If lake perch and cheese curds aren’t on the menu, something’s amiss. It’s a welcoming part of the world, with a Friday night fish fry in every town and supper clubs where the prime rib comes soaked with au jus with a side of fresh horseradish. Up north, people are generally very nice. But Grandma made sure I had whipped cream on my pancakes. Grandpa appreciated when that meant being in the boat and fishing hard. That’s what my grandparents did so right. Whatever way you go, just have a good time. Or take tent, rent a room, pull a camper, or crash with family or friends. If you want to get out of the heat for a while this summer, you should head up north. I vote for fishing, but camping, hiking, bird watching, bicycling and so many other activities also provide opportunities to capture the heart and mind of a youngster who may be forever grateful for, and better because of, the time you spent with them. If you want to influence a young person in your life - your own child, a grandchild, a nephew or niece, or any young person who may benefit from your time and attention - you should take them outdoors. These days, I’m trying to pay it forward. Two of my uncles took me hunting before I was old enough to go on my own. They took me on many trips that involved time in nature. Both my sets of grandparents were amazing. My parents took me camping as kid, and allowed me the freedom to roam about outdoors. So much of my love for the outdoors comes from these simple trips with people who cared about me. It was a memory we’d recall and laugh about for 30 years. On one early trip, my grandma bought a giant sack of candy bars. I’ll never forget the big breakfasts, and being allowed to order fried shrimp for dinner. My grandparents would explore the small towns along the way. It was the biggest adventure of my life at that point. We went to Yellow Lake in Wisconsin, near the town of Webster. I think I was 8 the first time I went north with my grandparents.
They wanted to be far enough north to need a light jacket in the morning and evening while fishing. They’d descend on some small fishing lake, where they’d stay in a rental cabin. With the “Lady Dee,” the boat he named after her because her name was Dorlis but people called her Dee, in tow. One week in the spring, another in the fall. My grandpa spent 50 weeks a year preparing for the two weeks he and Grandma would go up north.
And when you get there, you’re probably going fishing. But for folks from Chicagoland, like myself, going north usually means you’re heading to one of those three states. Look, I’m keenly aware north is relative to where one lives, and in some sense, everywhere is north of somewhere. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are what I mean when I talk about going north. Once the temperature is above 80, all I can do is dream of going north. I enjoy nothing about the heat of summer. It feels like you’re in a small bathroom with a closed door after taking a hot shower. Stepping outside through the sliding glass door onto my deck in the early afternoon is an unpleasant experience this time of year. Even at this time of year, flannel shirts are still worn outdoors up north.
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