Think about this: 90 percent of the people are controllable, the other 10 percent are just like you, “uncontrollable.”
The low fuel light came on and made its warning sound on our HHR Chevrolet. I pulled into the gas station to get gas at the only open pump. The one where you have to pre-pay on both sides of the pump. I pre-payed forty dollars in cash. Nothing came out of the hose. I tried again, no gas. I went back inside and the young lady attendant told me I didn’t have to come inside as I paid forty dollars and got forty dollars of gas. Just at that time, a man at the cashier next to me asked the cashier why they ration gas, as he could only get forty dollars worth. (He had a loud voice so I heard the conversation.) Confusion really set in as I couldn’t get forty dollars in gas and the other guy could only get forty dollars in gas. I knew I had identified the make and color of our car to the cashier so I started to challenge her. Twas then that the other guy and I noticed our vehicles were identical. The cashier took his forty dollars, applied it to the pump I was at and all four of us were once again having a good day.
For those of you who know where mama snapping turtle laid her eggs, now is the time to watch for the eggs to hatch.
This is the time of the year when the lake water settles down and becomes very clear. Please, cabin owners, don’t dump or blow acorns, leaves, dead flowers etc. into the lake and thus ruin the clarity. Treat Beaver Lake right — after all, it treats you right. Don’t be a litterbug.
I call it wild cucumber. It is a funny shade of green vine that grows like mad on trees, plants, bushes, grass etc. and smothers whatever it is attached to. As a youngster, I don’t recall seeing it but it is everywhere now. The only good thing about it is that it is very easy to pull.
Most of the docks have been removed from the lake. There are a few dock owners who think winter is not coming this year. They learn otherwise when there is ice on the water!
September 22 is the first day of fall. “Orange” you glad to see all those fall colors? Now is the time to walk the trail on the east end of Beaver Lake Park. As per Native Americans, there are three rest stations on the trail. One for wind, one for fire, one for water. (In some traditions there are four — the fourth being earth.)
September is the best month of the year per Norwegians. It is the first month after summer with an “R” in the spelling. Lutefisk can only be served in a month with “R” in the spelling beginning with September. The other great thing about September is that Wal-Mart has their first supply of long johns for sale on September 22. Now you know why September is referred to as the “uffda” month in Norwegian circles.
For those of you willing to suffer a little coolness, the next 30 days just might be the best walleye fishing of this year. Try the sunken rock pile by the DNR dock on Beaver Lake. If that doesn’t produce walleyes, head for Stony Point on Leech Lake. If neither place produces, it is just like that old saying, “You should have been here yesterday.” (End of May.)
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. This is the Hanson’s 36th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of Wisdom: There is always room for God.