I was staring out of the window from my new house and looked down the road that led to the lake where I could see the edge of the water dancing in the sunlight. It was calling my name. I thought about it a moment. I hadn't been down to the lake since I moved in. Rainy weather, un-packing boxes, running errands and probably a hundred more excuses. Ok, it was settled.
I gathered my camera equipment, a book, a bottle of water and a sweater because it was windy and I would most likely need it.
The grass sounded so pretty blowing in the breeze as I walked toward the lake. The sound was almost comforting. Birds flew over me chasing each other from one side of the road to the other. The ground was starting to squish beneath my feet, I was almost there.
I smiled as I stepped up onto the boardwalk. To my right I looked at the dock that had seen a better day looking worn and used. In front of me I looked over the gazebo that I had seen only once in it's early days of being built. It was beautiful. I reached for the handle and took the two steps up into the screened in porch closing the door behind me. I set my things down on the table and looked around. The size was fairly decent. The furniture that had been chosen matched it perfectly. Two benches with a wrought iron design that mimicked the "woodsy" theme. Two more cabin-like chairs, pushed in the corners from not being used all winter I assumed.
I pulled one of the chairs out of it's corner and sat down on the edge. As I looked around me taking a deep breath of the fresh air I closed my eyes and tears fell down my cheeks.
Grandpa John who built the gazebo I was sitting in, passed away this January. I thought about how proud he must have been when this was finished and how I know he would have been thrilled to show it to me himself. Part of me was happy and somehow comforted that even though he never got the chance to show it to me, it was still here for me to discover and enjoy. I wiped the tears from my eyes and laughed. I thought about how excited he would be to know that I enjoyed it just as much as he did.
I looked at the table where my things sat. I had carried them down there with me so I might as well use them. I unzipped the top to my camera bag and switched out the lenses. I quietly stepped out of the gazebo. I didn't want nature to be "too" aware of my presence. I decided on a spot to station myself, someplace where I would move around to get pictures from any angle. I sat on the edge of an old paddle boat waiting for a picture to present itself.
After a while, satisfied by the pictures I had taken and the couple of chapters I got through, I gathered my things to head back to the house. As I walked back I was happy thinking that I have such a great place to retreat to while I live here.
My nose tingled and my eyes watered as I held back the tears that expressed my gratitude to grandpa. I know he built it for himself and for other people to enjoy, I'm just glad to be one of them.
