April's Musings

Sunday, July 03, 2005
“Hey it's summer”

And it looks like the annual instinct to get out of town has resurged with force. There is something about a hot sun and a long weekend, about the memory of strawberries and cool lakes that lure us like bees to honey to a favorite patch of nature.

In our part of the country, the sports cars name the day. And the day is July 1. That's Canada Day for Canadians and the beginning of July 4th long weekend for Americans. As Chris and I make our own way northward through Vermont hills and Quebec plains to some of the worlds oldest mountains (read not too-o high!) the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec. We sail past and have sail past us two-seater sports cars with baseball-cap-wearing, bronzed-faced, hair-flying couples—they are loving the day—it is time to get the roadster on the road! There are MGs and Triumphs and Porsches letting loose. It is finally top-down time. I enjoy watching them and counting them, checking out the ones that are 20 years old and the ones that are the latest indulgence of somebody’s dream.

It is Transportation weekend. Everything ride-able is on the roads; the nations (both of them) are on the move, getting closer to summer, getting closer to nature, just taking off from work and worries and enjoying themselves. There are plenty of motorcycles with couples heading hog-style for the hills; bicyclists, sweating and panting—they look so sincere! I see a couple in St. Jovite on a bicycle built for two and two boys on skate boards. Everybody is active and out, the ladies in cotton sun dresses, the men in printed shirts and khaki shorts; there are sandals and straw hats, baseball caps and bandanas, it is all about keeping cool and being cool (seems like shell jewelry is big and we are miles from the sea!).

With the cumulus nimbus at its most puffy and white, the sky a real "sky blue," and all of the concessionary stands of summer open for business with parking lots packed (that's "Miss Patate" for fries and "Go-Go Karts" for fun and "Cass Croutes" for snacks and "Mini Golf" because the kids are crying for it, and we did it last year, and antique shops because we just might find something for the cottage, and my favorite village clothing store, because it's hot and I need a cotton cami!)

And it's past the favorite last stop village and we slip down the winding road to the lake and yes, it is still there, where we left it last year. It is always a surprise and a rush of memory as the dark blue lake and silvered grey docks come into view. There is the lake and the boat, waiting for us with all of winter's secrets to tell, and all of summer's memories to make.

Oh, Holiday Weekend, you are the best!

As we settle on the dock to leisurely read the paper and watch the water, a huge beaver is startled by our presence and he makes a noisy splash and dives. He swims away from the dock. Later, I spot him on the shore with mouthful of green leaves. I think he is big—but young.
 
Oh, lucky me!