Our lake cabin story starts with a romance. In 1916, my mother and father met each other at Gustafson's Resort on Balsam Lake in Wisconsin. The resort catered to young singles. The men and women had separate cabins, and they all ate and danced at a ­central dining hall. Many years later, when my father retired, he and my mother decided it would be nice to buy a cabin in the area where they met. They found a place on Half Moon Lake. The building was two years old and cost $2,100. It measured 20-by-20, smelled of new wood inside, and was 30 feet from the water's edge. It came complete with an ­icebox, a gasoline cook stove and an outhouse. There was no indoor plumbing or electricity.

Our first project was to hook up to ­electricity, then get rid of the scary gasoline stove, and bring in a refrigerator. Additional improvements included bedrooms, a front porch and indoor plumbing. We also added a wonderful deck near the water's edge.

Wisely, my dad started a log book in 1951 and recorded memorable events as they happened. Improvements were noted in the log and guests were requested to write a comment before departing. We have continued this legacy for 65 years. Today, we are on our fourth book of memories.

Every year, the annual spring ritual is ­opening the cabin for the season. This involves spring cleaning inside and out and installing the dock. In the beginning, putting in the dock was a painful process of using a large mallet to pound birch posts into the sandy lake bottom. Each year our dock design improved, and it has evolved into its present day roll-in version.

Cabin opening is a great family get-together, and many hands make the work fun.

Another annual event is July 4th. There is a boat parade, fireworks, and a neighborhood picnic with games and great food. Some years we have had 20 family members (and five dogs) attend, camping out in tents, travel trailers and camp trailers.

Days are spent boating, swimming, fishing and relaxing. Evenings often involve a large group playing board games. It gets to be loud, chaotic fun.

I am now 91 years old. My wife and I, our children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren treasure our time together at the cabin. The love story continues.

William Igoe, Bloomington