"Have a great vacation Carol," my secretary said as I walked out of my office.
"For the next two weeks I'm just going to vegetate and do nothing but relax," I answered.
"You say that now, but knowing you you'll be looking for something to do after a few days," she said with a laugh.
"I'm going to a friend's lakeside cabin upstate and I plan on taking a lot of photos and catch up on my reading."
"We'll do our best to manage without you and I won't bother you at all."
"You can reach me on my cell any time you need me."
"Only if we absolutely have to, now scoot and enjoy yourself," she said,
My secretary Beth is the absolute best and I know she can handle most emergencies that may arise, so I really did plan to relax.
I'm going to a friend's cabin that's right on a lake, near a small town, about a 3 hour drive out of the city. I'm going to pack tonight and get an early start in the morning.
I guess I should tell you a little about myself. Obviously my name is Carol; I'm 53 years old, divorced for the last fifteen years. I have two grown son's both married and I'm a proud grandmother of two boys and a girl which I spoil rotten.
I'm a vice president of a public relations firm in the city; I live in a town house in the suburbs and commute daily. I was always career oriented, which contributed to my divorce, but I make no apologies for being successful.
My ego is big enough to say I'm attractive, not just my opinion, I've been told that by both men and women. I work out when I can motivate myself to do so, but even with a sporadic work out schedule my body still looks good. I take special pride in my butt, but the guys like my full breast.
The cabin I'm going to belongs to a friend, Kathy Reynolds that works in a company I do PR for. She and her husband aren't going to be using it for a month and she said I could use it whenever I wanted during that time. I told her which weeks I would like, and she said I could stay all month if I wanted to, a very nice offer. Two weeks at a time is more than I normally take, but I really need a break, I'm just so tired of making one decision after another day in and day out. That's what vacations are for right, to unwind.
I woke early in the morning got dressed and hopped in the car to start my trip. I made a quick stop at a convenience store to get myself two 20 oz coffees for my ride.
It was a beautiful day and I didn't encounter any traffic problems. It took me 3 hours to reach the sleepy little lakeside town of Lakeside, I'm guessing the town fathers didn't toss and turn all night to come up with a name for their town.
It was a beautiful town with a main street and a town square with the police station and the town hall as the center piece. There was a diner, barber shop, post office and a general store called; you guessed it, the general store and the lakeside grocery store. There were too many small shops to mention, but I plan on shopping in each one of them. The town itself is also right on the lake with a small marina and a place to launch a boat.
I parked in front of the grocery store so I could buy some food for at least a few days until I get my bearings for what other stores or shopping centers might be near by.
I was paying for the items I needed and the check out lady asked if I was staying near by. I told her I was staying at the Reynolds lake cabin and she said it was a beautiful spot. Since she knew where it was I asked her how to get there from here and she gave me directions. She said with a smile it's the last driveway before the entrance to sunny lake nudist campground. She must have noticed the puzzled look on my face, because she laughed and said I guess you haven't heard of it, which I told her I hadn't. Apparently the northern part of the lake is a nudist retreat. She said it's far enough away from the Reynolds cabin that I wouldn't be able to see any naked people. That was a little detail never mentioned to me by Kathy, but then again it wouldn't have made any difference, there was a half mile of woods between me and the happy campers.
I thanked her for the directions and drove out of town towards the cabin. I was pleasantly surprised when I reached the end of their driveway which must have been a quarter mile long. The cabin was perfect, a porch facing the water, a dock and inside had all the comforts you would need, I guess Kathy wasn't into roughing it.
I unpacked and went outdoors to look around. There were two canoes and a kayak pulled up on shore and a small Boston whaler tied up at the dock. Kathy told me to feel free to use any of the boats. I like being on the water so I plan on taking advantage of the boats.
I spent most of the afternoon sitting on the porch reading a book and looking out at the water. People would paddle by in their boats and wave and I would wave back, very friendly atmosphere.
In stead of cooking my first night I drove back into town to the diner. The place had a full crowd, the lady at the door said there would be waiting, but if I didn't mind sitting at the counter I can be seated immediately. The counter was fine with me so I took a seat.
I was waiting for my order when a young man came up to me.
"Hi, I hope you don't think I'm being rude, but my friend and I sat down at a booth a few minutes before you arrived. Our meals haven't been served yet, so if you would be more comfortable, we would like you to join us," he said with a smile.
I looked to where he said he was sitting and another young man waved. My first reaction was to decline, but then I figured what the hell, I'm on vacation, and I did just spend the afternoon not speaking to a soul.
"Well, that's very nice of you, not rude at all; I would love to join you."
I sat in the booth opposite both of the guys.
"Thanks guys that was very nice of you," I said.
"No problem, we saw you walk in and felt bad that we got a booth and you had to sit at the counter."
"I was alone so I guess they didn't want to hold me up, so it was okay, I really don't mind the counter." I said.
"Well I'm glad you changed your mind." "So guys, my names Carol and you are?"
"I'm Rick," said the guy that asked me to sit with them.
"And I'm Anthony, but only my mother calls me that, I go by Tony, "said the other guy, as he reached out to shake my hand.
"So Rick and Tony, are you always such gentlemen?" I asked with a smile.
"Only to good looking ladies," answered Rick with a grin.
"Well I'm flattered then, my name is Carol," I smiled back.
Our waitress arrived with our meals and said hello to the guys by name and they knew her, they all looked around the same age. Looking at them I realized they were around my sons and daughter in-laws ages, as it turns out they're younger.
"So Carol we haven't seen you around before?"
"I just arrived this morning; I'm staying at a friends place for a little R & R."
I told them where and they knew Kathy and her husband, Tony said they were friends of his parents.
"What do you guys do?" I asked.
"We're both in college, but our families always vacationed here so we have summer jobs here," said Rick.
"What do you do Carol?"
"I work at a public relations firm and I'm taking a week or two off to relax."
As we chatted over dinner I learned that they're both 21 and became friends from their summer vacations here. Their parents are here now for the summer and they stay with them, which they say kills their love life. Rick works as a lifeguard and Tony works at the local marina, fueling boats and helping out at the bait and tackle shop.
