THe summer of his life
Mark grew up within walking distance of lakes and creeks, just a bicycle ride to Lake Michigan and a 20 minute drive to the Manistee National Forest. Summer was meant for the outdoors. Some summers he spent more nights sleeping in a sleeping bag than in his own bed. When he was 15, he flew in a pontoon plane to Isle Royal out in the Middle of Lake Superior for a week of backpacking. Everyone saw moose... but him. He was probably reading. When he was 16, he rode his bike along the Lake Michigan coast 170 miles to band camp with a 17 year old friend. (Can you believe his parents let him go?) When he was 17 he discovered girls...sigh. (Too bad they did not discover him.) At 18 he went to college, grew up and never had any more adventures… until he started writing.
Join Mark Soderstrom for an adventure in
The Summer of His Life.
Synopsis
The year is 1969. Twelve year old Mike is forced to spend the entire summer at a small cottage, on a lake, with his ancient aunt and uncle. Most days are spent attempting to emulate their son, a tough Marine in Vietnam, but when the Marine is declared Missing In Action, Mike’s vision of government, God, and his own life is shattered. His joyful expeditions into the wild become pointless. Everything he imagined as “all powerful” shows itself as a lie. Slowly, his life is rebuilt a day at a time by the love and fortitude of the Marine’s parents, the Marine’s girl friend, and the unique local characters. So when Mike learns the father of the girl-next-door beats her, he knows what to do. After all, bravery and manhood is only doing what you know you should do. Between his aunt, uncle and the locals Mike learns how to face life, death and even girls…well, maybe girls.
This story is about Mike, but it is also about a unique time and a wondrous place viewed through the enchantment of a 12-year-old’s imagination. His delightful fantasies take us to meet, mountain men, American Indians, Paul Bunyan, and God. We hear wild stories of manly exaggeration, but his painfully written journal takes us inside his very fragile heart. It is the summer of his life and his life often explodes with laughter but sometimes it takes tears to let in the joy.
Join Mark Soderstrom for an adventure in
The Summer of His Life.
Synopsis
The year is 1969. Twelve year old Mike is forced to spend the entire summer at a small cottage, on a lake, with his ancient aunt and uncle. Most days are spent attempting to emulate their son, a tough Marine in Vietnam, but when the Marine is declared Missing In Action, Mike’s vision of government, God, and his own life is shattered. His joyful expeditions into the wild become pointless. Everything he imagined as “all powerful” shows itself as a lie. Slowly, his life is rebuilt a day at a time by the love and fortitude of the Marine’s parents, the Marine’s girl friend, and the unique local characters. So when Mike learns the father of the girl-next-door beats her, he knows what to do. After all, bravery and manhood is only doing what you know you should do. Between his aunt, uncle and the locals Mike learns how to face life, death and even girls…well, maybe girls.
This story is about Mike, but it is also about a unique time and a wondrous place viewed through the enchantment of a 12-year-old’s imagination. His delightful fantasies take us to meet, mountain men, American Indians, Paul Bunyan, and God. We hear wild stories of manly exaggeration, but his painfully written journal takes us inside his very fragile heart. It is the summer of his life and his life often explodes with laughter but sometimes it takes tears to let in the joy.
Mark and Roger at the Cottage
Pictures from the lake.