Growing up in Lake Geneva, you would think that I would be a bit more of a fan of the oh-so-beautiful Lake, but alas I again prefer the pool! Don't get me wrong, I LOVED growing up with the beauty that surrounded me, the boat rides across the lake for Cheese Fries at the Bait Shop in Fontana, fireworks over the water, walking the lake path, but as far as being IN the water I was never a huge fan. I was never a great swimmer, and was a bit fearful of seaweed and the dead fish that were all to often floating there way towards me! When I was little, I loved going down to the water with my girlfriends. We would splash each other, fight over who would get to be Ariel while we played "Little Mermaid", and challenge one another in handstand contests. The list of memories goes on and on, but somewhere around 8th grade, my silly, self-conscious self got in the way of my fun-loving self. I then began worrying more about how I looked in my swimsuit, how white my legs were, the fact that I could barely get my yellow ribbon because of my lack in the swimming skills department. I hated not being good at things, and instead of trying harder or just having fun, I avoided the lake as often as possible.
Paul spent his summer's down by the water every day. He was one of the "hardworking" lifeguard's at camp. As mentioned in a previous post, he LOVES the water, especially Geneva Lake! Every summer, he would plead with me to come visit him at the lake. I would always give him false hope, and only on a few sporadic occasions did I actually indulge in an afternoon on the pier. We spent time on the boat together, sometimes involving a competitive tubing adventure. (Competitive only on my part, as per usual!) He would spend his days in his swimsuit, acquiring a handsome, browned tan making his blue eyes all the more vivid, and I would spend mine roaming around camp, more than likely hunkered down on the canteen porch. I always looked forward to free time coming to an end, because that meant the lakefront would close, and Paul would be coming up the hill in his red swim trunks, towel draped over his shoulder. He always looked happy to see me, which I of course loved and very much felt the same way.
Lake Geneva will always be my "home". It holds most of my memories, of not only my childhood, but of how Paul and I came to be husband and wife. This past weekend we went up to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday and my parents 40th anniversary. We threw her a surprise party on Sunday with some of her closest friends and family. It was a great time celebrating such a wonderful woman and the best mom a girl could ask for; and the added bonus was celebrating the 40 years of wedded bliss, and the Godly example they have been to so many. We had to, of course, come up with a reason for our weekend visit, and what better excuse then the Lake! Zaylee had only dipped her feet in the water in early June when it was still quite frigid, and she was not a fan of the chill it sent through her little body!! With the hot weather this summer has brought along with it, the water felt like a warm bath. It was lovely, and Zaylee enjoyed it very much!
Here's to many more summers at the lake with our little Zaylee Bug, and to raising her up to be fun-loving and confident in herself!!
