Nice to see the office is still here
At long last, I was finally able to take some much needed vacation. My co-workers claim they finally got some work done in my absence, and the only way they knew I was gone was because of the silence.
I, on the other hand, prefer to think my presence and sunny disposition livens up any situation or room. My co-workers have other opinions, but this is my column, so I’m not committing them to print.
After seeing everyone else in the office leave for an extended period of time, it felt great to be able to enjoy my own time off. With the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing, I took a simpler vacation, travelling to my hometown of Hayward.
It was the first time I was in Hayward since Gov. Evers “Safer at Home” order was lifted at the end of May. I played tourist for a few days in Hayward, walking up and down Main Street, stopping in to see friends and buy some odds and ends from familiar shops, but for the most part, I stayed at my friend’s place on the lake.
The vacation was great. I couldn’t have asked for a better, or more relaxing time. I indulged in sleep, I fished a little, did a little bit of hiking on wooded trails, but I mostly stayed around the cool confines of Lake Hayward.
The weather was perfect, and the food I cooked every night for my buddy Matt and his girlfriend Lucy, was delicious. There were brats, steaks, chicken breasts and more. There was good conversations, drinks and even the occasional cigar.
All in all, it was just what the doctor ordered. It made me forget about all the troubles and tribulations in the world. For a brief moment, all was right with the world and I was content.
I think everyone could use a little rest and relaxation to be honest. 2020 is not turning out to be the year we all had hoped it was going to be. There’s so much to wrap one’s head around, what with the upcoming presidential election, COVID-19, the ups and downs of the economy, and just life in general.
It felt great to just leave my cares in Colby for a few days and live life. I think that’s why everyone needs a vacation from time to time. And trust me, the worries you have will still be there when you come back from whatever locale you visited.
I was happy to see that here and there, small signs of normalcy greeted me on my return to Colby. Sports have been approved for this fall, and the first few cross-country and swim practices have taken place. My first live high school sporting event is scheduled for September 3. It will be the first time I have covered a high school sporting event since the middle of March.
If there’s one thing I’m most proud of as your reporter here at the Tribune-Phonograph, it’s that I’ve kept the sports section going these last few months. I hope you’ve all enjoyed the stories of student-athletes from Colby or Abbotsford getting ready to take that next step in their athletic careers. I know I have at least one fan of my stories and columns - hello Dolores from West Bend!
I am also hoping to cover even more athletic events in the coming weeks. There’s a lot of uncertainty moving forward with school and sports, and now that I am back in the office, I’ll be sure to keep you all informed.
But if there’s one thing I learned on my vacation, it’s that it’s good to reflect on what you do have. If you’re like me, and you have good food, good friends and good cheer, well, then the world isn’t so bad, is it?
M USINGS AND G RUMBLINGS
ROSS PATTERMANN REPORTER
