Tonight I was at Interlachen Inn in Alexandria with family for dinner. For those of you not familiar with Alexandria, Interlachen is a longtime favorite of both Alexandrians and its summer residents and visitors. During dinner, a friend that passed away not long ago entered our conversation. Claire Hoppe was a wonderful and fun person that along with her family, has been spending time at the north end of Lake Le Homme Dieu for many, many years. I doubt, and hope, that there will never be a for sale sign in front of the Hoppe property.
Claire was well known for many things and one of them was her toast. I decided tonight during dinner that I was going to share it. Here it is.
Wow did that ever bring back memories. Just that view that I remember so well from my childhood on the lake. As you probably remember I lived next door to the Hoppe’s from ’69 through ’76. Two of the families had kids my age, Tad, Martha and Frank from the Lincoln Hoppe’s, home of the Hoppe lumbar yards. And Brian and Denise Hoppe from California. They both spent a month at the cabin and I was with them pretty much around the clock. I know those two house inside and out. They took us everywhere with them and when my parents protested about all the money they spent on me, John took my Dad aside and explained what his grandkids meant to him. (He also told me I could play football for Nebraska anytime I wanted). A few years ago when I was desperately looking for a cabin to rent on Le Homme Dieu (before you got me in touch with Beth), I googled Tad and called him (he is a lawyer out in Calif), in the middle of a business day we talked for almost an hour about our times together 40 years ago like it was yesterday. (thank goodness I didn’t get a bill).
I was sad to hear Claire passed. I would had loved the chance to talk to her about old times. I was sad even just to see the house go from the so familiar green to blue. I, too, hope to never see the day that the mailbox says anything but Hoppe. (unless I can someday afford it.) Thanks for sharing that with all of us. She was a special lady.