where I grew up

This weekend I will take Elle to the town of Harrison for the very first time. Harrison, MI is where I spent all of my Summers, Winters, heck- almost every weekend as a baby, child and kid. We had the cutest little cabin. My parents would stuff this place with as many people as possible. We only had 2 bedrooms, yet they would just keep inviting people. Although the cabin was small, it had this beautiful large wood dining room table that was built into the wall. Yes, it was part of the house. Weird, but it was cool. We could fit a lot of people around that table. It was the favored house for Adult card games as us kids went to bed.

A lot happened in that house. I lost my first tooth, I got in my first accident-a snowmobile accident that is--lost teeth and all, dyed my hair for the first time-what a mistake that was, and took my first sip of that fruity blue alcohol Maui something? I had my "up-north friends" who were all of my parents friends kids. It was so neat that my parents had this network of people who they knew in their young 20's and remained very close to them until the day they died. Bonfires, pontoon parties on the lake, BBQ's, kid parties.....this particular group of people was always there. We all belonged to the club house on the lake and my Mom would help host big beach parties with tons of activities for the kids. I will never forget the egg toss, and the pie eating contests. My Mom loved this stuff. To that day, she was still organizing back home the block parties. All of the kids stuck near by my parents house. She loved kids.

In 1997, the year I graduated from HS, they purchased land on Half Moon Lake. It was a beautiful lot. The perfect view of this cute, little no wake lake. At first we were bummed it was a no wake lake as Dad always had a speed boat for tubing and skiing. But as I started going up there, I appreciated the peace fullness of this lake and the quiet sound of the pontoon motor. We'd anchor in the middle and you could hear a pin drop. My Dad could literally yell for his Brother, who has property on the lake as well, and Stan would soon appear on his pontoon. They owned this lake.

I loved the layout of the home they picked out as it was open which was perfect for entertaining. My favorite part of the house is this window above the sink in the kitchen. The view is the peaceful lake in the Summer or the frozen snowy lake in the Winter, where you'd watch deer walk by. When I was on the phone with her in February the year they died, my Mom was looking out the window and spotted a few deer, "oh my gosh there's another one, and another one, Melissa there's like 10 deer! They are making their way to Uncle Stan's property! They can smell the deer food! Darn it and I forgot my camera! I cannot believe I forgot my camera, " she continued to say...

Like I've said in the past, as I got older I didn't get up north nearly as much as I should have or wanted to. Distance created that challenge but the time we had up there was so enjoyable, relaxing and fun. I'm so happy our closest friends got to experience the place when my parents were alive as well as my in-laws. They know how my parents loved to entertain and how they would welcome anyone up there for a good time. My parents loved friends and guests. I will never forget those memories for as long as live and I hope they won't either. My hope is they'll continue to come up north, use my parent's place and help us keep their memory alive through enjoying this peaceful place. I am looking forward to introducing Elle to my parents friends, many of which have retired and moved up there full time and to have her breathe that fresh air that I can't wait to feel the second I step out of the car. Up north has a unique scent and the second I get out of the car, I always take a deep breath. It's the freshest air and the sleep is so sound.

Up north will never be the same without my Mom and Dad. They made it a home and a place of fun. My Sister and I are lost without them and all we know is, we want to continue to go up there. But it's not easy. Every second your fully aware they are missing. But yet, you want to be there-you want to keep this tradition going.

Please friends and family, come up as much as you'd like. Your welcome anytime. They would have loved to have you there.........

Get ready for Walravens, Elle. My most favorite ice cream shop since I was little. Waffle cone with mint chocolate chip. Every time....

"Let us smile, eat, drink, laugh and relax" just as we did when you were alive. Your in our thoughts and hearts and we miss your smiling faces and love for entertaining every time we step foot in the house at the lake....I feel weird being there without you. It's your place. You used to greet us with such big hugs and huge smiles. I'll never forget the last time I was up there grocery shopping with you , Mom. We got a bunch of fun stuff for Labor Day. We made food, drank wine. Ha, that is when I was just getting into text messaging and everyone was yelling at me for texting while sitting by the campfire. Who does that? Now looking back, I wish I would have never stopped talking to you and Dad and not have been texting or whatever else. But, we had a good time and I will never forget that last weekend spent up there as a family. I still find it very, very difficult to be up there without you. And to be honest, I am not expecting that feeling ever to go away. I guess you just hope you learn to live with it.