Pontoon boating Potterheads

A trip to Lake Nagawicka & Seven Seas

Being a freelance writer for Premier Bride definitely has its perks — the biggest (until recently) was when I got to play a bridesmaid in a wedding photo shoot a little over a year ago. Imagine: Me in a photo shoot! What alternate universe is this? But last night's Premier Bride perk gave the photo shoot a run for its money: Deb (my freelance boss and the owner of Premier Bride of Greater Milwaukee) invited me to her condo in Lake Country for a pontoon boat ride.

View from Lake Nagawicka, Delafield.

As we walked down to the pier, the wind was picking up something fierce — but Deb was calm, cool, and confident. She's been boating for the past 22 years, so a little wind didn't scare her. Armed with some assorted snacks (cheese, sausage, crackers, pistachios) and a bottle of Pinot Grigio, we set off onto Lake Nagawicka. Deb's plan was to head to Seven Seas for dinner — a delightful surprise! 

Outdoor dining at Seven Seas.

I've been to Seven Seas just a handful of times in my life — once for a wedding I was in four years ago. It always struck me as being fancy shmancy, but the prices were actually quite affordable — depending on what you order, of course. Deb and I shared three appetizers: crab cakes, bruschetta, and an apple, walnut, & blue cheese salad. We chatted about Premier Bride, movies, and somehow got on the subject of Harry Potter. 

Turns out, Deb is a Potterhead too — as is her entire family. She, her husband, and their son read all seven books aloud together; her son had been too young to read the books himself when they first started the ritual. But by the time the 7th book debuted, he was able to join in — and it happened to be his turn to read when the faithful Dobby died. Oh the sobbing! "We had to stop for at least
a half-hour," Deb said. "I thought I had to go get the brown paper bag!" I confessed I had I similar reaction when Dumbledore died.

Just a couple of Potterheads.

When Deb and I finished dinner, it was back to the boat. We stopped to float in the middle of the lake, enjoying the sunset, another glass of Pinot, and some dark chocolate with sea salt Deb had stashed in her purse. When we got back to the condo, Deb and her son (who happened to be home) indulged my Harry Potter nerdom and showed me all of the goodies they bought at the Universal Studios gift shop. Deb pulled a Gryffindor robe from her closet, then scurried to another room hollering back: "Wanna see the Elder Wand?!" (Duh.)

Three wands and one Marauder's Map later, it was time to go. I drove away with such a feeling of gratitude: for the opportunity to write about weddings, for pontoon boats and big skies — but most of all for kindred spirits.