Often there wasn’t a lot of money for vacations as most people know them today, but that never stopped us from getting away. Life was simple then, but never short of love and fun…and opportunities to make memories. I can still smell the bacon sizzling, while Mom prepared a ‘breakfast of kings’ on a camp stove at Henderson Point at Kerr Lake.
Back then there was no such thing as marked camp sites with rental fees. This was the great outdoors and it was free! Early arrivers claimed the best spots out on the sandy point where there was shade under the pine trees that grew along the water’s edge, or under the enormous oaks as you entered the point. Others pitched tents in the direct sun, but through the day the water kept us cool or we’d take walks through the wooded path that wound around the non-lakefront camp sites. Here we met many new friends and got better acquainted with those we knew from home. We skied behind Dad’s fishing boat. Once we emerged from the water the vessel moved along as well as one with a high powered engine, but pulling us up was a strain for that little 50 horsepower motor. I’m sure that tiny boat could have challenged the little train with a chorus of “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can”. Nonetheless, many hours were spent zigging in and out of the wake, jumping and careening before rolling over the waves as we lost balance. Falling never deterred us, the little motor never let us down, and Dad never seemed to tire of driving the boat for our enjoyment. Kerr Lake will always hold fond memories. Family vacations there were simple… and relaxing, not to mention inexpensive. I don’t seem to have those experiences much anymore, for most of my vacationing is packed full of things I want to do and see. But on rare occasion I travel with no agenda and I find myself enjoying just being quiet in time and space, and return refreshed and rested. Perhaps that should be a lesson to me and I’ll find more time to slow down and ‘smell the roses’.
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Citizens of OxfordThis is a place to reminisce. What do you remember about growing up in Oxford, NC? Archives
August 2016
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