Cash Prizes for Youth and Adults
contest flyer2024 Theme: The Future of Water
Some of our grandparents and even great-grandparents lived around local lakes, and family memories are still being created. Building on that foundation, writers are asked to gaze into the crystal balls of their imagination and share a glimpse of what our lakes will look like 50 years from now.
Entries are accepted at 101lakestrust@gmail.com. Entry deadline Sept. 1. Cash awards will be provided for first - through third-place youth and adult writers. Follow the 101 Lakes Trust Facebook page for details and updates.
1st place winner
2nd place winner
I slowly lower myself into the old chair. The lake breeze kisses my face and the laughter of children playing is music to my ears. The chair groans under my weight the same way my old bones groan. My tired eyes look out across the water. I smile, remembering my own days on this very lake. Days long since past, but when I close my eyes it feels like yesterday. I can still feel the spray of water on my face and the warm sun on my back during a slow pontoon ride. I can feel the burn in my muscles as I am pulled behind a boat on skis. The burn of a blister from holding on to tight while tubing.
I look to my left where my adult children debate the latest world crisis. Their voices are full of anxiety. I clear my throat, “Kids go take that ridiculous new boat and teach the grands how you used to do it.” The lake is no place for anxieties, besides they have yet to learn what I have. Every generation thinks they have it worse and will witness the end of the world. Yet, it hasn’t ended and the world keeps turning.
My son stands, “You’re right mom. I’ll grab the boys.”
My daughter turns to me, “Mom, it is not ridiculous. It runs off clean energy and has half the carbon footprint the boats you grew up with had.”
I look back to the lake, the once green water is now a beautiful blue and has a thriving fish population. I smile, “It’s still a bit jarring to me sometimes. To be able to see the bottom in water that is more than a foot deep.” She gives my shoulder a loving squeeze before leaving to find her own hooligans.
My smile only grows as I watch my family run to the ridiculous boat that I never dreamed possible. 50 years ago I was 22. 50 years ago the lake was so brown you couldn’t see the bottom. 50 years ago the houses were so built up they went back three layers and still had little space for yards. Now, my grandkids can see the bottom. My grandkids have a yard to play in as well as the lake. 50 years later humanity proved it could be better and could care for our resources so the next generation could enjoy it too.
I lean back in my old chair. A chair I have sat in for 50 years and take a deep breath, “The world keeps on turning and eventually we realize that we made it.”
My husband snorts next to me, jerking awake, “What did you say dear?” he looks around, “Beautiful day.”
I nod, watching a small cloud drift by on the breeze, “That is exactly what I said. It’s a beautiful day.”
The year is 2054, wow I can’t believe I’ve made it this far.
It’s been quite some time since my younger days. I’ve survived a lot, and I’ve lived to see the world change ever so slowly,
It’s often so hot outside it feels as if it could melt your face off.
Pollution & rubble scattering our state parks.
Wars of the human population yet also of mother nature’s origin.
Ah, I dream of the days of how it used to be.
The rivers ran clean.
Midwestern paradise, just a short road trip away from some of the cleanest waters of the US.
The water feeling as if it could wash all your problems away..
Even then, walking through parts of the nearest city, the stench could make a sewer rat run away.
It’s almost as if 50 years ago we could have made a difference..
Reversed some of this unfortunate demise of the habitat.
Now I go to my hometown lake and it is but a dent in the land..
You can see the imprint of when Mother Nature had its way..
Waterfalls and springs running rampant on a sunny day..
People would populate the beach..
when it was 85 degrees in September..
Living their best lives and soaking up the rays.
Partying on their boats from the dunes to the sand bars.
Throwing their pop cans and hot dog wrappers wherever they pleased..
And this is what it led to..
Anarchy.
Food & water being contaminated..
Scaring our turtles and precious fish away..
I know there are places out there that still have this rare niche for our wildlife..
But even then it’s shrinking away..
Oh to go back to the days of
Water & Sand in my toes,
And my worries melting away..
But now… the whole United States feels like a desert, fighting for a bottle of water.. no oasis to be seen for thousands of miles away..
For now I will drink my 20$ bottle of water and reminisce on the days
We could have saved..
But took advantage of..
Slowly draining away..
I flashback to when I was 27
I had just purchased my new home,
Stressed almost every day over material items.
Unaware that the biggest blessing was simply being able to go to my nearest beach, Lake James or Crooked.
walk along the shoreline..
soak up Pokagon state parks flowers and trees.
Coming home after a long yet therapeutic day in the sun at the beach..
Stepping foot into yet another shower, the second one of the day.
Without batting an eye..
Oh how times have changed..
And they will..
if we don’t do something today.
Maybe just throwing our Starbucks cup into the trash, instead of letting it float along the river of Nevada mills..
Maybe something so small..
could change our lives one day..
50 years away.
