Rochester, NY
11:00 AM
It was one of those nights where you were supposed to go home early. I instead, just got off of the phone with my friend who said, “Dude, I woke up at my parent’s house.” He doesn’t live at his parent’s house.
I woke up a few minutes ago. This is the first day in a long time that I could sleep in and the house was quiet. I am back at the kitchen table, post it notes around me, and the lake in front of me. I woke up at 8:45 morning. I did not want to wake up at 8:45.
I last wrote about heading to Dave’s cottage. I made it there at about 8:30 PM. I was made at myself for being slow getting there. The sun was setting in a beautiful orange cascade across the water. But I got there for the last 5 minutes of it. I did not have a chance to take what would have been one of the better sunsets. Kicking myself only lasted a second. I parked my car in the visitors lot and waited at the marina. Dave, his girlfriend Christine, and his brother Jon, picked me up in their boat. They had been skiing. This is on Sodus Bay, off of Lake Ontario. As I drove over there I realized how big the lake and how many places there are on the water.
I hadn’t seen Dave in close to 9 months. He and I started playing basketball together in I think 3rd grade. Whenever I’m home we get together. He came down for a weekend in Charlotte once. Anyway, they picked me up in their ski boat. I threw my bag onboard and handshakes and hugs followed. I was excited to be on the water. I hadn’t done much boating and the water was a sheet of glass. Smooth rides are my preferred water choice. The Lake is so big and wavy that I never really liked being on it.
I left my car and off we went to their cottage. This is no ordinary ride to a cottage. You can’t drive there. They live on an island. It’s not their island, their not millionaires or anything like that, but it’s still an island. The only way on is by boat. There are no stores or roads on the island. All you have are cottages and acres of woods that will never be developed. This was my kind of place.
After fifteen minutes on the boat we pulled into their dock. Up the hill was their cottage, with a great patio, and an even better view. We opened a cold one and caught up. I told them about my travels and Dave talked about his coaching. I am always intrigued by coaching. I bet he’s a good one. They bought the cottage earlier this year and have been working hard on it. They just put a new roof on it, cut down 7 trees, and have been staining and the best thing, they’ve been working on putting in a horseshoe pit.
The view was picturesque, through the trees to the bay down below. I had a lot of fun. Christine made some great chicken and pasta with Vodka sauce, which I had not had before. We were all pretty tired form the night before, they had been up until 4. After dinner we played 2 games of euchre and called it a night. We got up relatively early for skiing.
I hadn’t skied since I was 12. When I say I skied, I tried, and ended up drinking half of the lake. I wasn’t too successful and therefore did not try again until yesterday. I had more success, but still not full fledged skiing. I could get up but never to full proper position. I’m sure Dave and Jon had a few laughs as they watched me fall, slap the water, and yell at myself. I tried maybe ten times. I was even more frustrated later in the day, just before I left. Bob, another brother, and his fiancé Andrea came down. She had never skied before. She was skiing after her third attempt.
So I was off to golf. I could’ve stayed at that cottage for many more days. I bet the cottage will be back on the travel list at some point. I was off to golf with some friends from high school. Besides shooting below at 80 at Colonial, which I did, the only thing I want to do in golf is beat these guys. I’m not sure why it’s this group, but I am ultra competitive with them. When we were younger I would beat them every time. That has not been happening lately so I was ready to go. I had my game face on. But, I think I left my golf game on the boat in Sodus. I had a 9, a whiff, a 4 putt, a shank, and many club throws. Compared to how I was playing all week, I hacked it around for an 89. Matt, my friend who I played youth golf with in high school, won with an 85. He played pretty steady. Bird shot an 89 too. My partner, Robby P, came in with a century. We lost money and I lost my temper. I was not a happy camper after golf. I don’t like to lose. I don’t like to lose money. I hate to do either to these guys.
But, this is not the PGA. We finished golf, had a few laughs, and went to the 19th hole. “Do you want a beer?” they asked. “No. Well, maybe a small one,” I said. They poured me half a glass. We finished up dinner, I had a bowl of chili, and went our separate ways. Matt and I thought for a second, “Should we get one more?” I should’ve said no. It would’ve been the smart thing, the mature thing, to go home and finally get some sleep. “Sure, one more. Just one.” So off we went to a bar down by the lake, by the new Fast Ferry.
I should’ve known. As soon as we walked in I saw my cousin Morgan. I also saw one of my best girlfriends from high school, Darcie. I have always gotten along so well with her. We had a lot of stories to catch up on, so one turned into more than one. It also was easier to twist my arm since she is a bartender there. She had just gotten off of work. So my one beer turned into a few more. I was still slow sipping. I wanted to go home, but I couldn’t do it. When will I get to hang with Matt? And Darcie again? So I pressed on. We went to another place. At 1:30 or so Darcie and I left. I wanted to see her house.
I had guessed right when I walked in. It was decorated perfectly, with funky colors, and pictures that fit each room. I really liked the clock they had, which is a Dali clock, one of those that looks like they’re melting. Her place reminded me of my cousins in Charleston, the artist.
Before I forget, congrats to Kevin and Cathy, they should know be back from China with their new daughter, Maisie.
After a tasty turkey and bacon sandwich, I left Darcie’s to get home. I arrived at 3:15 AM. All of the company has left. I am back in my room, in a bed, with a door that shuts. And here I am. I probably should’ve and could’ve said I was going home to bed. But, where is the experience in that?
Now, I am supposed to be plotting my course for the northeast. There is so much to do, but I will go with the flow. I am busy all week. Dinner plans tonight, tomorrow, Wednesday, and Friday. Then off to Columbus Saturday. Time to attack.