Another Boat Ride, This Time at Frazee. Aug. 22

My wife Barbara is a matchmaker. No, she doesn't manufacture fire sticks, strike that. She is the kind of person who reads people well and fixes them up. Wait, let me try another approach. She's not a psychologist or a handy woman, no, no not at all. Well second thought, actually she is kind of a handy if you know what I mean. Hmmm, let me re-scrabble the tiles here. Words keep getting in my way..and ya know what else? They never blink and hardly ever stop for semaphores and I trip over them ALL-THE-TIME. Words think they can do whatever they want you know. Yes they do. Oh, they say they have rules, but did you ever try reading James Joyce? See? They always have exceptions, and I'm just not so sure I'm an exception-ally. Get back to where I once belonged. Ahem, Barbara sees a single woman and a single man, (I mean unmarried, she sees groups just like everyone) figures they might make a good couple and sets them up on a blind date. I'm just gonna assume here you don't think they're blind, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Any rate, Barb introduced an (at the time) co-worker name of Christine to the former Bemidji City Manager, David. We agreed to join them on their blind date at a restaurant, and as is our fashion, we were ably late. But David and Christine, both strangers, had picked each other out across a crowded room, and somehow they knew, they even knew then, that somewhere they'd see each other again and again. Yup, that was some enchanted evening. They were chatting away like old pals when we arrived. Yadda, yadda, yadda. They got married and have two daughters.

So after a short stay in Colorado Springs, (apparently it was not a Peak experience) David is now the Assistant County Administrator in Anoka County. And they come up to a nice little place on a lake near Frazee, MN a few times each summer. We try to get together for a day each year in some summer month.

They...I don't know who "they" are. But "they" say a picture is worth a thousand words. I'm so grateful for that, and when I heard what "they" said, well I took up photography. Duh. You see I'd like to write a book someday, and being a lazy boy...well c'mon, it just makes sense. Think of the time I'll save and money on an editor.

And so it goes, finally we are here and near a photo below after all these 1/1000th words have been getting in the way of and postponing my pictures. Thank goodness, words eventually run out on me. Well, not really, I have no particular commitment to words, and they are free to do as they please.
Yes, for those of you who read this lazy blog, that's Oh My Maya. See David and Christine have two daughters Sarah and Hannah, and we thought we'd play grandparents for a day, and take Maya along for a visit. Well, Maya not being shy girl never hesitated to come along. So here we have girls on a beach. Doing what you say? Well, duh waiting for a boat ride says I.
I've heard of walking on water, although I've never seen it. But this I saw I was pretty sure, and just to make sure I took a photo. Now a picture is worth at least 569 word here. And I can tell you something else. I've never seen a purple cow, and never hope to see one. But I can tell you anyhow, I'd rather see than be one.
Barbara is a runner, but here she sits. The reason I mention it is that shirt she's wearing said she finished Grandma's half marathon. Sarah still can't believe those folks sitting on the water, and seems to be thinking that they are perhaps showing off.
Yay. I get to not drive the boat. I am still dumbfounded at those folks sitting on the water totally oblivious to Maya and Sarah apparently playing McDonald's.
Proud Papa of two beautiful daughters, David shares the driving with Hannah. It appears to me that neither of them are paying much attention to where they are going. Perhaps that's not important, in fact I'm sure it's not.
Oh my, she's not shy, Maya, takes a seat at the wheel with one of her new friends Christine. Could be a phase, both in a daze, with apparent fixed gaze, Maybe I'm Amazed. Well, not maybe, actually. And quoting a Pauly ditty, makes me re-a-praise a Nat King Cole tune. Ready? Join in!

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

You'll wish that summer could always be hereYes, that is a David on a water board, being towed around by wife Christine. After marriage and two children wouldn't ya know. She dumped him and got him all wet. She provided him with a life jacket so she could do it again.
David leaves his own wake. And I can't think of a eulogy. Perhaps James Joyce will help.
The end of another summer day. Good friends, lots to eat, family, love, smiles, dogs, a northern lake, hula hoops. Now who could ask for anything more?

Days can be sunny

With never a sigh,
Don't need what money
Can buy.
Birds in the tree sing
Their dayful of song.
Why shouldn't we sing
Along?
I'm chipper al the day,
Happy with my lot.
How did I get that way?
Look at what I've got.