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 By Jeff Hughes
Grade 12
Andover High
Bob Ameli — Teacher
I awake with the sun. The morning dew allows me to slip my canoe noiselessly towards the shoreline. I slip my canoe into the water; it causes the glassy surface to ripple, as I paddle away from the world. An eagle lazily stretches its wings, soaring to welcome the morning. A kingfisher swoops to the surface, retrieving his breakfast. I paddle, within five minutes everything in the world has been forgotten. I am now a mere part of the lake I am so fond of.
The fish jump and swirl, I cast. The line flies purposefully, spraying a cool stream of water on my hands. The fish give chase to my lure, following and darting away. It is a dance we have played out many times. Eventually it bites, I spend minutes relishing the fight, retrieving my prize, oniy to let her go. As she swims away, I head home. We will meet again, and we shall play our parts in this endless chain.
My lake is my backyard, it has always been there for me, and always will be. The ducks and the fish, the plants, all are perfectly intertwined; all are at peace with themselves. I can find peace in these waters, every stress and pressure of life melts away as I coast aimlessly about. I am two minutes from my house, but I am a million miles to sea.
It is this placid region, only moments from my home, where I can briefly enjoy the solitude I lack in the city where I live. This lake, a seemingly pointless puddle in the Minnesota scenery is where I am reminded of the wilderness. Without this minute escape from civilization, I put nature out of my mind, I need these waters to gently awaken my senses to the true wilderness areas around. Only a handful of true wilderness areas remain, they are as important as any piece of land. If we as humans are to remain sane, and true to this earth, then we need our everyday wild place to keep thoughts of the true untamed wilderness fresh in our minds. If we lose our conscious thoughts about the wilderness, then we lose the wilderness itself.
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