"ANNIVERSARY-VACATION"

Hello all,
I have a sun burn, but not as bad as my son, Craig. I think his is the worst of the four of us. As I stated in my last blog, this week was our vacation and anniversary week. We had a good time, without any problems to speak of. The worse thing that happened, yesterday after the boat was loaded on to the trailer, the strap that hoists the boat on to the trailer and holds the boat on the trailer, snapped in two. We had been going to replace the old one, but never found one we thought would work. We had finally bought an anchor and rope. We need to buy another paddle. Hopefully before too long, we will have everything we need.

We own a small lot in a private club on Grand Lake. It was originally owned by my parents. They bought it back in about 1973. At that time the place was called Lakemont Shores and Bay Club. It was a nice place. My parents bought what was called a membership lot. It is down a slope and not good for much, with out a lot of work being done. They actually bought a 1/2 lot. This gave them membership to Lakemont Shores. You could come in and camp by the lake, there was a swimming pool, tennis courts, miniture golf, paddle boats, horse back riding, basketball court, heated fishing dock, and cafe to name a few. You could buy lots to build on.

In 1994 after my dad passed away, my mom gave the 1/2 lot to us three kids. My brother Larry, sister Tricia and I. At first I didn't go down much and use it. My brother was paying the dues and property taxes, which isn't much. My family would go down once in a while. My brother finally said he no longer wanted to own part of the 1/2 lot. He had quit paying the fees and etc and the property was behind. My mom and I went down paid up the dues and I was able to purchase the other 1/2 lot. That made it whole. Not thinking, I put my sister's name on the other 1/2 as well as mine. I should have just put my name on it. I pay the dues and property taxes. She hasn't been down there probably in several years now. She never talked about fixing the property up, and only offered some money for the dues and taxes once. So actually the place is now all mine.

Monday my husband Rick, youngest daughter Cortnie and I packed up and headed for Lakemont Shores. We have camped there several times over the past several years. We enjoy putting up a tent across from the swimming pool. That section is called Tatem Park. There is water faucets, and grills at about 5 or 6 camping spots. We got down there checked in and paid for two nights stay. Last time we were there, for members it was only $2.00 a night for a tent.

We drive down to Tatem Park and find that all the grills have been removed, the water is shut off, the pool is empty, no one there to run it and the bathrooms are locked. There is no way we can stay in that part. We go up by the playground for the kids and find a grill. Fix lunch and then decide to drive around down my the marina. We decide to stay in that area. There are pads for travel trailers, sewer, water and electric hookup. The bathhouse isn't very far. There are showers to use in the bathhouse. The cafe and heated fishing dock isn't very far either. We pitch our tent and set up camp. Rick and Cortnie goes swimming a little bit. We then get our fishing gear and go to the heated dock to see what we can catch. Rick bought me a rod and reel for Mother's Day. This is the first time I have used it.

The next morning (Tuesday) we get up and head for the Club House. I am wanting to exchange my lot for one, we can atleast camp on. While we are there looking at the lots that are available, the office gets a phone call, some one is camped in lot 12 by the marina. That was us. We are informed, if we want to stay there, it will be $12.00 to stay instead of the $8.00, we have already paid for two nights. My husband says there is no way we are going to put out any more money to stay. We tell the office, we will move back to Tatem Park. Asked when things might be fixed back up. The women have no clue. No one offers to take us out and show us some of the lots we can exchange for. They give us a map, that has the open lots marked. We are to take the map, go looking for ourselves and then let them know. We have no idea how to find these lots. Most of the road signs are gone. Can't find a sign that says what section we are in such as Echo 1 and Echo 2, or Dogwood, where our lot is now. No signs showing what lot number we are looking at. No way for us to see what we want to trade for.

We look around for awhile, but are totally lost. I mean my husband knows how to get back out on the main road. I sure don't. We have accomplished nothing. We decide to give up on that for now and go move our camp site. By the time we get back to the tent, we are tired, frustrated and hungry. I suggest we just fix our lunch, pack up and leave. The other two think that is a good idea. I am fed up. Ever since Lakemont was bought out from the original group, things have kind of went down hill. No more paddle boats, miniture golf needs repair, roads need to be fixed and many many more things. Some of these things have been gone for quite a while, but I figured eventually they would be taken care of. I had been told in the past the place was far in debt and they had hired a manager that just ran the place into the ground. He is gone now. From the monthly newsletters I had been getting, to me it looked like things were looking up. Boy, was I wrong. I am through. I am going to try to sell my lot. I no longer want to be a member. If I cannot sell it, I will give it back. Of course then I loose the money my parents paid for the original 1/2 lot and all the dues, and taxes I have paid for the last several years. We never plan to go down there again. It is a mess.

We spend Tuesday night at home. Rick has received a call from the company he works under, asking when he will be coming to pick up his pay check. He informs Charlie, he will be by sometime around noon on Wednesday. We will go to Tulsa, pick-up his check and come back home, pack up and head out for another lake with the boat. While we are in the process of getting the boat and stuff ready, I come up with an idea. Rick said he wanted for us to stay in a nice place one night for our anniversary. Tomorrow (Thursday, will be the date) is our anniversary. I don't know when he had planned to spend the night for that, so I suggest we go get his check and find a place to spend the night for our anniversary. Come home sometime Thursday morning and hook up the boat and head out again. Cortnie decides to stay home, and give us some time alone. We pick up his check, find us a room, check in, and go for lunch. We have nice quiet evening alone.

Thursday morning, Rick is up early as usual. I want to sleep in a bit, but he wants to get around and go. We have to be checked out by 11:00 a.m. anyway. We head home. Rick decides this time he is not taking the tent. He wants to rent a cabin. Calls ahead and is able to snag one. We are headed for Sequoyah Bay State Park. The cabin is nice and not a bad price. Two double beds, separate kitchen, with stove, refrig, and sink. One separate bed room and a separate bathroom. The cabins are booked up in to October. We were able to get one, because someone had cancelled. We move in and go for a swim in the swimming area. Come back and fix supper. Craig comes down after work to spend the night.

Friday morning early, Rick's dad arrives. A surprise. We had invited him down to take a ride on the boat. But he is early. Cortnie, Craig and I are still asleep. Rick up early, no surprise there, comes in and tells us Dad is already there. We get up, grab some breakfast, pack, hook up the boat and head for the dock. We go out on the water for a few hours with dad. Come in and grill some lunch about 1:30 p.m. Dad has to leave early. What a bummer. We clean up the lunch site and head for the boat again. Stay out on the water a few more hours, get bad sun burns, pack up and head home. Our vacation is over. Our stimulus check sure came in handy. We used it to pay for our vacation.

Now that you are bored and half a asleep, I will sign off.

Take Care,
Starlight

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