Dreams and beaches

I AM DREAMING of a Lake Michigan beach.

People around here look at me like I'm nuts when I tell them what my summer vacation plans are. "We have a river here," they say.

I wish I could explain it to them, sugar cane beaches and clear blue waters, what it feels like to fall asleep and wake up to the sound of the waves, how you can survive with two coolers and sunscreen for a week.

But really, you have to do it for yourself.

Sheryl and I have made reservations at a Lake Michigan campground this summer. Life got in the way last year and we were determined to not let that happen again, music store notwithstanding. It's a long ways away but already, I'm dreaming.

I want to wake up and drink coffee while the sun comes up and the smoke from the previous night's camp fires still hangs in the air. I want to devour a cheap novel, see if there is still enough ice to keep the lemonade cold, load up for an afternoon on the beach, not give a flying crap about anything except too much sun in my face.

I want supper on a grill, a serious lack on phone and internet service, the promise of a glorious sunset, another camp fire and a Tigers game on the radio.

Maybe somebody else has an acoustic guitar and we can play till quiet hour, smore ourselves into stuffed oblivion, see if the ice is still keeping the lemonade cold.

I want to be so tired I don't even remember going to sleep.

And I want to wake up and do it all again.

I am dreaming of a Lake Michigan beach. It can't come soon enough!