**updated from June, 2018**

Fun-Filled Days at the Lake

BY: RACHEL WUMKES

As I sit in my quiet office this morning, casually sipping my second cup of steaming Cabin Coffee deliciousness, I can’t help but wonder… how can I be THIS tired?  I have a part time, non-stressful job.  One where I spend each morning immersed in a plethora of words about all the fun happening around town.  During the afternoons I enjoy fun-fill days at the lake, and my evenings are typically at the ballfield.

So how?  How is it that if someone came in and tried to steal my coffee right now, I’d have a complete mental breakdown?

It’s called the Guts of Summer, folks, and I’m in the thick of it!

Last week’s Event Email broke the record for items listed.  In fact, I could only update the AM1200 radio and Events Line for a few days at a time. While some activities are for kids and some strictly for adults, that’s a whole lot of goodness going on for a small lake town in Iowa.  Bingo, live music, Surf Sounds Summer Concert Series, Dockside Night on the Lady of the Lake, Arts Center activities galore. Then there’s Thursdays on Main, Fresh on Friday, Farmer’s Market, Yoga by the Lake, and a slew of stuff happening at the Public Library.

And that doesn’t even include all the lake time, pool time, ballgames, reading program, and swimming lessons.

This, my friends, is what I have officially dubbed “The Guts of Summer.”

It’s that crazy-busy time in your life where it seems like you run around all day, going from one activity or event to the next, only to come home for a quick shower and to get some sleep. Your toes nestled into the warm sand and the sun on your face.  It’s fun-filled days at the lake and evenings under the stars.

And I love it.

LOVE. IT.

I wouldn’t trade one single moment for anything in the World.  Which is why we try our hardest to hit up as many events as possible. You see, it’s needed to get you through the winter.  Because even though Clear Lake does a great job of keeping the activity fire burning during the cold, winter months, you need to keep a tiny bit of summer in your reserve tank.  A slice of sunshine, a snippet of live music on a warm summer night, or maybe the taste on your tongue of a homemade ice cream treat from The Olde Creamery.

You need to fill your tank! 

Life is short, people.  Someday when I’m old and sitting around the kitchen table playing cards with my friends on a Tuesday afternoon, I want to remember.  I want us to have stories of concerts at the Surf and Thursdays on Main and time spent on the sandy beach at State Park.  I want to talk about “that summer” when I dropped my son off at Veterans Memorial Golf Club every single day.  To remember my empty wallet because my daughter drinks boba like it’s her job, and simply MUST have an acai bowl from Charlies Soda Fountain every chance she gets!

I never want to forget all the amazing fun-filled days at the Lake.

These are the memories that make up the blueprint of our lives.  We’re lucky we live in a place that offers the possibility to make them.

So enjoy.  Take in every moment.

Immerse yourself into the guts of summer!