Yesterday when I got home, my mother greeted me with a hug as we began to catch up on each other’s lives this past month. I breathed a sigh of relief after I finally unloaded my bags from the car. It was good to be home.

My state of bliss, however, only lasted about twenty minutes because shortly after my arrival, my mother stated, “Well now that you’re home, I may just head out early to meet my girlfriends.”

Now I knew ahead of time that my mother had a weekend with her nursing school girlfriends planned for quite some time. I even knew that it was scheduled for my midterm break. I didn’t know that she would be rushing off so soon after seeing her for only an hour.

“Glad to be home, mom. Good to see you, too,” I joked with her.

My mother rushed off to a cottage on Seneca Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Her quick departure may have seemed shocking since I just returned after a month away from home, but I knew I would see her all day today. My father and I decided to take her and her five girlfriends on a boating trip across Seneca Lake. Our original plan was to only be out on the water for roughly three hours. As the day dragged on, the time flew by and we found ourselves returning to the dock after almost six hours.

If I had the opportunity, I would spend all my time on the water. There’s something about being on a boat and just enjoying the sound of the waves. The wind whips by and gives your hair a messy, beach look. There’s nothing else on your mind except for the distance you are traveling as you speed across the water.

After a few hours of cruising along the lake, we docked at The Showboat Motel and Restaurant for lunch. This motel opened in 1958 and has hosted visitors such as Captain Kangaroo, Michael Landon, and The Twilight Zone star Rod Sterling. A full history of the motel and restaurant can be read here.

I’m always looking for new places to eat, especially if they have been dining locations of celebrities. I had never heard of the Showboat Motel and Restaurant prior to this boating excursion, but it’s exciting to know that celebrity sightings have occurred so close to my hometown. The food was perfect for a light lunch, and we were able to eat outside and bask in the sunshine. For a mid-October day, we couldn’t have asked for better weather. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the temperature was in the high 60s / low 70s.

My first full day back home turned out better than I thought it would. I was able to meet my mother’s college friends and spend time with my parents. But, what I loved most was having the opportunity to be on the water again. I knew there was a reason I was born a Pisces. I’m happiest when I’m on the water, and I look forward to traveling to places that will allow me to do just that.

-Morgan