This a quaint story about a family, the Krons, and their
generational memories starting with the great grandparents to the last
generation's character, beginning in the earlier 1900’s and concluding in
1984, describing their colorful life
details and traditions, ending with the
character coming back on his 50th birthday to relish the lasting memories of
his past.
It opens with Great Grandpa Kron and his dream to purchase a
cottage. It is a warm story about a generational family history starting out in
the early 1900's and begins with the great grandfather's travels from Chicago
to Wisconsin. It describes his accomplishments along the way for himself and his
family’s future success, such as leaving behind a property for others to
benefit from... The great grandfather
was presented with a deal from a land broker to buy land to build a house upon
and he purchases it to begin his new life.
The story continues in a comforting style about the great
grandfather and the next in line visiting the cottage and creating memories. It
starts with Eddie and his wife Connie planning their lives and how they
purchased the cottage and how it was built. The obstacles they faced preparing
to relocate from Chicago to Wisconsin and set up a family summer retreat, later
it became their retirement paradise.
As a reader I would describe this as a quaint story about
one family's life and their traditions of one family’s memories of gathering
together every summer to enjoy each other’s company. It continues with glimpses
of each character’s memories throughout the timeline of the early 1900’s to the
late 1980's. It speaks of speakeasy and prohibition, the baseball teams, the
depression and other events that took place during the 20th century.
The author writes details about getting their first car, building
and enjoying the cottage, the three children and their children and so on. It explores
the ideal country life they lived and continues with the next generation’s
events and etc. He tells about the progression of the growth of the community
and outlines interesting historical facts of events that may have changed the
course of history.
The author in his unique style describes vivid scenes of the
Wisconsin countryside, the smell of fresh cut grass, the old fashioned traditions
of sitting on the porch drinking lemonade with a mint leaf and the summer
antics of a large family gathered in one place. Also speaks of the daily
interaction between members sharing their times of maturity and life lessons.
The story continues into the 1940's to the 1950's describing the family and
their events as they gather together for family outings.
In the author's words
"This was how the summer weekends were spent in
Wisconsin throughout the years of the early 1950’s. But later in the decade,
something would happen which would change the Kron family forever."
The story continues that a great business opportunity was
lost, then there was the family argument that separate three cousins and
changed the family traditions at the cottage for a while.
The author touches upon historical discoveries and facts the
family members experienced in their maturing years and explores taboo subjects.
This reader would describe this book as a lazy Sunday drive
through time, involving generational memories and shares the joy and sorrows of the legends of
the lake, until the late 1980's when the last of the family lineage passed on
and the family decided to sell the cottage.
In a summary this is a gentleman's flashback of his past and how much one takes everyday rituals for
granted and then when everyone passes on, all they have are the memories to
draw upon. He describes subconsciously, the mind is like a camera and the photos of life flash through,
stored deep in the cervices to keep one warm and peaceful. Also to appreciate every moment, to live it
to the fullest, for life is too short and one should appreciate their loved
ones and create memories to wrap around one in their later years while sitting
on a porch drinking cold lemonade and watched the sun set setting over the countryside.
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