Remembrances  of the Dells Mill, The Dells School and the Dells Mill Pond

I remember
 

Going to the mill with a wagon and a horse with my Grand Father.  The biggest anticipation was getting the work done and having a Dreamsicle as the reward

Swimming in the pond

floating on the pond, grasping a log and letting the day taking me

Fishing off the concrete walkway, watching the sunfish taking the bait and hoping the mill would wind up to draw the fish

The day I went  fishing with a high school friend, and reaching over to boat to brink in the fish as he reeled it I startled that fish and gave him the energy to break the line. 

Skating on the pond without any snow to impede me.  We skated for hours.  My friend were with me most of the way.  They had to go, but I stayed and enjoy the solitude of the winter day.  I stayed and stayed and almost expired as I realized I was at the far end of the pond and struggled to get back to the house, of my friends at the dells mill.

Hearing the ice crack and quake in the cold when I skated

Fishing in an ice shack and talking about girls and sex and mostly ignoring the fishing.

Pushing the snow out of the way when it made free skating impossible

Light a fire on the ice

Making a skating ring to the free the ice when the snow came

My parents anticipating the opening of Bass season

Fishing for Crappie's with my Grandmother

Fishing for perch on a midsummer's day

Wading  and then getting up to my waist in the warm water, then getting nude to feel the water flow over me.

Swimming on a raft

Hearing Moon River

Finding a blue bird for the last time

Wanting to dive off the rocks

Challenging the damn

Finding solstice on a summers ever

Finding the right bamboo pole

Finding the right bait

Camping on the island

Smoking for the first time

Losing my glasses