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| GRACIE |
I'm under the bed sleeping, not a care in the world, dreaming of napping all day. The Turtle man gets out of the bed, does the bathroom stuff, then puts his outdoors play clothes on. It is still dark outside and I am very happy right here under the bed. I hear him say, "Come on Gracie, we have got to go!" Do I look like I'm not happy? Do I look like I want to go? No! All stretched out really comfy and secure under the bed. He grabs my leg,jerks it, I jerk back [ thinking to myself "JERK"] So I crawl out, shake the sleep from my eyes, yawn, stretch out my legs, wag my tail and pretend to be glad to be awake before dawn, pretend to be glad to see the Turtle man, let him pat me on the head, and think "Whatever" Then he says,"We're going to the lake" Now why did he not say that in the first place? I love to go to the lake! We go out to the truck and I see that he has already put the canoe on and tightened it down, the paddles are in the truck bed along with the cooler which has food in it and cold drinks for him [ water,Gatorade, and pop for lunch] He always takes two paddles- like one day I'm going to help him paddle-Fat chance! Life vest, hat, and paddle pad for his fat butt are in the extended cab behind the seat. There is a dry bag with the smaller gear that we don't want to get wet. The camera, not real sure what the camera is, but we always need the camera! " Where is the camera? Man! the battery is dead! Don't get it wet! The canoe is moving, I can't get a good picture!" All these loud heart wrenching cries over the camera. I say ditch the camera! Slowly I make my way into the truck and settle down on my own dog hair covered seat. The Turtle man will tell you in a heart beat if you don't like the dog hair--Don't ride in the truck! That's Gracie's seat!
Turtle does the last minute check and off we go, still dark outside. We stop at a little convenience store to get a bag of ice and whatnot, I'm laying in the truck peeking over the window sill watching all that's going on when I see the store clerk ringing up the bag of ice. Now that's nice, she has long blue finger nails [ NFL Cowboy Football Team blue with a white star painted on the end of each nail.] I'm saying these babies are an inch long with a curl that will make any mean cat proud, slice the ear off a mouse and cage a bird with one paw. Mean looking nails, how does she hit the keys on the cash register? Turtle man sits back in the truck and says "Would not want to get in a cat fight with that woman!""You should have seen her finger nails!"
Off we go-still dark-I go back to sleep! The Turtle man has never had a wreck while I've been with him, but he has had a wreck or two. He tells of the time he has ran into the back of a lady while she is waiting to make a left hand turn, not a happy lady! The Turtle man was driving home after a long night at work, dozed off and woke up just before he smacked into the back of her fancy car. THUMP! No one hurt, the car not hurt too bad,but the old truck- pushed the left front quarter panel back into the tire, jammed the door so as not able to open it. Oh well, ended up using a sawzall to cut metal away from the tire so he could drive it and drove for many more months. I feel safe, therefore I sleep.
Air is blowing into the truck, the radio goes quiet, we have turned onto the road headed directly to the lake, always roll down the window and turn off the radio on the final stretch to the lake.At Lake Keowee, the sun is just starting to clear the top of the mountains,we back down to the water, and get out of the truck. What a beautiful morning it is! The Turtle man stretches and breaths deep as we stand beside the truck viewing the placid water reflecting the early morning sun. I go check out the scents and catch up with what's been happening since our last visit to this lake. Turtle unloads the truck while I do dog stuff, and I do it very well -thank you.
I hear the door shut and the truck start, I jump thinking I'm getting left behind, when I see Turtle slowly drive up the ramp to the parking area. He backs into place, one small lonely truck sitting at rest waiting for all the big trucks and boat trailers to join him as the day moves on. The little red truck never complains, just watches, there are a lot of strange things going on at boat ramps. If the little red truck could talk he would tell of all the people who watch us paddle to the boat ramp after a day of canoeing and ask the question, "Have you been canoeing?" Turtle man and I still don't know how to answer, he just says, "Yes". And then there's the lady who wanted to borrow a knife so she could cut the bottom off of a two liter bottle and make a dish to put water in to give to her dog who was running free next to the really big lake full of water. Why did the dog need a water dish? Turtle man got his knife and cut her a water dish for her dog, easy thing to do! Several people use boat ramps as beaches and set up chairs and towels and coolers and beach toys. Children laugh and play and scatter when boats come and go, they don't move for canoes, they ask if we've been canoeing? "Yes"
It is time! The canoe is pushed into the water, just the bow resting on shore, "Lets go Gracie" I leap in the bow and settle in my spot, as he pushes the canoe from the ramp. Turtle man sits in the back seat, picks up his bent shaft paddle and we are off! Morning chill is in the air, early sunshine lighting the way., fresh strong arms moving us along, let this day begin! We are all alone, the lake is ours. Quiet still water, touched by woods reflecting the strength and stability of years of growth, trees tall and stately guarding the secrets of this forest. This forest, home to wildlife and birds living in the natural cycle of life. We are outside looking in, we will see things no man has seen before! We paddle to the middle of the lake and feel a change in the air, Turtle says " It's a new day, it's a good day." The hair stands up from the top of my head to the base of my tail. I have bad vibes, it's going to be a day I'll never forget! Looking off to the east I see new sunshine, slowing turning a complete 360 I still see a glorious day, but I'm not feeling it! I settle in the canoe and ride, I've seen it all before. I am unsettled!
A deer is watching from shore and three more peek from the bushes as we glide by, one of those big herons looks down his long beak at us before slowly flying away, fish are moving near the top of the water and one splashes on the right. We are quiet, we are moving, a perfect day! Shore line is salted with mussel shells from the night raid of raccoons. A breathtaking morning full of wonderful things to see. I'm sitting with my chin resting on the gunnel soaking in the sunshine and dozing off from time to time. Dare not go to sleep, I have this feeling! Turtle man catches his breath, lays the paddle across the gunnel, and says, "I don't believe it, Gracie it's a beaver!" I jump so quick I slip and fall to the bottom of the canoe, land on my side and have to struggle to regain my footing. Glance to the left, no beaver-right, no beaver, a loud splash in my face at the bow! found it, see it fade into the water and my heart stops beating!! BEAVER! Why? Why this perfect day? so upset my legs tremble and my thighs quiver, And he says, "What beautiful animals!" Turtle man picks up the camera and waits.
This is hard, I have to take a break! I'll finish the story later, remember-"this is my story and I'm sticking to it!" When the Turtle man gets home I'll tell him I'm sorry, this is just too emotional to relay in one sitting. I'm already upset that he left me home with Rocki, he owes me several trips this summer to make up for this snub! He doesn't think I can handle a long backpacking trip and he is probably right, I am 12 years old and tire easily. The spirit is willing, but oh my! the flesh is weak. Be surprised if he doesn't quit before the end of the trail, he is no spring chicken either. Well, I will tell the rest of the story later- me and the beavers; the beavers and I!
Gracie
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