The Cottage

“A cottage without traditions is no more than a house in the woods”.

Needless to say our family of cottages (Circa 1915) have many traditions, some old and some new. Our families have grown and some of us have built for our own families. Our grandchildren are the sixth generation of “River Rats”. They are not alone. It is our gathering place. A close family does not have to have a place like this, we just would not be as close without a place like this. Family members travel from Vancouver, Thailand, Ottawa, Toronto, and North Bay. Friends we are anxious to see travel to their islands from all over Ontario and the States. Those relationships go back many generations as well.

I am never alone here even when I am the only one here for lengths of time. I am surrounded by happy memories, hope and aspirations. It is safe, a refuge, a way of life and filled with past dreams and dreams for the future. I feel blessed, thankful that I was given the opportunity to care for this place and be allowed to borrow it before passing it on to the next generation. The cottage is not just the land it sits on, water to swim in and a building, it is so much more. I have learned that it is about what is to come.

We have had many celebrations here for birthday’s, weddings, anniversaries, pot lucks, progressive dinner parties, awesome impromptus at various cottages and great cocktail parties . Our July 1st celebration is well known on the River. Our beach has seen many new babies swim for the first time, jump off the dock, swim from the rock to the dock and learn to blast, ski, dive and drive the boat. I could go on but I won’t. The paths between the cottages are worn from 103 years of footsteps. They join us all and we are all happy where they take us.

There are times of frustration in cottage life, things break, improvements have to be made, feelings get tense, human nature....but we have to rise above it. And we do. What started as one cottage has blossomed and continues to grow with new builds, purchases, change is always good. We have been sad, very sad but we survive together.

Fishing is good but not like the old days every week with fish fry’s on the point. Musky fishing is big with the younger men and they have been fortunate. The mosquitos still come, the horse and deer flies but that does not seem to matter, even though we all say “the bugs are so bad”, they quickly leave in August. It has been very dry, we do not light any fires, rain is necessary this year. The year of fire and smoke. The water is warm and the beach is filled with light sand, heaven for the kids and their toys.

Everyone loves the River! Our grandchildren spend the summer, between our place and Jes and Todd’s, we are fortunate to see them embrace each day, and grow in their experiences. It’s their parents turn, I can be the Nanny. Laurie always called because we knew our grandchildren/children’s schedules “put the Rosary on the line, for no rain!” She knew we did not have one but hers was powerful!

Cottages tell us each year exactly who we are, who we have always been and what we want our children/grandchildren to be in this place. Respectful to to our ancestors, to each other and to the next generation.

Tony and I are at the cottage much to our friends surprise from May to October (good friends pick up where they leave off) but we want and are pleased that our kids want to share the cottages with friends and family ( so far just a week as holidays are limited) and guess what, to borrow a line from my friend...”we are out of here”! Everyone needs their own space and time with others and Tony and I have gone on a mini road trip. Yep Laurie, here we go!