My Grandma Lovette was this short, redheaded spitfire of a thing with lots of love and buckets of sass. I was ‘Grandma’s Girl’ growing up and I spent many, many weekends at Grandma and Grandpa’s cottage Up North.
Wednesday Pick-Up from School
My earliest weekend memories with Grandma and Grandpa at the cottage started in Middle School. Grandma had a standing hair appointment on Wednesdays at 10:00 A.M. Grandpa Lovette would load up the car, pick Grandma up after her hair appointment, and then come and get me at school.
The principal was a family friend and they would always be laughing and telling stories as I made my way down the halls, backpack in tow. (I look back at this now and realize, especially since I’m a teacher, that I shouldn’t have missed as much school as I did, but man oh man, the memories I have from these adventures!)
We would make our way Up North to the cottage, usually stopping to get something to eat along the way or visit an ice cream place. Grandma and Grandpa knew every ice cream parlor between home and the cottage. They loved their ice cream!
Two – three hours after being picked up from school, we would arrive at the lake. Grandma and Grandpa owned a small cottage on a fairly large channel that led to a chain of 11 small lakes. Coincidentally, my parents owned the place right next door. Mom and Dad would usually come up with my sister and brother on Fridays, after they got out of work and my unlucky siblings finished school for the week. (I was spoiled and a straight ‘A’ student. What can I say?)
Fishing – 6:00 P.M. Sharp
A little bit before 6:00 in the evening, it was time to get ready to go fishing. Grandpa would pack up the pontoon with buckets, worms, and a cooler of Diet Pepsi. Grandma would grab some little candy bars and a hairnet that she wore on the way out to the lake. If the Detroit Tigers were playing that night, she would have her radio with her as well. The cane poles would be out there and ready, along with my little pole with the Zebco reel. We would make our way out to Tubbs Lake in 10 minutes time and then the process of finding the fishing spot would begin.
Back 30-35 years ago, we didn’t use a ‘Pin’ on a phone to find a location. We used trees, houses, and so on. Grandpa would go and line us up alongside a few of the other boats that were fishing the drop-off. He had a house that he lined up with from one side of the lake, and a big tree from the other. We would drop anchors and fish away.
My favorite evenings fishing would be when there was baseball playing on Grandma’s radio. Al Kaline would be announcing the game and, I’m sure, the whole lake could hear. If Gibby hit a homer, or any other Tiger for that matter, Grandma would let out a big whoop and there would be applause from neighboring boats. I can’t tell you how much I would give to have one more evening out on the lake with Grandma & Grandpa.
Spoiled Rotten
My days Up North would be spent eating my favorite foods, drinking pop (which was highly rationed with my parents, but not with Grandma), reading books, and fishing. We would occasionally go to town to get more worms or ice cream, but otherwise we would just relax by the lake.
Mom and Dad would show up Friday evening and I would return to their cottage, which was less than 50 yards away, or just stay in my little bedroom with Grandma and Grandpa.
I still go Up North. My husband and I bought the place directly next to my dad’s cottage. If my grandparents were still alive, we would essentially have 3 properties connected together.
Grandma and Grandpa have been gone for awhile now. Mom has also passed away. It’s definitely not the same anymore, but hopefully I’m creating special memories of Up North life for my own children. No matter what, this little, humble place on the water is very special for me. It’s also where I wrote most of Life at Loon Lake. Some people have a place that calms them, helps them center themselves again. Up North is that place for me.
Goals for Today:
- Play basketball with the kids
- Clean out the shoe cupboard
- Write for a couple of hours in the cabin