July—Pewaukee Lake

“GET OUT OF THE WATER!”

“GET OUT OF THE WATER!”

My mind couldn’t help but hear a panicked Chief Brody from the movie Jaws as he ran up and down a crowded New England beach after a shark sighting.

“GET OUT OF THE WATER!”

It was early July, and the narrow stretch of sand, no more than the size of a large backyard, was packed beyond reason. There were no more spots for vacationers. If you didn’t get there early, you were out of luck. Kids darted in and out of the water, and footballs zipped through the air. Adults lingered along the shore. Families built castles in the sand. Laughter carried in all directions—across the lake and across the street to the patio restaurant where I sat.

Chief Brody would be a nervous wreck. Imagining him patrolling the water, I smiled as I replayed scenes from the movie in my head.

This was the first time I had seen Pewaukee Lake like this. It was the first time I knew such a scene existed. There were no sharks, of course. Just the sand, the fresh lake water, and smiles.

The July Fourth vacationers were getting an early start on the holiday. Boats skimmed across the lake, while paddle boarders rowed their way along the shore. A line outside the ice cream shop extended half a block, while the sun bathed the window shoppers that had gathered on a summer day.

I had only been in Wisconsin a short time, but this moment gave me pause. Somehow, this crowded little beach on an inland lake felt like a discovery. Why did it take me 60 years to discover it?

I have always loved the Fourth of July weekend. This one promised to be extra special as the country celebrated its 250th birthday. Hats and t-shirts adorning the celebration marked the landscape. A fireworks show I attended the weekend before went extra long. The celebrations were underway.

Chief Brody would have hated it.

I loved every minute of it.

Happy birthday, America!