Afterglow 2005

I didn't wake up until after 12:00 noon, and when I did I still was very tired and crabby. Not even a big bowl of Lucky Charms could make me feel any better. I didn't feel like leaving the cabin because I knew that I was going to get some unkind words and glares from not only all of the parents at Afterglow, but from Pete and Gail as well. At this point, I still did not know whether or not the Vilas County Sheriff had stopped by to investigate and possibly hand out tickets. I finally did get out a little bit after 1:00 pm, and found the kids (Tim, Kevin, Brian and Tommy) goofing around in the water. It turned out to be a beautiful day, which I once again credit to God as a way of forgiving us for our actions.

So far no one had mentioned the events that had taken place just last night, probably because everyone was too busy enjoying the perfect weather. Shortly after taking these pictures, the only thing that I am certain of is that I myself entered the water and shared in the swimming exercises. I know that not because I was conscious of the day's events (I zombie-walked throughout the day, operating mostly on autopilot) but because Tim and I make it a point to swim every day that swimming is a possibility. The last day that we are there (Saturday) when we leave at 9:30 am to go home is not eligible, neither are times when there is a lightning storm. Cold weather and rain make swimming interesting, but those aren't excuses to miss a day of swimming during the week of Afterglow.

There are some things that you know for sure, yet others keep you guessing. Take this photograph for instance. I know that Jenny is out getting a tan, but are Brian and Tommy doing the same thing or are they just imitating Jenny for the sake of comedy and a picture opportunity.

Very rarely does a picture capture exactly what it intends to. There are too many factors that contribute to the picture - mood, lighting, attitude, scenery, makeup, hairstyling, etc. All of those must be done perfectly in order to properly deliver the message that the artist wishes to portray to their audience. This picture sums up my entire day. I look really angry, but in actuality I was just tired and irritated. It's no secret that my vacation took a turn for the worse, and today was a day to reflect upon that and turn it back in the right direction. I couldn't let one minor event stop me from having a wonderful and relaxing vacation. I promise I wont grimace anymore.

Tim often goes out on the lake in a boat by himself to be alone. I don't know if he's collect his thoughts or writing a new song, but he enjoys it and I really don't blame him for doing it. I've often found that a trip alone on the calm Afterglow waters is exactly what the doctor ordered.

I would later find out that everyone in the resort knew about our actions. It turned out that shortly after the Vilas Sheriff questioned me, he drove to Afterglow looking for Matt and Gary and knocked on their cabins, seeing as how I gave that information away. Obviously neither of them were there because we were still trudging through the woods trying to get home, but their parents got a nice 2:00 am wake up call. For the rest of the week, Gary and Matt's parents wouldn't speak to me, and I did not make any contact with Pete or Gail (the people who run Afterglow). In fact, everyone at Afterglow treated me differently after I narced on Gary and Matt. And to think, I was the one who didn't even want to go in the first place.