Essay from Joan Beebe

THE ADIRONDACK MONTAINS
WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, MY MOM BOUGHT ME
MY FIRST CAR AND IT WAS A REALLY OLD ONE.  HOWEVER, I
WAS PLEASED AND EXCITED TO START MY DRIVING LESSONS.
NOT LONG AFTER THAT, IN THE SUMMER, MY FRIENDS AND I TOOK A TRIP TO THOSE
BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS.  WE WERE ABLE TO STAY AT A RUSTIC  LODGING RIGHT
ON A LAKE FOR ONLY $2.00 PER NIGHT PER PERSON.  OUR $30.00 OR $40.00 WOULD TAKE
US THROUGH A WEEKEND, BOTH PAYING FOR LODGING, GAS FOR THE CAR,
FOOD AND SOUVENIRS.  THE FEELING IN THOSE MOUNTAINS BROUGHT A SENSE
OF PEACEFULNESS AND HAPPINESS TO TRAVEL THROUGH ROADS WITH FORSTS OF PINES
AND OCCASIONALLY SEEING SOME WILDLIFE,  ESPECIALLY THE DEER.  WE COULD
SWIM IN THE COOL LAKE WATER BY THE LODGE OR TAKE THEIR ROWBOAT
AND PADDLE TO A SMALL ISLAND TO EXPLORE OR JUST SIT AND BECOME A PART OF
THE QUIET BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDED US.
ONE TIME, WE ALL WENT TO A SQUARE DANCE IN THE NEXT
SMALL TOWN AND WHAT FUN THAT WAS.  WE DANCED AND TWIRLED OUR WAY
INTO THE NIGHT AND DROVE BACK TO THE LODGE TIRED BUT HAPPY
ABOUT OUR EXCITING TIME WITH THOSE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE
MOUNTAINS.
IT WAS ALWAYS A SAD TIME WHEN WE HAD TO LEAVE TO DRIVE HOME.  HOWEVER,
WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD BE BACK AGAIN AND VERY THANKFUL THAT
WE COULD ENJOY THE BEAUTY, FUN AND WONDERS OF THE ADIRONDACKS.
IT ISN’T A SURPRISE THAT WHEN I MARRIED AND HAD CHILDREN, WE TOOK THEM TO
THOSE MOUNTAINS WHICH INCLUDED, NOT JUST THE SPECIAL FUN PLACES FOR CHILDREN, BUT
ALSO TO A DUDE RANCH SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THEY LEARNED TO RIDE A HORSE,
BONFIRES AND COOKOUTS, SWIMMING AND ENTERTAINMENT
IN THE EVENING.  SO MANY GREAT MEMORIES OF THOSE DAYS.  WE STILL,
OCCASIONALLY, WILL DRIVE AGAIN TO OUR PRECIOUS MOUNTAINS TO
ENJOY A BOAT RIDE ON THEIR SPARKLING LAKES, EXPLORE GIFT
SHOPS, EAT GOOD FOOD AND SLEEP BETTER AFTER A DAY IN THE
PURE AIR OF THE ADIRONDACKS.