Michael and I used to walk the beaches for hours, lost in conversations about our dreams and our future. When I think of those early days, I picture the ocean and us, completely wrapped up in each other.
Michael had a deep love for sailing. At one point, he even sold luxury sailboats part-time, which meant we got to “test drive” them with potential buyers. I’ll never forget being out on a 37-foot sailboat the day the Pacific Fleet rolled into San Francisco. One minute, we felt like queens and kings of the sea… the next, a giant aircraft carrier passed by and we felt like a speck of lint in a washing machine. Perspective, courtesy of the U.S. Navy.
He proposed under a full moon on the beach in Carmel, pure magic. And our honeymoon? The Atlantic Coast: Boston, Cape Cod, and New York City. We were ocean people, through and through.
Eventually, we made our way to Wisconsin (my home state) and discovered a new kind of water love — lakes! From camping at Peninsula State Park to kayaking on Lake Michigan, our adventures didn’t slow down. The ocean may have started our story, but the lakes of Wisconsin became its heart.
We camped with my whole family, bikes, bonfires, and sing-alongs. As the years rolled on, we swapped tents for cozy cabins in Door County. My sister Sandy led the charge, hunting high and low for the perfect spot, one that could fit all of us, plus an enthusiastic herd of six or seven dogs. Eventually, her dream came true with ownership of a beautiful cabin on the shore of Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan quickly became our ocean.
You can’t see the other side. Massive freighters and barges cruise by. The Tall Ships glide within view of our front porch. And once again, we walk the beaches, laugh with loved ones, and soak in the power and peace of the water.
From the Pacific to the Atlantic, and now to Lake Michigan, the ocean has always been the backdrop to our biggest moments. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Click here to check out other Sidetracked opinions
Click here to listen to the Overcoming Writer’s Block podcast
Want to create your own legacy? Join the Sidetracked Sisters and start now!
Ever thought about working with a Life Coach? Are you creative or a writer who is frustrated with your inability to do the work you so desperately feel called to do? Check out Lisa Hoffman Coaching.
#sidetrackedsisters #sidetrackedjudy #sidetrackedlegacies #legacywriting #legacystories #writeyourownlegacy #LisaHoffmanCoaching #OceanMemories #LakeMichiganLove #SailingIntoMemories #FamilyTraditions #DoorCountyDays #FromSeaToLake #BeachsideBliss
