This is the time of year that makes the long winter and tauntingly endless spring worth waiting for: the days are long, the lake water is swimmable, it’s not too hot to hike (at least early in the day) … and, for Peaches, there are bears to chase! What else could you want in a day? Both of us feel quite content.

Normally at this time of year, I am anticipating a summer full of family visits. Not only do I look forward to the time together, but it also is fun to experience this place with others. Everyone has their own “take” on the place: what they come here for and how they experience their time here. And how I see their take might or might not be how they themselves describe it.

For example, when Hunter comes, I see her wanting to let go of all the demands of her very busy life, and to spend time with Artemis just being in the woods or water. Or relaxing with Lynn. She’s wandering through the woods looking at the plants, or perched on a rock looking into the water: Artemis bouncing between looking at what he finds and then wanting to turn it over, hang from it, or toss it. In my mind’s eye, I then see him perched on a rock overlooking the water, he sees something, fetches a branch to see if it moves… The water isn’t deep there, but Hunter is alongside, both looking at where he is focused and strategically positioned for Artemis’s safety. Soon Lynn will appear and the 3 will head to the dock and load into the kayaks, off for a ride.

When Samsun visits, he loves inviting his Brooklyn friends who happily come up for an extended lake time party with big dinners, games, and endless conversations. Amanda more quietly goes along with him. And last summer, somehow little Mischa was off and on part of the mix. Some of the friends wake up early to absorb the quiet of early mornings. Others, wakie up a bit later and head to the dock, dive in and swim, sometimes for a long distance along the shoreline (hopefully) or out across the lake (foolishly : they are almost invisible to boat traffic). Once everyone is up and together, then the meals and party begins, only to extend far into the night.

When Ariella – now pregnant – and Ramzi visit, they would either be up climbing one or two mountains and come home exhausted, or be relaxing for hours in the hammock with Peaches. Because Ramzi loves to explore and because Ariella wants him to see so much, they happily make plans for impossibly demanding days – up too many mountains with no water bottle, for example. They come home, collapse, and then are ready for more the next day! I’m wondering if a baby will slow them down at all: I imagine the baby wrapped around one of them as they head out for more.

This year is an odd year. As mentioned, Ariella is pregnant and was advised not to travel from Algeria. Samsun, in pursuit of tenure, has one conference after another. And Hunter, also a college professor, has an unusual amount of prep to do for next year. They each have compelling reasons to miss their time here. But I’m guessing they – all of them – will be eager to visit next year. AND hopefully for longer.

Meantime, I have this summer to attend to my own matters: healing Lyme (a slow process) and business stuff which can be unexpected and sudden (unpredictable) but is slowly getting on track after a year.

In between, it’s bear chasing time (Oh Peaches!)

Or lilly swamp viewing,

Or… time to meet more people in the area. For years, my social life has been imported: family and friends visiting. I have my dear friend, Jan, and her invaluable son, Jonathan, that I see and know well. But others?

I have kept long disance relationships with friends from Brookline. And from Maine.

Maybe, just maybe, I’ll meet more here.

I’ve already – it’s only June – had more conversations with neighbors than in my earlier years when I was focussed only on family. By the end of summer, who knows?

Did you mention bears?

-Peaches