Caspian lake and Sister Sue

Caspian Lake~Greensboro Vermont

I took swimming lessons at this beech back in the 70′s. We all did, beginning of July and the water was always cold and we all froze.  Then we grew up and made our kids take swimming lessons here too.  That’s becuase that is what you do.

It has been warm the past couple of days and the lake temperature is around 72, like bathwater for Vermont and simply delightful to swim in.   I have been up to the beach for the past couple of afternoons and loving every minute of it.  Yesterday I swam out to the boats moared on right, then around to a maker that isn’t showing in the picture, then back to the beach.  Today just out to the boats and back.  A bit choppy.

Today I also brought Sister Sue with me.  I had been thinking of Sue lately, most likely because of Rosmarie but also because I like Sue and miss hanging out with her and Judith.  Sue has known the Trapp family since she was in her 20′s and decided to bike from hostel to hostel one summer between her Junior and Senior year in college.  She was  in Vermont and saw a poster for the Trapp Family singers music camp and thought that perhaps they would have a bed for a couple of days.

They did and Sue ended up with home away from home.  Sue returned and worked up at Trapps music camp for 6 more years as part of the family.  Muttar ( Maria) ran music camp,with a monastic rhythm.  It is partially due to Sue’s inclusion as an honorary Trapp, that she chose the vows of a nun and lived as one for 37 years.  Why she left is her own story, not for the blog. But suffice it to say, she is the pretty coolest nun-like-peep I have.

She is one of my most favorite people in the world. Her birthday is the day after mine and we celebrate our days together.  Sister Sue is 82 and taking her swimming was such a treat for me.  I love love love making her laugh and be joyful.  Which is not really hard to do.  She is pretty joyful right from the get go.  But the point is, when you make an older person laugh, down deep God is smiling.  When that person is a retired nun, well then, triple points.  It is the same type of feeling you get when you make a baby laugh.   Simple Joy.

I love having a nun type person as a buddy.   We figure that she will make the pearly gates before me and has promised to leave the gates a bit open, so that I can sneak in when no one is looking.    I think it is a great plan.  Always good to have a member of the God squad on your side.

Today I was reminded of the time-less-ness that the water has on all of us.   How important is it to us and to our ability to live. We are created in a womb, cushioned by water and delivered out to the world.  Returning to the water has that very primal connection for me.  I have come to this lake, and to this beach at different points of my life and I wonder if this child will too.

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