When the warm summer comes, and my strong sons launch our boats, it will once again be time to take the pontoon boat out onto the lake. One of my favorite things was to go out on the water in the late evenings and watch the sun go down. If I was lucky, there were photographic opportunities, and I enjoyed those. I also enjoyed just sitting beside you at the end of lake, the anchor down, listening to the water lapping against the boat and talking quietly about nothing much.
Now that it is just me, I am not confident enough to drive the boat my myself. It sounds so pathetic, I know, but the cans of gasoline are heavy and the oil has to be mixed in at a certain ratio. I am capable, but I’ve only done it once. With planning, I could drive the pontoon boat, but I would need my sons to get it all set up for me first. I could take my cell phone and a paddle just in case. Yes, the boat can be cantankerous. I could anchor at the end of the lake and wait for the sun to set, hoping the colors are beautiful. But what will I do there without my hands upon your summer face? I would be sitting in that big boat all alone. Somehow it won’t seem right.
It is a pity, but those sunset pontoon boat rides may be over. But it isn’t all that bad. After all, I had them in the first place. I still have the memories, and that makes me very lucky.
Melissa, our host at dVerse, asks us to use a line from the poem titled “Oh, Umbrellas,” written by Jeffrey Hermann in our prosery:
“What will I do there
without my hands upon
your summer face?”
A Little Bit of Everything, With Love 
Lisa, our in-laws have a summer place in a lake in PA. They have a pontoon boat, and sunset cruises are the highpoint of the day. Maybe a canoe or kayak? Or maybe just keep the memories 😊
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You know, a kayak is a good idea! Thanks, Darryl. And I’ll still have the memories, too 💫❤️
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Lisa, I feel your yearning here.
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It is difficult to let go. Thank you for your kind words ✨🩵✨
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❤ You are welcome, Lisa.
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the importance of memories!
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Thank you, Margaret, for your lovely comment. I am blessed with them and hope you are, too!
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It’s not just the boats or the lake, the memories and being alone speak powerfully of living in that space and really wanting it to continue, to reclaim the life held back then. A tender piece Lisa
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Thank you, Paul for your beautiful comment. You are so right 🌅🚤💞
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Oh, Lisa. There is so many layers here. Love grief gratuity longing indecision. I wish your kids were there with you to enjoy these wonderful nights on the lake…..
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Thank you, Violet. I do, too. 💜💜
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Hi Lisa, I understand not wanting to do things like this by yourself. It’s why I’ve never gone camping with my kids by myself.😬 What a beautiful sentiment full of gratitude here: “After all, I had them in the first place. I still have the memories, and that makes me very lucky.” It is a gift to be able to look at things this way. Thank you for writing.
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Thank you for your lovely comment, Melissa ❤️
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