View from the Landing on Restone Lake, Ontario

Spring Break-up

As the title suggests, this is a view. A vantage point. Strangely, it seems both like the beginning of winter and the advent of spring but it is a greeting from a lake in the Canadian Shield as the ice breaks from the warmer temps of late March and April. Our cottage was much further down, veering to right of the large island.

After we finally arrived there at "The Landing" where the boat had docked for the winter, legs were stretched and backs arched after the three hour drive from Toronto with four children, two dogs, motor and gas tank, enough clothing for a month and food to last a good week precariously packed into a Volkswagon station-wagon.

When the journey ended after three stops along the way to eat, dogs let out for water and a pee and finally, near the end of the trip, to buy groceries at the local market, Father would once more set foot on sacred ground and sigh to know he was seeing the view again and exclaim - "Ahh, I wonder what the peasants are doing"!!

I have no idea how they accomplished all of this, but my parents' did, year after year, and it was glorious. And i'm grateful to them for having done it!

Of course, this is a cold and dark picture of what is significantly more vivid and inviting in the warmer months, marred slightly by black flies, mosquitos and deer flies (ah, but i hated those bastards) but it's a good place to start.

As i have discovered, the cutting face of nature must be endured to enjoy the lazy, hot days lying on the dock, peering off across shimmers on the lake, listening to loons' love calls, tempted by warm waters.

It is the end of winter there, it is the end of winter here, maybe it's the end of winter sometimes everywhere.

But it's the north, and it is still cold like my heart.

Ach, for but to see that view again. I picture it and imagine i'm still there whenever i need to calm down from what seems like unending intrusions of anxious thinking and fear.

I have learned to go there in my meditations and i visit often and try to remember that there is an end to winter. Flowers do bloom and green leaves will return to trees and, despite the unending, annoying buzz of mosquitos and black flies, i may yet swim in warm waters again.

And this is my hope for you as well. Find your happy place and go there often.
Blessings, heather