9 minute read
Magical Flunkie
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He was Dave, the Great Magician.
As the little sis’ forced to be in his act, I was Sue, the Lovely Assistant, by way of introduction. We had a routine, my brother and me.
Move over Houdini. Here’s Dave the Great and little Sue.
Except I wasn’t a very good assistant. I was clumsy. Distracted. Not so much the committed type. But, when I focused through a full show (never happened), I learned a lot. There were tricks, you see, to being a magician’s assistant. A great magician has a great assistant. A stinky magician has, well, Sue.
Not that my brother was stinky. He was a good magician for being 10 years old. But my lack of grace, and well, interest, stagnated his propulsion into Magic Fame.
That fame pretty much flopped like the fake bunny can I bumped over.
But there were some magical powers I learned as a flunkie assistant. For one, way before my friends knew their N-S-E-W directions, I learned north from south—an imperative skill for properly placing trick items, thus giving Dave the Great his telepathic powers.
This knowledge really came in handy as I casually directed friends to the tire swing on the east side of the house. They both were impressed and irritated.
Cool.
But another lesson learned as a 7-yearold assistant was the reactive power in magical illusion. The delight. There’s a raw awe that spreads. People smile. There was instantaneous joy when Dave the Great surprised someone with his magical prowess, despite the fumbling assistant sidekick. As I was pondering my past Fourth of July celebrations, a similar sense of awe, delight—and even nostalgia—came to mind.
Just like the thrill in watching magic, so it is with Fourth of July fireworks celebrations. Of the delighted awe from children as they twirl about, double-fisted with lit sparklers (yes, carefully).
There’s serene comfort from a hot July evening, when the family is sun-kissed, relaxed and winding down for the night. July is prime time for backyard picnics, family reunions, patriotic décor and American flags gracefully waving with pride from docks and porches.
And this year, perhaps in particular, may we embrace these small moments. May we delight in giggles, drippy popsicles on the dock, bare feet racing through the yard— and may we both notice and appreciate the magical delight and nostalgia that emerges to warm the soul.
Happy Birthday, America. May we celebrate the Fourth of July at the lakes with intentional appreciation. It needn’t be fancy, just real. And if your home houses a young Dave the Great, give him the spotlight for a bit. And enjoy the unvarnished stumbles of his miniassistant.
Thank you for being with us. This magazine is for you.
Executive Editor-who-is-not-a-goodmagician’s-assistant sue@lakelifemagazine.com
Loren Shaum
It’s a real ‘treat’ to introduce our ‘Fresh Eats’ columnist, Mr. Loren Shaum. An automation engineering consultant, retired pilot (after 30 years and surviving a blown engine), author, sometime professor, home gardener and occasional chef, Loren is a friendly, well-known face in the lake community. He’s an advocate for local restaurants, and he’s published three of his own cookbooks as well as a history book about his brother in WWII. Loren is also a columnist for the Goshen News, The Mail Journal and inkfreenews.com (where he writes about local farms). Attracted to this area through attending a church camp at Oakwood in his teens, he and his wife, Gayle, reside in Syracuse—and have been living and loving this lake life since 1985. He and Gayle have been together since they met in the 6th grade (no, that’s not a typo). Married at 19 and 59 years strong together, they have two sons, four grandsons and one more grandbabe on the way. As if this husband, dad and grandpa isn’t busy enough, Loren also plays golf, cooks for charities and entertains guests at home (whew!). Loren, we’re thrilled to share your culinary brilliance with LAKElife readers… Pssst! On July 19, we wish Gayle a very happy birthday.
Shannon Rooney
LAKElife Magazine? Meet Shannon Rooney. Shannon has been a freelance writer and editor for longer than she cares to admit (she and Sue go waaayyyy back). Shannon’s day job is writing for the University of Notre Dame, but her heart and history reside well within lake life. Having lived in northern Indiana most of her life, she has grown up visiting lake homes of family and friends, and she’s quite skilled at beach-bumming on the shores of Lake Michigan. Yes, nature is her happy place. Shannon lives in South Bend in a rambling Victorian home that requires lots of love—hence her passion for writing home and décor stories. She hangs out with her wonderful husband, Ben, their equally amazing son, Jacob, and Artemis, their sweet, albeit neurotic Jack Russell mix who does not share his mom’s affection for lake life as he’s terrified of water. It’s okay, Artemis. We still love you. We welcome Shannon to the pages of LAKElife Magazine; we’re thrilled to have you along our journey.
Becky Hart Fox
Resident of Syracuse Lake
Call Becky Today!
Cell 574.457.9045
lifemagazine
Volume 1 Issue 3 | July 2020
Ron Baumgartner
PUBLISHER
rbaumgartner@the-papers.com Sue Rawlinson-Pais
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
sue@lakelifemagazine.com Deb Patterson
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
dpatterson@the-papers.com Kip Schumm
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
kschumm@the-papers.com
SALES EXECUTIVES
Susan.Stump@lakelifemagazine.com Carl.Lauster@lakelifemagazine.com Mark.Collins@lakelifemagazine.com Pati.Waters@lakelifemagazine.com Rebecca.Boone@lakelifemagazine.com Lynn.Blanchard@lakelifemagazine.com Carrie Goralczyk
BUSINESS MANAGER
cgoralczyk@the-papers.com Jerry Long
DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION
jlong @the-papers.com Trystan Nisley
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Ray Balogh, Dr. Nate Bosch, Lauren Caggiano, Adrienne Funderburg, Deborah C. Gerbers, John C. Gill, Haiden Hibbert, Mike Petrucelli, Courtney Rawlinson, Shannon Rooney, Loren Shaum, Leslie Worthy
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Jess Barger, Larry Baumgardt, Jeff Beeler, Mike Deak, Deborah C. Gerbers, Alexa Glass, Kelley Graber, Karen Healey, Michael Kittrell, Sue Pais, Delaney Wihebrink
P.O. Box 188; 206 South Main St. Milford, IN 46542 800.733.4111/Fax 800.886.3796 www.lakelifemagazine.com
What? Back again?
You’re still a superstar. Despite a stinging July sunburn, you make smiling easy.
Once again, here you are poring through the small print, even though it’s not even required reading. But, in just our third issue, you’ve already learned it is super fun here. No boring masthead for us! Ours is super funnsome.
And no, funnsome is not really a word. See? Even though this is not required reading, lessons overfloweth regardless. That’s the value of the printed word, friends.
Okay, superstars, welcome to the third-ever issue of LAKElife Magazine. Despite COVID-19’s wake of damage, we’re afloat and sailing full-steam ahead. (See what we did there?) Yes, lake life is alive and well, and businesses near and far are rebounding like Rodman in the ‘90s. Yes, in Kosciusko County, we’ve proceeded with fearless caution, and we are prevailing. So, let’s continue staying strong and standing together, six feet apart as appropriate. Let’s celebrate progress. Let’s recognize how far we’ve come after falling so hard. And let’s continue to support one another with patience, kindness and grace as schedules slowly begin to fill once again. And for those keeping track, arm wrestling competitions between Ron and Sue are postponed until after gyms have re-opened.
LAKElife Magazine is published by your area publishing icon—yes, the one founded by the Baumgartner family, and the same one that has stood the test of time (more than 80 years!). Yep, we’re talking about The Papers Incorporated at 206 S. Main Street, Milford, Indiana, 46542, with Ron Baumgartner, sleeves rolled up and phone at the hip in a holster. He’s at the reins. And he reigns, too, for the record. See what we did there? Of course you did because you read the fine print.
Our office hours are still most definitely 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for the second Thursday of every week. On that day we knock off early to throw back a few. We changed from the second Tuesday of each week just to keep you guessing.
As we are veterans to this publishing rodeo, we know it’s important to share this message: ‘It shall be known that all rights whatsoever are reserved and nothing may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher, who also assumes no responsibility as a result of any information or items advertised herein.’ So, there’s that. And to get consent from Ron, you’ll also have’ta arm wrestle him with both hands behind your back—and at a distance of at least six feet. It’s only fair.
Those interested in contacting us may do so by calling 574.658.4111 or toll-free at 1.800.733.4111.
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
If you wish to advertise, we can be super-cool besties. We appreciate every single advertiser who joins our journey. Without you, there is no us. So, THANK YOU. And for those who wish to join the rest of us cool cats, we would be happy to put your advertising message directly into the hands of fellow Kosciusko County lake lovin’ residents. To learn how we can put the power of print to work for you, please contact Kip Schumm, director of marketing, at 574.658.4111 or toll-free at 1.800.733.4111. Or, email him at kschumm@the-papers.com.
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Editorial suggestions are eagerly welcomed! Please contact Sue at any time (she loves to hear from you!) at sue@lakelifemagazine.com, or send her a text at 260.450.7736. She’ll get back with you quickly. Unless she’s knocking back a few, then it’ll be a full day before she reaches back a’cha. Oh, we’re kidding as far as you know.
Letters to the editor may be emailed, and must include your name. Sue LOVES to hear from you! In her best weathered cowboy squint she says, ‘Go ahead, make my day.’ Move. Over. Clint. Eastwood. But for the record, only make her day with an email. No fighting allowed, unless it’s an arm wrestling competition, with 6 feet of distance between competitors. Again, contact her at sue@ lakelifemagazine.com.
LAKElife Magazine does, indeed, contract with freelance writers, photographers and artists to create much of its content. If you’re interested in joining the journey, reach out to Sue and she’ll be in touch. Again, her email is Sue@lakelifemagazine.com. In fact, when in doubt about anything regarding this America-loving-red-white-andblue-proud publication, reach out to Sue. She’s your general go-to walkin’ about in these here parts. No spurs, though. Just flip-flops. Spurs are just SO. YESTERDAY, Clint.
Therein concludes our third, super informative masthead… enjoy this July issue. And genuine thanks for reading. Yes, even the small print.
