The place that has been so special to me since I can remember is our family cabin, Russell’s Resort on Big Deep Lake.  There are pictures of me when I was little playing on the beach, splashing in the warm shallow water, and even getting a bath in the big bowl.   I feel so blessed that my son is going to be able to have all of those same experiences and memories!
This last June, while I was off playing (guilty mom moment), Cooper got to spend a whole week up at Big Deep with the Dunstone’s, the Allar’s, the Peterson’s and the Severson’s.  He splashed in the cool water, layed on the beach and even got to take a bath in the big bowl!  I am pretty sure that he never touched the ground, as everyone cared for him so well!  I even think that after only one week he must have gained 10 lbs!  He was huge when I got home!  Granny Pat said that everytime he fussed they thought that he must be hungery, so . . . . they fed him.

He was so lucky to get to spend time with Great Grandma Phyllis, Great Grandpa Willy, Great Grandpa Dale, Great Grandma Joanne, Great Uncle Randy, Great Aunt Deb, Great Aunt Barb, Great Uncle Craig, and. . . Joey, David, Cathy and Craig.  GG Phyllis told me later that “It was really nice getting to know him”.  That comment really made me think about how little time we really get to spend with our families these days.  It is hard to really get to know them, appreciate them, and make a connection with them when you only see them on holidays, birthdays and special occasions.  And then it is usually centered around an event, and most of the time only for a few hours.

It used to be that there were week long vacations, and numerous weekends at the cabin to really spend that time.  Nights around the Royal Rummy table, usually borrowing from the bank.  Days filled with badmington and Bocce Ball up at the big cabin, Horseshoes and Lawn Darts down by the Boathouse, Volleyball off the end of the dock, and countless plays, picnics, bubbles and conversations after happy hour.
So many amazing memories like my dad’s famous “Super Balls”, riding up in the camper, surfing in the crick, learning how to clean fish after catching a ton of Sunnies.  Canoeing into the lagoon, pontooning across the lake to check out the Eagle’s nest, and going down the little boy and jumping the Beaver Dams with the Lund.  Falling asleep to Benny Hill and grandma’s cookies.  The sound of the lake against the rocks while sitting on the screened in porch of the Little Cabin.  Cooking hotdogs and s’mores in the fire stack on the beachside.
I have heard story after story of the Lonesome Pine, carved with the love of my parents before I was ever even a thought.  Trips to Big Deep Portage to learn about the wildlife, and countless hours spent doing handstands and flips in the warmest, cleanest water you will ever find.
I can picture Cooper sitting on the green chairs in the kitchen dealing out the last round of poker, chasing George and Shot around the place, and learning to fish, boat and swim.  I can see him skipping clams, looking for leeches in the crick, and running around covered with mosquito bites because he won’t sit still long enough to get a good coating of bug spray.
I have so many amazing memories of sharing this incredible place with my family and friends.  I cannot wait for Cooper to learn to love Big Deep, and get to know the family I love more than anything.