Picking up where you left off with summer friends

It was a hot morning that last Friday in June as I stood on my front lawn and watched Limekiln Lake gradually come back to life.

Carloads of summer folks were headed for their lakeside camps and gave friendly toots as they passed by our house.

I was practicing my whiffle ball pitching skills with my pitch-back net.

My dog Mutt waited patiently in the shade of the maple tree to grab an errant throw.

Once the opportunity came her way she vaulted across the lawn and gobbled up the ball.

An inevitable game of chase would ensue.

After four or five bad pitches it was just too darn hot to chase a dog, or even throw a ball, so I joined Mutt under the tree to find some rest.

I closed my eyes and felt the sun’s heat on  my eyelids.

I rolled over and watched small ants wander around the grassy miniature jungle.

I was not sure where they were headed, but they paused every so often and pointed their bodies in several different directions.

Mutt flopped down beside me. Her panting was so loud that I decided we both could use a drink of water. I went towards the house and picked up the hose.

The hose was hot to the touch after sitting in the direct sun all day, but it was soon cooled when the clear, cold water poured through it.

I stuck my whole head under and tried to lick up the water as it rolled down around my ears and across my cheeks.

Mutt stuck her head in, then licked the water from the back of my neck.

Her tongue was warm and slimey, but tickled at the same time.

I cupped my hands together and filled them with water.

Mutt gladly slurped it up before I filled them again and took a drink for myself.

I heard a beep from the road and noticed that one of my summer friends was back for the season.

The car slowed down and out the window popped my friend’s head.

He waved his long skinny arm.

I waved back and shouted that I would be down to the tree fort in a little while.

With an affirmative toot, he and his family traveled down the road to their camp.

It was too hot to continue playing in the sun. I needed to be in the lake or in the shade of the tree house.

I decided to have a sandwich, then headed down to the lake to see if the water was as cold as what came out of the spigot.

Then, maybe a trip to the tree house to catch up with my friends and find out what they had done since last fall.

Mitch Lee, Adirondack native & storyteller, lives at Big Moose Lake.ltmitch3rdny@aol.com