On the Dock

A view of the dock occurred even before we arrived at camp. Towards the end of the drive, when the road took the last right turn, where the road just about met the southern tip of the pond edge, we could look out the car windows, through a gap in the trees to see if anyone was visible across the water and already on the wood structure: a form, a shape—maybe sitting or standing.  Was someone there? Who was it? 

My brothers and I would try to bolt out of the car once we parked.  We wanted to swim, go boating, grab our fishing rods and tackle boxes, and head straight for the pond.  Mom and Dad had to direct us to help unload the car first of the bags of dry food, cooler, clothes, and other items we brought for the weekend.  

The walk from the cabins to the water suspended a mystery of who else may be there already.  We would listen as we made our way, usually with bare feet darting over roots, rocks, and pine needles.  We did not have a good view until we finally turned around the rhododendrons, blueberry bushes, and pines.  If our great-grandfather was there already, then there was a chance he may be completely naked as he enjoyed sunbathing in the nude when he was alone—more than once, we came upon him, surprising everyone.  When Dad could, he would lead us by several paces just in case to warn his grandfather of our arrival and the kids coming.

The dock was painted a light grey.  It had a major area for sitting and laying out in the sun and, on its South end, a narrow extension with three slips for boats.  On its North side was a sandy beach area where people would enter the water to swim, or adults would place a chair into the water to cool their feet. 

This was where multiple events happened simultaneously during the day—sunbathing, reading, talking, shucking corn or peapods, and fishing.  This was where people often first greeted each other when they arrived.  Those already present would be busy in their conversations, swimming, or taking a nap, and then some new people would come walking down, and there would be a big greeting…  

“Oh, you’re here!” (Hugs, handshakes) “Hello! Hello!”  

“How are you?  You’re still in school at…

“Are you still working for….”

“How’s your vacation? Where else have you gone? 

“How was the drive?”  

“Well, look how much they’ve grown?!”  

The adults most always had lots to talk about and catch up on while the kids looked awkwardly at each other, trying to reconnect for a few moments before heading to the water, boats, and different ideas of fun.  

This dock was the first place for many people to learn to fish.  How to tie on a hook, put a worm on a hook, cast and retrieve your line, and take the fish off the hook.  And the fishing could be about any time of day, except when many people were around.  Then it was a little dangerous swinging fish hooks and the fishing person had to find another spot or go off in a boat.  

Just being in the sunshine was something to enjoy.  Since the rest of the land around the pond was shaded by pines and hardwood trees, people liked getting out onto the dock and being warmed by the sun.  Often, books were read, magazines were looked at, dragonflies were watched, or a person held their head over the edge looking into the water to watch the pond life of insects, fish, and plants.  It was where a person could ‘just sit’, think, dream, talk and take a good nap on an afternoon.  

Naturally, being a dock, it was most connected to the water. All day, boats would come and go as people took turns taking them out to enjoy the pond. As the day wore on and the sun got hotter, more swimming would take place, leading to towels everywhere: on chairs and a bench, on the tabletop, over handrails, and, of course, lying across the wooden floorboards. The dock did a beautiful job of bringing us all closer to enjoying the water.

Often, after summer dinners, people would put on pants, maybe a sweatshirt, and other clothing, depending on the weather and how bad the mosquitoes were, and head down to the dock to watch the sunset.  As the colorful clouds gave way to darkness, we would watch the fish jumping into the evening for their evening meal.  If the insects in the pond were hatching and trying to fly off from the water's surface, hundreds or even thousands of fish would be feasting on the bugs.  Watching so many fish rings being made on the pond's surface was amazing.  As the stars came out, we would look and learn about constellations, wish upon stars, and have conversations.  Eventually, the mosquitoes would get bad enough to drive us back to the cabins for more conversation, board games, card games, or other activities.   

A space can be special, even a small one like a pond dock.  It can help bring people together to share experiences, provide a place to talk about life and living, or just be together in the same space and time.  The dock at the pond did this for our family, friends, and much more.