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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

I can’t deny it - in any weather this is paradise

Gaye Shumaker Correspondent

Waaahooo! It’s a gorgeous Friday evening and I’m on my way to the lake! Gotta stop off for a latte so I can stay up nice and late and enjoy every bit of paradise that I can. The dude in the espresso stand asks where I’m headed, and when I tell him, he says enviously, “Aaawww, this conversation is over.”

“American Pie,” “Dancing Queen,” “Greased Lightnin’,” whooo, this radio station rocks! Time flies as I head out, and before I know it, I’m there. The deck is crowded with lake friends, enjoying a cocktail, music and each other on this beautiful night. The kids are jumping on the trampoline and looking for flint on the beach. I kick off my pumps and join them at the water’s edge.

A boat full of more friends arrives to invite us all over to eat dinner. This is good, because in my excitement I kind of forgot about feeding my family. We grab stuff to contribute a salad with and head out. The lake is beautiful. It is calm, as it usually is at dusk. It’s quiet, as it usually is in late spring. If this isn’t paradise, I don’t want to be there anyway.

The next morning we wake to the pouring rain. My good shoes are still on the deck. My sunroof is down. Nice. Oh, well. No worries – we’re at the lake, where nothing really matters. It’s a good day to cozy up under the covered part of the deck, drink coffee, and listen to the rain. Lovely.

I have a confession to make. It wasn’t always like this for me. Coming from the outside (I grew up in Seattle), I didn’t really get the whole lake thing at first. Of course I was enamored by the idea of vacationing at a beautiful sunny spot, one hour from my home, but when our three children were small, I just didn’t see the draw. The weekends consisted of shopping, packing, hauling, unpacking, chasing, packing, cleaning, hauling, unpacking and then doing the laundry in time to start all over the next Friday. Frankly, it was exhausting. I distinctly remember telling a friend that I’d really rather have a pool instead!

There is a huge place in my heart for those moms who are still in the lake trenches. Most of us have so been there! Hang on for a few more years, and it will get better and better. In the meantime, I will tell you what you have to look forward to.