The original plan was to ski on Friday. After a surplus of programming and printing, that plan was pushed back to Saturday. After news of Alice's passing, skiing was re-scheduled for next week so we could visit Alice one last time.
We passed St Luke's hundreds of times but never saw the inside of the church. It was comfortable and warm for the dozens that were there. I don't think I was the only one to stay quiet for awhile, not trusting our voices to crack with emotion, upon seeing that someone brought sugar cookies.
All but a small amount of our time "North of 64" is spent reveling in the joy spilling over the lake shore and onto the surrounding area. Last year we missed a few joyful events including ski shows, the Humungus Fungus Fest and, most of all, several feet of water, but we'll have the opportunity to see or attend them again next year and the water will eventually come back. But there are a few things that are gone forever. It's important and, on weekends like this last one, hard not to remember what we have lost. We have lost quite a bit over the last half decade or so. I miss seeing the love as Nick and Grace Ruys walk by hand in hand. I miss talking fishing with Ed Walerko Sr. and field theory with Doctor Grant. I miss looking at old photos with Leana Walerko. I'll miss kids running down the lane to get a freshly baked sugar cookie from Alice.
-Nemo
