skiing on the gold

There is a rare magical evening up at Bear Lake once or twice each year where we take full advantage of the golden moments when the sun is sinking slowly behind the mountains across the lake.  It only happens when the stars align in just the right way:  The little kids are in bed.  The water is smooth.  There is a lull in cooking and mess-clean-up duties.  The boat is still sitting languidly in the water waiting to be pulled in for the night.  No children are throwing tantrums.  If the stars are aligned just so, someone whispers, “hey, let’s go catch the gold.” The whisper spreads to those who are available and willing, and we sneak out with our mosquito repellant and a camera in hand to soak in the golden beauty of our surreal surroundings. It starts out just normal…just a blue lake with light sliding gracefully from the sky. These kids are now big enough to be included in the “whisper invites.” Which, of course, they are pleased as punch about. The first skiers ski. Their mom tries to impress them with her sub-par skills on a “vintage” ski.  (The only ski left working after a summer of skiing those other skis into the ground.) The light shifts. Gradually. Double-skiers try to get up together. The light turns richer and softer as the moments pass. We play with it’s golden rays like a precious toy. We make “5” silhouettes because that’s what the reunion is based on this year. (Pondering where we will be and what we will be doing five years from now.  Making plans to make what we want out of life.) We soak up that light with all that we’ve got. And use the paddleboard to grasp at the last drops of “golden-ness.”