Father’s Day at the Lake
Sunday, June 15th, 2008
I have to say, I had a pretty amazing childhood when I think back to growing up. There’s a lot of reasons but number 1&2 have to be my parents. Were we spoiled, maybe just a little, but I know that I was always appreciative of everything my parents did for me and my brother. They instilled many values that I hope to pass down to my kids.
Geographically the place where I grew up Bradley Lake, was the absolute best. My parents built our home on a small private road on the lake’s waterfront back in 1978. My maternal grandparents summer vacationed here every year and with it’s close proximity to the city it was the perfect place to get away from the FOG in Saint John. On our little road (of 8 houses) that my father unofficially named Cedar Brook Cresent there was 20 kids no more than 6 years apart. There was always games of baseball, soccer and water fights, canoe & kayak races and plenty of swimming! We were often in the water from just before lunch to just before bed. I can’t remember ever being bored and always felt very safe. We always had strict rules about water safety and all of the parents were united on this front, which was why I think there was never any close calls around the water.
Today we spent time out at Dad’s for Father’s Day. My brother Curtis and his girlfriend Sam joined us as well as my little brothers Nathan and Jonathan (almost 11 & 13). We had a nice BBQ and were going to take a swim in the pool but the overcast skies made it a bit cool for it. Instead we took out the Kayaks. It was really cool, and once again brought back many memories of kayaking in the wooden kayaks that my nextdoor neighbour made back in the 80’s. I took ythe boys out for their first official Kayak ride and Mackenzie took off like a pro by herself in the other.
I hope to get out to the lake a lot this summer, and hopefully my love of the water will rub off on the kids. I feel at peace when I around a body of water. I loved waking up on a summer morning with calmness in the air and the lake as smooth as glass without a ripple to be seen. Occasionally you’d hear loons calling each other, or the Andrew’s brothers calling the loons. It really was a childhood I would never trade.
On Dad’s deck with the lake in the background:
Future Kayakers?
