Twenty five years ago, my parents dragged our whole family to a little resort on the shore of Whitefish Lake. Beacon Shores was a little Mom and Pop northern Minnesota resort nestled in among the pine trees. There were a half dozen rustic cabins, a large lake, and plenty of things for a soon-to-be sixth grader to explore.

It is funny what I remember about that trip. I don’t remember a lot of the details, but there are some things I remember quite vividly. I remember building a plastic model of a Ford F150 pickup truck on an otherwise boring and rainy day. I remember spending lots of days boating in our old boat and playing in the water. I remember laying on the dock late one evening and watching a meteor shower with my brother. Most of all, I remember having fun on those days and wishing for more.

Tonight, I pulled into Beacon Shores Resort again. It looks different than it did when I was a kid. A lot of the change, I think, is not really so much the resort. A lot of it is my perspective. I’m seeing it from the eyes and perspective of an adult. It doesn’t seem nearly as big as it did then. It also doesn’t seem to be as big as an adventure as it was then. It does, however, seem like it will be as much fun.

My parents rented a cabin for a week. I arrived tonight and will be spending a few days hanging out with them, enjoying the quiet resort life, and cruising the lake in their boat and on their Polaris personal watercraft. Some of my nieces and nephews will be dropping in as will one of my dad’s brothers. It’ll be fun to relax and recharge for a few days.

–Pete