A Newfound Love
If you see this title and think you’re going to get a sweet “boy-meets-girl love story,” then I am sorry to disappoint. Nope. This love I speak of is a new winter excursion that will be a tradition for me and my boys for years to come. If you’ve ever seen the movie, Grumpy Old Men, you’ve witnessed these small ice fishing communities that exist almost as temporary towns. There are often named “streets” and “avenues” as well as “blocks” and even “neighborhoods.” In some of the larger communities, you’ll even find snack bars. It’s something most of us have never seen or even heard of.
So, when the boys and I were invited up to northern Wisconsin a month ago to visit some relatives of ours, it was something we couldn’t pass on. We were on the Eagle River chain of lakes, but beyond that, I was ordered to keep our location private. You know… the ol’ “honey hole” agreement. We decided we’d all rather drive up there instead of being forced through the Covid compliances required with public transportation. It was a long drive, but sometimes, those are the best ones for reconnecting with your kids. We had electronics, but we also had set aside screen-time breaks. We stopped at some pretty tasty restaurants and had one overnight stop each way.
As we traveled north, each stop brought with it a very noticeable temperature decline, ultimately ending in a frozen hell. Call me soft, but I do not care for their version of cold weather. I’d gladly take our 40s and 50s. However, there was somehow a…
