It was the middle of July, heat waves caused temperatures to spike above the nineties, and sweat dripped from the heads of those around me, there was, of course, only one solution to the scorching weather. I am referring to Norris Lake, Tennessee. My family owns a floating house on this Tennessee Lake that has provided, and still provides the perfect getaway during the harsh and unforgiving temperatures in the summer. Norris Lake also provides recreational activities like jet skiing, water tubing, and wake boarding. The thrill of going top speed on the lake is second to none. When it's a hot day, there is nothing better than going tubing or jet skiing, feeling the water splash your face as you speed across the glass-smooth surface of the lake.

There is a certain feature of the lake that, I as a city-dweller enjoy above all else; nature. When I wake up in the morning and look outside my window I notice copious amounts of flowing water along with a distinct perimeter of hills covered in forestry. Fish swim around in the water and create tiny splashes on the surface; an eagle can sometimes be seen flying near its nest, awaiting its next meal. Though all of this is breathtaking in the day, the night is above all else. Norris Lake, as it turns to night, illuminates the sky with thousands upon thousands of twinkling stars. With Norris Lake having hardly any residents on it at one time, the sky can be seen like never before. I spend a long time on our top deck, laying on my back and gazing up at the stars, something I am rarely ever able to do back at home.

Norris Lake, however, serves more of a purpose than just a simple relief from the heat, or a rare look at nature. Norris Lake is a place for the family, a place where no matter what has happened recently, or how hard things have been, you can forget about your worries and relax with those you love. One does not have to own a house; a place for the family to stay can always be rented. I have been coming to our floating house on Norris Lake for ten years now and each time is better than the last, creating new memories had at this lake on top of the others from past years. Norris Lake will always hold a deep meaning to my family and I; it is our home away from home.