Swiss poon and a Weekend at the Lake

Oh how sweet summer is...and how wonderful a 3 day holiday weekend can feel!

Happy Fourth of July!

The Fourth is probably my favorite holiday because I associate it with watermelon and boat rides and water skiing and corn on the cobb! Don't forget the friends and fire works and horse shoes and even ping pong! What a great holiday.

On this particular fourth of july weekend, we were invited to camp out at the Gray Heir's camp in Lake Ann. The camp was purchased for very little many years ago and is used by the kids of the kids of the original buyers: the Gray family. Their grounds are on a few acres of a private lake called Pearl Lake. The lake is very deep, very clean and very natural. There are few homes on it as compared to our over populated lake in Howard City. The property is situated with a dozen 1950's type campers, many water toys, 2 fire pits and even an outhouse! The family even had a big red, white and blue banner strung between the huge pine trees in celebration of the holiday!

We were excited about the prospect of a three day weekend camping and playing in the water. The group of people that go there are a great bunch of close knit friends and relatives who like to have a good time.

Of course the ride up was not free of the usual missed turns and bickering and trying to juggle the dog and my chicken tenders around the pile of gear in the back seat, but we managed to make it there. We pulled in late with our wave runner in tow and our ton of stuff to be unpacked. When we opened the trunk and started getting the lot in order, I realized the magnitude of the work ahead. (You packed the air compressor?! Talk about travelling light!?!)

A quick split in duties resulted in the guys unloading the wave runner and me on the other side of the property in the dwindling light putting up the tent. Not to worry, though, I am the kung fu master when it comes to putting up that tent. (Years of partying and drunkened tent elevation in the dark has shown me the way!)

Once I brushed the dust from my hands, I sought out my brother to go on a road cruise to the store. We grabbed Emily on the way through and took a ride that was probably too long for the purpose of just going to the store, but whatever! The mission was Jagermeister and some beer. We wound through some beautiful Northern Michigan roads on the way and passed the pipe. We got to the Lake Ann General Store only to realize that they didn't have alcohol. Eventually we found a store that did and we were on our way back to the lake.

When we pulled back into the camp, a bon-fire had sprung up and a few people were drinking around the fire. The 3 of us headed to the pit and found spots to sit and talk. The bottle of Jagermeister started to make it's way around the fire and after a few Oberon's and a few swigs off of the jug, we (I) were lit up and having the best time bull shitting! I stood up and tried to tell everyone that I was going to the car to retrieve my industrial size jar of "Swiss Mix," (which if you haven't ever had it, I highly recommend this trail mix!) when I blurted out something that sounded like "I'm going to get my Swiss poon out of the car." Laughter erupted from around the fire. When I got back with my jar in hand, I passed the mix around. Soon, it was 3 quarters of the way gone and a new name for the mix had been cemented! It was no longer "pass the trail mix, please," it was "GIMME some more poon!" or "This IS as good as poon!" Even better "I need to eat out of the sweet poon jar!" Vulgar? Yes! Funny? Yes! But, it occurred to me that sometimes it's the silly, easy fun that makes life that much more beautiful. We're all better people for it, I think.

I fuzzily woke up in the tent in my same clothes on Saturday morning with the taste of poon still fresh in my mouth. Well...not so fresh, but poon none the less. We collected the rest of the hung over souls and went for greasy breakfast at Money's Platte River Inn. After over eating what is actually called "The Violator" breakfast, we were on our way. We spent the day in the water, navigating through water passages, playing ping pong, napping and listening to music. AHHHH!

On Sunday we went to Frankfort on Lake Michigan and walked the pier. It was very warm and sunny. The water was the perfect temperature for wading and we got nice and wet from the waves coming in.

We pulled out of the camp Sunday night dirty, tired and ready to go home, but not before I reminded the group to get their daily dose of poon. We laughed and went on our way. I Slept the whole way back...can't think of a better way to end a fun weekend.

Cheers!