Fitch's Resort

This photo reminds me of a fun summer vacation back in the 1950's when I was about six years old.  My dad was a minister.  He had a large congregation filled with people from many different professions.  Dr. Fitch was a veterinarian in our community but he also owned some property up on the North Shore along Lake Superior.  He and his wife operated Fitch's Resort.  Dr. Fitch invited our family to come up to the resort for a couple of weeks for a vacation.  The resort consisted of their summer home and several cabins spread out on a rock cliff overlooking the lake.  You could see Split Rock lighthouse from the windows on the porch and you could hear the fog horn throughout the night.  During the days we climbed on the rocks and made our way down to the rocky shore.  We searched for agates and waded in the water.  The water was cold but we worked up enough courage to get in the water and swim.  It was not easy to enter the water (or escape) because the ground was covered with gravel-y rocks and it was hard on the feet.  Another thing we liked to do was pick blueberries along the lane that lead to the cabins.  We would take small pails with us and try to get as many berries as we could.  We ate a bunch, too.  Then we would bring the berries back to the cabin and mom would clean them up for eating with cereal or in a pie.  We also visited with Mrs. Fitch who always had lollipops waiting for us.  Nighttime was different.  When the sun went down everything became magical.  The fireflies turned on their flashing tails and we ran around chasing them.  We played hide and seek and made wolf calls to the moon.  It was wonderful.  Closer to bedtime we were called into the cabin and we sat around the big table and played board games or worked on jigsaw puzzles.  Then it was off to bed.  One thing I remember about this vacation was that each one of us kids got the twenty four hour bug that caused us to be somewhat sick...but only at night.  What I mean is that there was a lot of throwing up at night and my poor mom mainly dealt with it.  This went on for several nights since we didn't all get sick at the same time.  My sister and I shared a bed and I remember throwing up in bed right on my sisters back.  That was a sloppy mess and why do I even remember this at all.  It's because of what happened next, I guess.  After the bed was cleaned up (and my sister, too) and the lights were turned off, my mother took me out onto the porch and we sat in the rocker and just looked out over Lake Superior as the moonlight danced on the water.  We watched the light from Split Rock flashing as it circled above the water.  The fog horn was sounding.  I asked my mom a few questions, we talked quietly and then we just sat in silence and rocked.  I will never forget that night.  I think back now and then to those moments when my mom and I were sitting there, together, slowly rocking in the dark.   This memory brings me much comfort.   It was a wonderful summer at Fitch's.