Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Squam Stories: Into The Lake

This is the story of Saturday afternoon--part of it, that is--and how I fell into the lake. But that's not really the point of the story...

Every cabin has its own dock. This is mine. It doesn't really play a part in this story, but it's a pretty picture.


I ate dinner on that dock one night, and lunch the next day, sitting in the sun and reading my library book, which (oops) almost fell into the lake once. I knit on that dock with cabin mates. But Saturday afternoon, returning from a solitary (and perfectly great) tromp through the woods, I saw one of my cabin mates lying down on the dock. I wasn't sure if she was awake; she'd had a migraine earlier. I didn't want to disturb her. My cabin seemed otherwise deserted. The cabin next door, though--I could hear shrieks of laughter coming from their dock. It sounded like fun over there. I'd met one of the residents earlier, as I was setting out on my woods tromp. We talked for a bit. She was friendly. I'm friendly.

But groups...groups intimidate me. There, I admitted it. I didn't want to intrude. Maybe they wouldn't want company from the next cabin over. I turned back towards my own dock, but my cabin mate was still lying down, facing away; I really didn't want to disturb her. And it sounded like so much fun next door, too. So I went against all my normal instincts and walked over. Their dock was full of women, but they made room for me, too. Since I'd been hiking, I had no knitting, so I just sat with my water bottle, feet in the water, and enjoyed the sunshine and the company. I was still a little out of my comfort zone, but what the hey, I'd been out of my comfort zone since I'd left my own driveway, really. Soon another woman joined us, a very pregnant woman, and we joked about the dock handling all the weight. There had to be close to a dozen of us. About five minutes later....CRACK! Splash!

The dock collapsed. I went in up to mid thigh (I had to peel my jeans off later). We all got wet. Since nobody got hurt (and the pregnant woman was fine), it's a really funny story. Don't believe me? Look at this dock.

All the knitting was saved, and the embroidery projects with Sulky Solvy, too (yarn will dry; Sulky Solvy just...disappears). When I got home Sunday afternoon, it was fun to just drop into conversation, "I really need to shower, I haven't showered since yesterday after I fell into the lake." But the real story is that I was there at all, that I shut up that little voice that was saying, It will be easier just to go back to your cabin alone and instead listened to the one that said, But it sounds so fun over there.

It was. It was fun over there.

And that's the story of how I came to be on the dock that collapsed and plunged a bunch of women into the lake on Saturday afternoon.

18 comments:

Carolyn said...

Congratulations Amy...it's wonderful that you braved meeting a crowd. I'm not sure that I could have done the same thing. I'm really enjoying your posts on Squam!

Michelle said...

I could so hug you right now!!! (You know I'm not a big hugger, right?) Still, I would hug you. I know that was a big deal. Good for you.

Suburban Correspondent said...

Oh, this sounds like it was such fun (even with the unplanned dunking)!

Amy said...

Amy! I had no idea you felt cautious about joining the noise; I'm so happy that you didn't heed the little naysayer in your mind. It was a pleasure falling in the lake with you -- and even more so talking with you.

MadMad said...

Oh, good! That is awesome that you pushed your boundaries and had a good experience doing so. Good for you, Amy!

Andrea said...

Hey there, it's me - the one lying quietly on our dock who *didn't* get sunk in the Great Dock Collapse of Squam 2012!! Love your stories and writing style, your photos, and your openness about the hard bits. They're there for all of us, for sure... So lovely to have shared my time at Squam with you. Much Love, Andrea

Patricia said...

We were on the dock nest door and heard the splash! Great story...

Karen Isaacson said...

that picture is awesome. (I would have been hiding in the cabin!)

lamina@do a bit said...

So glad you got up the courage to go over to the noisy dock and what a funny story too :)

Rose Red said...

I know EXACTLY how you must have felt! I would be exactly the same. I do dislike being an introvert sometimes. I'm so glad you didn't miss out on the fun!

Jill said...

So proud of you.

Jill said...

Cuz you saved the embroidery I mean.

Anonymous said...

"Swallowed that last one, didn't you?" ;-)

mayaluna said...

You were on THAT dock?! Oh my! Love that your bravery was rewarded with the ability to share one of the most famous stories of Squam 2012.
xxx

Jinxie said...

Yes! I am so glad you took a chance and came to chat with us(though I feel like a terrible hostess, letting you get you dunked in the lake like that). For me, part of the magic of Squam is having a safe space to explore the boundaries of my comfort zone. Learning a new skill, striking up conversation with a stranger, taking a plunge in the cold, dark lake at night: all more than a little scary at first, but all wound up being totally worth the risk.

Anonymous said...

Amy, so glad you joined us the dock. You didn't seem uncomfortable at all. You were just one of the girls, hangin' on the dock. Pine Ledge had quite a few drop-ins while we were there. I love that people just wanted to stop by and join us. Squam is such a welcoming environments of like souls. I hope I see you at Squam again someday.
~Melissa from Pine Ledge

amy said...

Oh, thank you for all your comments! I am so enjoying sharing these stories in this way...and really enjoyed being away and around so many other adults in one place... :)

Kelli said...

Hahahaha! That was a good time wasn't it? So glad you came over. What is even better is realizing that I've been on your blog before we even met on the ill fated dock! Thank you for saving my sulky solvy!! I'd love a copy of the dock photos if you feel you'd like to share : )