Somewhere between The Notebook and a Bravo aftershow lies the truth about love on Lake Norman. It’s not quite Leave it to Beaver, and it sure as sunscreen ain’t Little House on the Prairie. Around here, it’s more Knot’s Landing meets Dockside Dating—where everyone knows everyone, and most have dated at least one of them. Twice.
We call it “Single-Married-Sometimes-Married-Sometimes-Single” living. It’s the new normal. Like Grey Sweatpants Season, it comes and goes. And while the boat ramps may close at dusk, the relationship drama? That floats on all night long.
Ladies, if all men are the same… just pick one – quit acting shocked when he come with a Boat AND commitment issues you can’t have both.. This isn’t Amazon Prime—it’s Lake Norman. We’re lucky if he shows up without his emotional support Crocs.
And gentlemen, before you call her crazy, remember she chose you. Voluntarily. Hopefully, And she had options—a Labradoodle, Pickleball, The Club—but no, she swiped right on you. Let that sink in next time you’re complaining to your Whiskey buddies while she’s updating her “soft launch” new profile picture on Facebook.
Breath ….
But all sarcasm aside (briefly, and only because my editor made me), we are a small town. We drink at the same bars and wave to the same exes at Publix. If you’re going to flip-flop your way through town—emotionally or romantically, at least do it with some dignity and a decent pair of shades.
Don’t ghost people in a place where everybody knows your triggers. This isn’t Vegas. What happens on Jetton Road is going to be shared by 9:15 a.m. over lattes and group texts. So be kind, be real, and if you’re ready to row away, at least leave the dock with grace.
Because here on the Lake, we are fun-loving, grateful-living—even hopeful believers. We still want the fairy tale, even if we’re rewriting the script with The Notebook in one hand and one broken paddle in the other.
So take your seat at the table, love like it’s the first time, or bow out with the classic Carolina exit: “Bless Your Heart,”
Now, pour a drink, grab a life vest, and come laugh through the waves with me. I’m paddle upstream in circle these days, but that’s ok they know me there.
Monica Lucia is the Author of The Final Chapter and a passionate advocate for those navigating grief and loss. She is the Founder of Widow’s Den and Sisterhood of LKN, dedicated to supporting families In addition to her writing and community-building work, Monica is the Grief and Bereavement Counselor at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, Huntersville and Denver.
