Another Saturday or change-over day has arrived. Last week we had two openings. This week we are full and the people who are here have been coming for many, many years. Their children have been texting, e-mailing and partying with each other away from the resort for years too. So when a car would pull up to a cabin, all the kids who are here would go running to see their friends. It was really fun. I wish every week were like that. John and I love to see kids each year as they grow older and bigger. This week used to drive me crazy because at one point all the kids were under the age of 12. Now they're all over the age of 12, for the most part.
The first year I was here, 2001, I met over 1,000 people. John bought the resort in 1998 and we met, then married in 2001. When I moved here, I had to meet all the customers, John's friends and all the relatives. That's a lot of people. But this particular week was forever etched in my memory instantly. The kids were younger then, as I said earlier, which also means they were a lot more trouble. I would have to tell them to stop shoving each other, stop throwing trash around, stop trying to pile everyone on the hammock or picnic table, etc. I told John that when they came back the next year that I would just have a notebook (and a stiff drink) in my hands and just add to their parent's bill all the things they break. I was sick of yelling at them. Well John was concerned about his new bride's complaint so he told all the customers about my frustration with the kids. I didn't know he told their parents anything but when I walked outside later, I could tell. Wherever any kids were playing, and I would walk by, they would stand at attention like they were in the military, say "Hi Mrs. Stratte" and be quiet until I passed. It was comical. Later they relaxed a lot but they never went back to causing trouble like they had. I would like to thank their parents for that - if you're reading this, "Thanks!".
Because of this group of kids, I also had to initiate the 11:00 p.m. quiet rule. These kids would run around playing ghosts in the graveyard or flashlight tag until 1 a.m. if we let them. So at first I said 10:30 p.m. everyone had to be quiet. The only problem with that is that up here it doesn't get really dark until 10:00 p.m. So that only left them one half hour. At least now they have to 11 p.m. and that has been okay for a few years. The parents appreciate that rule too. At the appointed hour, they make their kids go to the cabin and "be quiet" at 11. Then the parents can all hang around the campfire until they want. Sometimes we have to tell the parents to be quiet too, but not this group. This group is like family to us every year. We know their kids are going to be going to college soon and this too will have to end. Its sad to think about, but we'll take every day we can get.
My old friends come up this week too. Kari and I have been friends since kindergarten and she and her family come up this week. They are scattered around the U.S. and so coming back to this area, where they grew up, is like coming home to them too. I love it. Its like old home week. I wish more of my old friends would come up with their kids and family too.
Speaking of family, John spoke with his brother recently and it turns out we might not be open this winter. We might have someone live here for the winter to watch over the place. John's mom needs us to be there to help her keep her driveway plowed, checked and okay for the winter so she can visit Bud, John's dad, who's in a nursing home there. If we do that, it would be the first winter we would be shut down. We would probably spend Christmas and New Year's here at the resort, but then go to Door County by Denny and Bud. If that happens, we will need someone to live here who knows how to plow, or has a plow, so they can get in/out of the driveway. We'll see what happens. This is a new thought for us and this option has its pluses and minuses. We'll have to weigh all the options before we decide against having the cabins for rent in the winter like we've done every year up until now. We usually get snowmobilers, snowshoers, cross country skiers and downhill skiers at our resort. We have built up a clientele for these sports here and closing for the winter would mean they would have to find somewhere else. But almost, almost every winter we break even. So there wouldn't be too much of a loss at all if we closed. We will have to think about it.
Tomorrow church then reading the paper, sitting on the beach or whatever. Its my relaxing day.
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