This summer, all I wanted was time with my best friends before college. So, the six of us gals packed up our borrowed minivan and headed north. In Minnesota, saving money means either a tent or cabin. I’ll just say, the idea of pitching a tent in the rain wasn’t it. Cabin it was.
After many rounds of M.A.S.H. and way too many Cool Ranch Doritos, we arrived at Ruttger’s Lodge, or as we like to call it, “Ruggers.”
Since our room wasn’t ready after the long drive (yes, still a sore spot), we decided to go out and explore. In town, we tried every variety of cheese, poked around thrift shops, and pranked each other with a lutefisk-scented candle. That’s the true Midwestern experience.
The next morning, everyone was up for the lake. Everyone except me, who kicks and screams if I have to be up before nine. Anyways, after a thick layer of sunscreen, I joined in for swimming and paddle boarding. I actually ended up liking it!
Something about the swimming made my appetite go wild, because I think I ate a basket of onion rings, cheese curds, a turkey sandwich, a strawberry banana smoothie, and half a bag of sour cream and pickle chips after.
Later on, we had a tennis lesson with Tracy, a former pro player who we met the summer before. He spent about two hours teaching us skills, even though Leah is the only one of us with actual tennis abilities. Oh, and you didn’t hear this from me, but Tracy used to raid the staff dessert fridge and have wild parties in the 70’s. Shh.
The next few days became a blur of the lake, snacks, and hysterical laughter. But my favorite moment came when we laid underneath the stars one night. We talked about the near future, our fears, sang, and held each other’s hands. I felt so safe under the blanket of stars. My worries seemed so insignificant. Maybe even Averi, who somehow got stung eight times by bees, forgot the pain for a moment.
Of course I cried when it was all over. It was our last trip before college. Call me dramatic, I don’t care. I adore my gals. They’re actually the best people in the world.
The moral of the story is, everyone needs to go on a girls trip at least once. It might just change your life!