Ice Chest Lake, outside of Timmins, Ontario, Canada, is way up north. It's a place where nature meets heavy industry, and the place my father grew up. I was born in Timmins, ushered into this world by my grandparents (my grandfather was a doctor and delivered most of the babies in town). My grandparents built this cottage at Ice Chest Lake, and with it, created generations of memories and legends. I spent my summers and winters at the place in the deep woods, surrounded by family, black flies, and the cold, cold lake. In this ongoing and personal series, I reflect on the loss of my grandparents and the continual evolution of Ice Chest Lake in my mind's eye.

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