but ours aren’t surrounded by such stunning mountains. Beautifully written Nici! Thanks for sharing with us.



Laura
July 30, 2013 at 10:17 PM

OH, that water. mmmm



Trbholt
July 31, 2013 at 6:40 AM

You captured it beautifully!

Miss you already!

xoxo, Mom



Monica
August 1, 2013 at 9:10 AM

You have such a way with words. Loved every bit of this post xo



Stacey
August 1, 2013 at 8:17 PM

Beautifully shared. What a place! And what a treat to visit it with loved ones, creating lifelong and generation-crossing memories. Looking forward to the next installment!



Whitney @ Jewhungry
August 2, 2013 at 3:30 PM

Wow! Having just returned from Big Sky and not having the time to get to Glacial National Park, this post was a really lovely second best to actually being there. Beautiful.



Kelle
August 3, 2013 at 10:54 AM

I feel your heart bursting with contentment. All of it. Love.



Kelly Cach
August 4, 2013 at 8:10 PM

WOW! I’m lovin’ all these vacation posts and pictures!! The views are spectacular, the cabin is cozy, and all the little girls look alike! And you are HAWT! ;).

What a trip, what a treat, what a treasure! You are blessed!



Jennifer
August 6, 2013 at 3:27 PM

So great to have generations (to come) share the same grounds, stories, experiences, and love.



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    I’m Nici (pronounced like Nikki) and I live in western Montana where I raise kids, vegetables and the roof.

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