Door County II: I Broke and Then I Entered
The drive was only 3.5 hours long, but it felt more like 5 thanks to the two whining children in the backseat. The driveway to the cabin was a welcome sight, and we all felt relief as we leapt from our car seats on to the gravel path.
“Do you have the keys?” asked Joey, as we unstuffed the trunck. He saw a blank stare, but in my mind the words “Oh f*ck” were firing off as I realized the keys were far, far away, tucked snugly in a drawer at home.
Calls were made to my parents because surely, SURELY! there must be a spare key outside somewhere, right? No. No, there was not. My heart sank. Our last trip to the cabin – my mecca, my tranquility, my childhood, my north star – was tarnished by illness, and it seemed this journey would be thwarted by stupidity.
And that’s when I saw one lone window with its lock unhinged, and it would be our salvation.
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And after that, everything was perfect.
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Long walks were taken, with frequent stops so Mom could teach Child the delight of gobbling the ripe thimbleberries gleaming in the shadows. Another torch passed.
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Leisurely and frequent ice cream stops were made, because it’s hot and it’s vacation and why the hell not?
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The beach became our second home and sand our constant companion. It still litters the surfaces of my car.
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The hammock became the choicest seat in the house…that wasn’t in the house.
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New traditions sprung up with an impromptu bike rental and 10 mile ride through Peninsula State Park. Addy took such good care of her little brother, holding his hand and “reading” him books. Until he started trying to eat them, at which point she bit him, leaving marks to prove it. But overall, it was an awesome experience that we’ll repeat often.
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These trips to the cabin are about tying tightly our family bond, building memories that I hope will match the idealyc ones I have. They’re about escaping everything that distracts us from each other so we might fully tuck into the good and bad of being with each other 24/7. I’m so happy to say the bad was forgotten at home along with the keys.
The bathroom window in my grandparent’s cottage is left unlatched for that very reason! Even though all the neighbors know me, I still feel really naughty climbing through the window.
Thank goodness for that foresight!
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