Duck Lake

I never looked forward to something so much in my life. Going up to the cabin was my absolute favorite thing in the whole wide world. The cabin sits on Duck Lake just outside of Traverse City.  My aunt and uncle own it and unfortunately we have become too busy and have not been able to go up there in years. That is why this past summer when we were camping in Traverse City and my parents told me that we were going to stop by for the day, I was ecstatic.  Driving down the road I felt my stomach tense up. It was like I was nine years old again, and we were finally arriving after a four hour car ride.  Getting out of the car it was Nostalgic. My sisters and I instantly leapt from the car and ran straight to the dock like we did every time we first arrived. The sound of the water lightly lapping onto the rocks was soothing. We ran out onto the dock with load thuds as our feet hit the wooden boards. The lake looked just the same. Just as inviting as it always had. The water was still clear right down to the bottom.  I kicked my flip flops off, plopped down, threw my legs over the edge of the dock, and dipped my feet into the water. I sat back and closed my eyes.

 This lake holds so many of my fondest childhood memories. I wanted to cry it was so overwhelming. It is where I learned to fish. Where I caught a large mouth red eyed bass and talked about it for days. Where I learned to love being pulled on a tube and get tossed around by the waves. Where I learned how to steer the paddle boat. To go left you push the knob right and to go right you push it left. Where me and my sisters spent hours on the paddleboat going in circles between our dock and the neighbors. This is the lake that I learned to kayak, and canoe on. Where my dad let us kids steer the boat around the lake for a little bit. Where no matter how irrational I knew it was, I always feared there was a shark lurking. Where we collected clam shells and zebra mussels. Where me and my sisters brought soap and shampoo in the lake and took lake baths.  This is a lake that holds a special place in my heart. I opened my eyes and looked around. I remembered the water snake that lived right by the neighbors dock and I wondered if he was still around…