Lake Chelan Musings.

So. People, nostalgia time. Marc and I hopped on the Lady of the Lake this morning and cruised all the way up Lake Chelan to Stehekin. This was a trip I took a number of times and in every season years ago as an exchange student here. Felt quite emotional as the boat left the dock - good emotion - the one when you're remembering significant things stored somewhere in your head and heart. Now keep in mind all this was in 1981, so its a bit of a stretch of the grey matter. Funny though how pictures came to mind at various points along the way as if what I was seeing triggered the remembrance. It was mostly people who came to mind. Mike, who traveled the lake with me on a disgustingly freezing January morning right before I returned to Australia, the Loughs whose cabin I seemed to frequent over summer where I first learned about beer hotcakes, 4th July on the Lake, camping in the woods, hiking the peaks at the end of the Lake, the Rotary families I came to know in the area and even the other exchange students from all over the world who I met back then, and other trips I took all over the State with Marc's family. A friend from Georgia recently said to me that it seems that this area is my point of reference for my life. It was certainly here that I grew up, went from being a child of 18 to a man of 19, established a certain degree of independence, and began the process of developing much needed interdependence with people who I grew to love and who I believe, or at the very least would like to think, love me too. There was a little bit of sadness though I would have to admit. It's a journey like this you're meant to have someone whose hand you can hold or who you can embrace in quietness and shared solitude. How could anyone not love this place? How could anyone not love it here? How could love be so dependent on location? I am left to remember who I am once more. Alone, but never lonely. PS. sorry about the video quality - i was 'experimenting' with some settings but I promise I'll put them back where they were.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Washington
• Lake Chelan
• home
• Lady of the Lake
• Rotary