Ah, Dennison. Glorious Lake Dennison in Winchendon, MA this weekend when the Russians all converge upon it. It is a decades old tradition now for a group of Russian families to come here from Boston on a weekend mid August. It is glorious for adults and kids as well.As everyone gains what they crave most– an open-ended schedule and time to spend with friends.

I sit alone, deliciously alone in the mid-morning at our campsite, Mama and the oldest went out for coffee. The others are engaged in a friendly water balloon fight. There is no morning fire to tend, but I suppose I am here in case something comes up. I hear a nervous father in the distance trying to set a bunch of rules for the children’s unrestrained exuberance. He is clearly not used to what our camping buddies call “free range children.”

The weather is ideal: a warm sunny day in the upper 70s to low 80s. A toxic bacteria bloom causes a no swimming ban on the lake, but we still take our 2 paddleboards out to boat. I have clocked in 2 fishing trips already in the last 24 hours. We discover providentially that our good friends are camping right next to us. Their father’s sidles over to join us for evening and morning prayers Only one thing is better than time away: time away with friends old and new.