Getting my senses put in order

published June 21, 2012

in the Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

 

 

            “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” (John Burroughs)

            It was a busy weekend in Stockton and all around. I hear great things from all the Summer Festival activities here in town, but regrettably, we were not here to enjoy any of it. But we were close by, at Webster State Park, where there was also a great deal of activity. Since the first of this year, our youngest son has been planning his birthday celebration–his 30th–and Father’s Day, which happened to fall on the same day this year.         

 

           The very first day this season that reservations could be made at Webster Lake for the two cabins, my son went online and reserved them both for Father’s Day weekend. With that taken care of, the most important prerequisite for carrying out his plan was that he was to become a father, which he did on March 28.

Cabins reserved:  Check.

Earn the title of Father:  Check.

            With those first important items on the plan marked off, all that was left was to wait until the weekend got closer, which it finally did. The fact that it fell on the same weekend as the Summer Festival in Stockton was unfortunate, as we felt like we really missed a lot of fun here in town. But there was a lot of fun going on just a few miles west of here that we wouldn’t have wanted to miss a moment of.

            Rooks Countians have a lot to be proud of in that beautiful gem just eight miles to our west. Clean, well-trimmed, nice camp spots, a beautiful lake, and some really great, friendly folks to ensure everyone has a good time make this a jewel in our county’s crown. Every time I am out there, I totally lose track of time and space, and find myself frequently reminding myself that we are actually just a few miles from home.

            A lot of people out there, however, are not just a few miles from their home. There are many license plates from other counties and other states. This is a huge draw for our county and local economy. Judging by the number of trips my son made back into Stockton to pick up additional supplies, there’s no doubt of its economic value. This is not just for those of us within short driving distance; this is a place we can all be proud to share.

            Kudos to those who work out there to make Webster a place where many people can go for fun, fishing, boating, camping, and family celebrations such as the one we just enjoyed. Although I feel like I now need another day or two to recuperate from all the activity, Webster Lake is also a place to relax, as it is as I quoted above–a beautiful place where nature put our senses in order. However, as I write this on Monday, the day after the weekend before, I am relying on ibuprofen to do the soothing and healing.