Mark delivers devastating news

For the second time in less than a year, my friend Mark delivered devastatingly tragic news to me. The first time came when I was playing games with my friends and he walked over to share the news that President Trump had been shot.

 

This weekend, I was cooking breakfast for my friends while on vacation, when he came up to me and informed me of the shooting of two Minnesota legislators. 

 

My friend Mark explained that these assailants are full of hate and anger. The groups that radicalize these people offer an outlet for their anger. 

 

There is no place for any of this in the world.

 

I think people should remember that putting negative energy (mocking, belittling, hate) in the world does not make it a better place.

 

On Wednesday last week I headed north to Akeley, Minnesota, for a five-day getaway with my friends. 

 

Tuesday I finished up the newspaper, went to a Discover Waseca Tourism board meeting followed by a That One Place Athletics board meeting, picked up my just-repaired car from Tesch Service Center and returned home to pack. 

 

Wednesday morning I departed on my roughly five-hour drive. 

 

I arrived in the early evening where I met Deb Bently and her brother at the cabin. They had just finished their own getaway with friends. (The cabin is owned by Deb and family.) 

The pair showed me how the boat worked, along with the ins and outs of cabin life. 

 

Thursday morning the pair departed. About 45 minutes later, my friends started arriving. 

 

Before my first two friends unpacked, we had the boat out on the water, fishing. 

 

We caught zero fish on our first outing, which was followed by a drive to town for supplies. 

After a brief shopping trip, I introduced my two friends (the first of six total visitors to arrive) to the famous Akeley Mall. 

 

“Akeley has a mall?” my friend Jarod asked suspiciously. (Akeley has a population in the 400s.)

 

“And an archery club, community center, thrift store, gym, food shelf, and library–all in one,” I answered. 

 

The city’s former school building has been converted into a thrift store, etc. 

 

After shopping, we discovered the gym, where we spent two hours playing basketball and briefly, floor hockey. 

 

My friend Madi arrived in the early evening. We all enjoyed another three-hour boat/fishing trip. As the sun went down, I said, “One more cast,” about eight or nine times before we called it an evening. The fish were biting. 

 

As we started the boat to head across the lake, tragedy struck. The propeller wouldn’t spin. Thank goodness for the trolling motor, as it saved the day, pulling us home at two mph. 

 

I was worried Deb would be upset, but when I called her to let her know, I could feel her warm response through the tone of her voice. “Gene will touch it and it will work again. Don’t worry.” She assured me. 

 

S’mores and grilled hot dogs over an open flame were dinner. 

 

The next morning I was awakened early to my friend Javier making pancakes, as well as a message from Madi asking if I wanted fresh brewed, french pressed coffee. I got out of bed to find fresh cakes, and fresh coffee. A beautiful morning. 

 

My friends Mark and Victoria arrived Friday afternoon. A grocery run, and more fishing ensued before our friend Jane arrived late in the night. Tea, good conversation and games were enjoyed Friday evening. 

 

Saturday was spent antiquing. The boys’ all took one car and the three girls, another. We spent the afternoon playing basketball in the Akeley Mall as the girls all antiqued at the three or four antique stores. 

 

Upon returning, we fished, played more games, and grilled steaks over an open fire again. They were excellent. I was grill-master and was certain the first round of steaks would come out well-done. They all came out medium rare. 

 

The second batch, however, came out closer to rare. Jarod and I enjoyed those and were pleasantly surprised at how tender and tasty they were. Madi supplied the steaks, from her family's home-grown cow. Also enjoyed were “hobo” potatoes cooked in the coals of the fire. Truly, the best potato I’ve ever had. 

 

Saturday we stayed up late into the evening conversing, enjoying each other's company, and drinking tea. 

 

After a breakfast of pancakes and fruit on Sunday, we all packed up and headed home.

 

Upon returning home, my dad and I enjoyed Casey’s pizza, two games of cribbage and good conversation to celebrate Father’s Day. I promptly went to bed very early Sunday evening. 

 

I’m very grateful for my friends, the graciousness of Deb for use of the cabin and the beautiful planet that provided serene and beautiful surroundings. 

 

“I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” - Anne Frank