A Memoir - Lakeside in Summer

Besides the bold Merrimack River which rushes over falls near the city's

 former world famous textile mills, where the water provided power in those

 long ago manufacturing days, there is a place of calm and beauty at 

Lake Massabesic in Manchester. 

We always stop at least once when in town, and it's especially

lovely on a hot summer's day, sitting on a bench waterside, watching 

sailboats and kayaks silently drift by - no motorboats permitted.

  

We pick up an ice cream at nearby Goldenrod, the best in town, and sit

 licking the huge cones of 'Frozen Pudding' our favorite old fashioned

 flavor - which we can never find anywhere else these days.

Bob tells me again of his happy childhood days here. They were mostly with

 his older brother John. The things two youngsters could get up to when sent out

 early morning and told not to come home until the street lights came on, would

 scare the heck out of today's parents whose children know very little about

 running free in their suburban neighborhoods, let alone in a bustling city.

This scenic lake is one of those places where one can truly feel relaxed and is

 just a few minutes drive from the cacophony of downtown traffic and bustling

 city sounds.

Manchester, New Hampshire has an extremely interesting history - read more
HERE if interested in the phenomenal growth of the American textile industry, 
sadly now just about gone.

I lived here for a couple years when first married. It was the town where I
 learned how family life was in America. I was fortunate as Bob's parents
 and other family members were close by, and very kind to me, and I needed
 all the help I could get! 
Although the family are gone from town, I enjoy going back and remembering
 those sometimes hard years. They were long ago, yet often feel like yesterday. 
 Sitting and reminiscing at the lake on that recent August day was perfect, and 
I'm thinking we'll be doing it again next year hopefully.