The lake and the woods make a scarcely perceptible sound. Maybe it’s the sound of the wind in the tall pines, spruce and aspen. No wind can been seen moving the surface of the still, mirror-like surface. There is life all around, and almost no sound. Most of the movement is behind the scene, imperceptible to the eye. Most of the action is underground. Microbes and bugs exist by digesting, lending to decay, increasing the fertility of the soil. There is much life under the surface of the lake. The wild life that initially comes to mind when we think of Nature, fox, wolf, coyote, and the bear spend much time silently watching and waiting. Mindful observation is key to survival for a predator.

But there is a sound. If one is absolutely still one can hear a bare whisper all around. It is not the sound of any one thing, but of everything together.

Today is Clara’s birthday. Clara is aunt to my wife. We are visiting Eagle River to celebrate her 89th year. Many of those years were spent married to Kurt, living by this lake, caring for the land, the horses, their dogs –lending their sense of meaning to this beautiful place. Kurt passed earlier this year. Kurt was a gentle, kind man. He was a gun collector. He enjoyed watching wrestling on TV. I will very much miss conversing with him. Clara misses him deeply. Certainly a part of her has passed on.

The celebration commenced yesterday evening with a meal at Aguave Azul Mexican restaurant. We enjoyed the conviviality of the place, the superb food, and the stories that were told of past years. Kurt was present in spirit with us. He was featured in stories of past family gatherings, stories of meeting the challenges of life, of overcoming adversity, of learning to love. So the evening was spent with Clara who has done a great deal to hold us together over the arc of our lives. We laughed together agreeing that none of us

imagined when much younger, that we would ever reach this age.

The celebration will continue tonight with another grand feast. The table will be larger with David, Kurt and Clara’s son; Shari, David’s wife; Bennie, Clara’s grandson; and Ashley, Bennie’s wife. The circle is larger, than any of us could have imagined.

Like a pebble thrown into a quiet lake.