Most Meaningful Place
There’s no place like Lake Martin. Settled in the woodlands just northeast of my hometown, Lake Martin has been one of the constants in my life. The beach was just a summer fling, I aged out of camp, and my schools changed frequently. However, the lake has been there throughout it all: lazy weekends, birthday’s, Fourth of July firework mishaps, and so much more. It’s where I learned to wakeboard, tried to ski, and gathered with family and friends all throughout the year. It’s a place that holds some of my fondest memories.
Set on half an acre of land, our house began as a small blue bungalow. Though the years it has transformed along with us into a cream serene getaway. It sits atop a small hill and faces two-hundred and fifty feet of water-front property. Pine trees soar above the rooftop as sweetgums drop cockleburs onto the grassy floor. The large porch looks out across the yard to the lake, and there, guests can sit on the swing and relax, drink some sweet tea, and watch as boats drive by, kids swim in the water, and dogs run around the yard. For anyone who wishes to have an exciting afternoon, the dock sprawls across the water and features a high dive to get anyone’s adrenaline pumping.
Our lot at Lake Martin can hold any activity anyone could possibly wish for—whether it’s tanning in an Adirondack, taking a drive in the boat, or sitting on a float. On land, there’s hammocks for reading, balls for playing, and stereos for jamming. If there’s a game to play, it can be done here. Our family has hosted numerous events between holidays, and office parties, and while those are exciting and full of friends, sometimes the best memories happen on a weekend with just my family. From a party of fifty to a family of five, the lake can fit anyone and everyone.
On a larger scheme, my family’s plot is only a tiny dot on the lake’s 110 mi area. Lake Martin stretches across three counties, but our house is nestled in the city of Tallassee in a slough on Tucker’s point, away from the hustle and bustle of the open water. We live with three other families and a creepy abandoned house across the water. It’s private and secluded, but guests and wandering boats are not uncommon. The nature surrounding us is both free and cultivated. Trees stand tall and strong from living many years of life, untouched by human hands, but bushes and stones have strategically been placed on the lot to separate our land from the neighbors next door. Across, however, around the abandoned house, nature runs rampant and free from the confines of order—serving as a contrast to others around it.
It’s easy to celebrate the simplicity of the land. Most trees are cleared from the front, as to not obstruct the view of the water, but their presence is seen and felt. I’ve spent a lot of my time hanging between then in my hammock reading books, listening to the sounds of the birds and the waves, and looking up at the branches contemplating the meaning of life and my place in it. As water is the focus of our weekend retreat, the trees, bushes, and flowers play second fiddle in the greater orchestra of things, but their importance can never be diluted. They provide the shade, frame the view and plot, and enhance the beauty that surrounds them. It’s not elaborate or the emphasis, but it makes the lake an oasis and provides seclusion from the outside world.
Lake Martin holds a very special place in my heart. For as long as I can remember, it’s been a part of my life and the story of my family. It’s been the location of celebrations for every single one of my family as well as last-minute getaways. The memories we’ve made have been happy, but they’re also the landmark of some harder times. My very first dog is buried by the house. Another one got lost and we almost never found her. I’ve almost drowned in a knee-boarding accident. Not to even mention the times I’ve almost been bitten by water moccasins slithering around. But those only add to the relationship between the lake and me. Life is full of ups and downs, and to me, a place of meaning isn’t free from the hardships and struggles that can be thrown at you. Instead, they celebrate overcoming strife and rising to a new day. The lake has been a retreat and positive place for my family. We retreat from the real world and celebrate all that life and nature have to offer, like another year of life and the beauty of the world. We decided to bury our dog there because it was important to memorialize our family’s history and show how impactful this space has been for us.
Across Lake Martin, there are a lot of houses and lots of families who call it a home. Some may find it their favorite place while others may not, but nevertheless, their houses and experience don’t make the lake important to me. It’s my lot, my house, my memories, and my family that make the space worthwhile. While other places I’ve traveled have been magical and exciting, there’s no place like the lake. No other location can stir the thoughts and emotions it does. Outward beauty has a part to play, but the biggest factor is how the lake has woven its way through my life. Not only has my family shaped the land to our wants, but the land has also shaped us in return, and this is why Lake Martin is my most meaningful place.
