This short story was featured in my May 2014 newsletter, inspired by the annual family vacation the Harris clan takes up to the north woods of Minnesota. I just returned from that same vacation, where I had a most excellent and utterly relaxing time of it. In the spirit of summer vacays everywhere, I’m reposting it for y’all, but have added a few photos from my most recent stint along the shoreline, so you too can experience the quiet magic of the North Woods.

Fun fact: When I was 17, an adol...