I think we all have a place somewhere that we go to when we need to recharge. The place where life slows down, we connect with family and friends, enjoy your book while swinging in the hammock under a bright blue sky. My place is my Grandparent's Cabin. This lovely oasis is on the banks of a river and holds many wonderful memories for me of my childhood, my family, my summers. As I sat in my Grandma's swing listening to the river rush by, the kids laughing in the background, the murmur of conversations going on around me, I remembered.
The Cabin
The Cabin is a magical place
somewhere you can just be
To hear the river rushing by
the wind blowing through the trees
Many memories come piling back
of being young and wild and free
of forts and skits and games we made
of friendships so dear to me.
Now I watch my children
two girls growing so fast
Making brand new memories
precious ones I hope will last
I watch them run and play and swim
so much fun from the past
I love this wonderful, special place
and the Magic it does cast.
Lea Read 2004
My sister and I spent our summers with our grandparents for many years. We had fun going to the Zoo, Heritage Park, Calaway Park, shopping and visiting family and friends. But the highlight of our summer was the trip to the Cabin. We would pack up the old International truck with our supplies for the week, Grandma would pack her picnic basket and we would load up and hit the road. First stop was the ice cream shop for our milkshakes and then...WE WERE THERE! Into the cabin to unpack groceries and clean out the cobwebs before we could go and explore. You could feel us straining to get out and check the "big rock", the island, the spring...would it be the same as last year? Freedom....we could taste it!
I think it was the best week of the summer for me. Our cousins would come out and join us and we would play make believe, build forts, ride bikes, tell stories and have campfires. We earned our keep...we helped get firewood from up the hill, did dishes, picked blueberries, caught fish and helped in the garden. We would make homemade ice cream with an old wooden crank style ice cream maker and roast marshmallows over the fire. We had our entertainment night where the kids performed for the adults. Everything from air bands to Goldilocks and the Three Bears, audience participation to singing songs. The week flew by. And you know what...we didn't even miss the TV.
Things have changed at the Cabin...there has been a bedroom added on, a shower, the garden is not planted, the old Tote Gote doesn't run, the trail to the "big rock" has changed course due to a major flood and the island is getting smaller each year. The biggest change for me this year was that my Grandma wasn't there....this was the first time I have been back since she passed 3 years ago. I miss her very much and everywhere I went I saw her, heard her, smelled her. She was a major influence in my life, teaching me about honesty, trust, love and family. She loved me unconditionally just as I loved her. I know she was there watching over the family and laughing at the kids doing Cinderella for the adults, enjoying the stories we told, making sure we cleaned the kitchen properly and loving us all unconditionally.
