A highlight of reunion at my alma mater, as far as I’m concerned, it that they open up the boat house and let alumnae paddle (or sail, or crew, depending on their druthers) around the lake.

I’ve missed the lake.

I was also missing the rest of the Free-Ride family, so I took advantage of the excellent cell phone reception from the middle of the lake and called home.

Among other things, I learned that the younger Free-Ride offspring went snailing in the yard this morning. The yard was reportedly wet in the aftermath of a light rain. The younger Free-Ride offspring took 18 slugs and five snails. “That’s 23 animals in all,” I was told solemnly over the phone.

I suppose it’s unreasonable to hope that I can completely contract out the gastropod hunting to my kids and then receive the reports of their daily progress while canoeing on a lake.

But I can dream!