October 9, 2026
Minneapolis Airport
Marcus:
Yesterday we helped Todd put up his plastic boat. Four men pulling on chain hoists, lifting the boat and resting it finally on thick beams above the docks- ready to sleep for the winter. Closing up is as hard as opening up. It’s not a young man’s game, but Todd, lithe as a 24 year old, moved across the beams and traversed the length of the boathouse like Spiderman. He’s done this all his life and although it doesn’t get easier, you can watch the mental list get checked off as he prepares the boat for its rest.
October has been a windy month, with quick storms coming up the River from the south, gathering speed and moisture over Lake Ontario, or cold, powerful fronts racing down from the north.
Yesterday, after Conor and I put up the skiff for the winter, the wind picked up, Wizard of Oz style, and we could see the storm rolling in. We raced up the hill to the house, laughing as the leaves swirled around us.
Duke hates storms and stuck close to me as Conor went to shower.
I was making a cup of tea, thinking about umbrellas and raincoats and a wet trip from Comfort to Keewaydin, when a rainbow appeared above Keewaydin.
And then another.
And finally, a third, ending powerfully just beyond Boldt Castle.
I yelled for Conor, but he was steaming out his cold in a hot shower. Luckily, he has many more rainbows in his long life.
I was glad to have these—today.
So great to see you and Peter and Max and Dori last night at DiPrinzios. Feels odd that we’ll be saying goodbye soon until next May.
Stephen