Staycation

Before my in-laws sold their lake home, this long weekend would perfect to settle in at Lake of the Ozarks for a few days. We would pack up the minivan for the three-hour drive and head east to Sedalia, Mo., on Highway 50 and then south on 65 until Versailles and then east again over to Laurie, Mo.

A stop at the "Laurie market" would be SOP before heading to the lake house , with the likely grocery haul to include some Missouri peaches in addition to the bottled water, oreos and bratwurst.

The whine of personal watercraft and the rhythmic sound of wakes hitting the dock would greet us as we exited our car at the A-frame on South Buck Creek Cove. Our lab would be in the water within mere moments and it wouldn't take us much longer to forget about time and cares.

Ski runs, swimming and sunbathing would follow, with incessant eating, drinking and lounging around the TV and game table the order of the evening.

The picture is a little different now.

With the sale of the lake house,, we've got the classic "staycation" this weekend. I'm not really sure what one is supposed to fill the agenda; fix the toilet, mow the grass? It's all good, though, since our daughter - a freshman in college - has come home for the weekend after her whirlwind first week at K-State.

Empty nesters now, we feel blessed to have one returning - if only for a brief Labor Day weekend "staycation."