We were all from the same place, raised with similar values, ideals, and perspectives, knew who each other were, not generations apart, but just far enough. We walked down the same school hallways and played on the same sports teams, just never at the same time. Grew together as the babysitter and babysat, but now sit together dividing tips to be spent on our after work drinks. It all started a little something like this: “Kaite, are you gonna work at Big Top this summer? I am. I think you should. Come on just do it,” said Magdalen at one of our far too infrequent meet ups to hang out/chase Oscar around the park/drink beer. “I love bartending!" I respond. "It’ll help keep me out of trouble, I’ll get to listen to great live music, whilst getting paid to hang out in one of my most favorite Bayfield spots...” “Plus I’ll be there!” said mastermind Mag. “Oh yeah…and it’s like we’ll have scheduled hangouts and we’ll even get paid!” So I called up Carol at Mt. Ashwabay and got myself on the bartending list. “Not a ton, just the big shows, just enough to generate some play money, keep myself out of trouble, and help you guys out,” I told Carol. “Oh yeah, did I mention I only want to work when Mag is?” Martia was cute, and looked fun to work with so I saddled up to be her pouring bitch since Mag left me hanging on the very first night of the season. Martia and I just kind of jived. I have a feeling she’d jive with most people pretty easily though since she’s the real easy going type and I made a complimentary match because I can call out the beer orders louder. Yep, I’m loud and direct. It worked. The next time we worked, the team worked again. I basically just kinda wanted to work with Mag, or Marita. The summer continued, the shifts were fun and passed relatively quickly and then August hit. If you’ve ever been in the tourism industry you know what I’m talking about when I refer to the 100 days of August when everyone is overworked, ready to cut the customers, and just really wanting to hit the beach, while your co-workers are dropping like flies as they head back to school. One night, I show up to work a show (mind you I’m not around all the time at the tent so my timeline could be a little off) and Martia had brought her best bud Sophie to help out since they were so understaffed at the concessions and in the bar. I teamed up with Martia again, while Sophie worked the beer till and kept the jokes a coming. I didn’t know this young buck, but she was funny and I was always grateful for a full staff at a big show. More shows, more laughs, beers at the bar downtown after work and friendly waves in passing through town led to planning an adventure. One night Sophie had her overalls on at work. Marita had dressed her like good best friends do. I had just worn my overalls on a recent adventure outing. What, Martia had overalls too and they’re super cute? Of course they are! We all knew Mag and Jen had some overalls, and clearly Oscar had overalls. It was settled we were gonna hang out in our overalls. And drink.
Wait, Jen should take us all sailing! An overall sailing adventure! It was everything I was hoping for: the entire crew was outfitted in overalls (minus cousin Jenny, who really tried to secure a pair in time, even texting boss Carol to no avail, and even overall-less joined in the laughs and did a stellar job documenting), the food ( rotisserie chicken, fresh bread, goat cheese, garden basil and tomatoes), the drinks (popping pressco from Bayfield Wine & Spirits and Martia contributing her brothers warm, dog hair clad beers left over from fishing earlier that day), the lake. We sailed around the bay with no real direction in mind appreciating, laughing, celebrating nothing and everything all at once without even necessarily realizing it. It was magic in the way that you don’t really realize just how magical it was. And to think, without this summer job I may have kept walking past Sophie and Marita offering a shy smile at best, appreciating from afar. Probably before this, but definitely after, Magdalen and I migrated to the porch of the Creamery for a drink after work, chatting, appreciating, and remembering what it was like to be Martia and Sophie’s age. Neither of us really felt the pull to return to the days of 21, but nonetheless loved the opportunity to hang with Marita and Sophie, share in their twenty-young-ness and also reflect on our time at that age. It all just reminded us of ourselves in many ways, nostaligic about our past days and excited for whats to come, for them, and us.
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AuthorsMagdalen Dale and Kaite Sweval grew up a layer apart, overlapping and paralleling. Belonging to the shores of Lake Superior and yet not quite belonging. Laughing and dreaming on the bench outside the ferry booth as Mag passed the time and Kaite chose her time. Left to explore as soon as they could. And then as adults returned home, perhaps to their surprise. But glad to have each other... ‘cause we know there is strength in the differences between us and comfort where we overlap. Archives
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