New column talks of life in Canyon Lake

BY Dawn Rankins

How are you all doing today? It’s finally Friday and the weekend is just hours away. What amazing thing will you be doing this weekend around the lake, or anywhere else you may be headed? I’d love to hear from you, so drop me a comment.

I wanted to start a column here in The Friday Flyer that is all about Canyon Lake. It’s my home and it’s home to many of my hopeful readers. First, before we get started, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

My name is Dawn Rankins and I’ve lived in Canyon Lake for a little over a year. I’m sure you would all agree, Canyon Lake is a community like no other…at least like no other around here. I lived in Murrieta for over 20 years and when my life situation changed, I floundered around for a bit before landing in Canyon Lake, the most incredible place in the world.

I not only embraced my new life in Canyon Lake, but Canyon Lake embraced me and my family. My honey John had never heard of Canyon Lake until about two years ago when we were talking about wanting to live near water. We searched Mission Bay and although it was amazing, it just didn’t have the community feel that we were looking for, but found here.

I wanted to write on the subject of community for one simple reason, and that is John. You see, this past April he was struck with a near fatal blood clot that resulted in a long stay in the hospital, followed by a long recovery.

We thought he was doing better, but then two months to the day of blood clot #1, he found out he had yet another clot, or so we thought. Come to find out, it was the same clot he had in April. We knew the doctors couldn’t get it all, but we thought with medications it would break down and go away. It didn’t. So he went back for another week in the hospital.

All seemed to be going well until a couple of weeks ago. His leg, yet again, swelled back up. We knew what it was, so back to the hospital he went. I was in San Diego when his doctor told him to head straight to the hospital. This is where we knew beyond any shadow of a doubt, Canyon Lake was a community like no other.

With me in San Diego, I called my Canyon Lake friend Jeannie and told her John had to go to the hospital. Without hesitation, she not only took him, but went into the ER and Triage with him just to make sure he was OK.

Every day since John went into the hospital, and even when he came home, my amazing friends here have checked in every day to not only make sure John was OK, but that I was OK, too. Friends offered to make meals, help me get to appointments and they even offered to let me cry on their shoulders when I let my mind race to the “what if’s.”

I never felt alone during the time I was alone while John was battling his clot in the hospital. I knew whatever I needed was simply a phone call away.

This recent situation of mine isn’t unusual. This is typical for Canyon Lake. Neighbors helping each other, kids running at the park together, fathers and sons fishing in the evening, families on golf carts, golf tournaments, events, functions, beach parties, pool parties, and meeting new neighbors. You name it and you can find it among the amazing and unique things that are here in Canyon Lake.

We are a community of people who have moved into this little hidden gem mixed with a few Canyon Lakers who have lived here their entire lives. We come from all walks of life, yet at the end of the day, we are a tight-knit community.

We may not all get along at times, and that’s OK. I’m pretty sure, even if you don’t like someone, you’d still lend a helping hand to them if you saw them stranded on the side of the road or needing a tow out in the lake.

Where else can you go and see golf carts with Lily pads on the back, kids cruising around on electric bikes, our very own Town Center, parades, and unity like there is in Canyon Lake? I’m not sure such a place exists.

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to call Canyon Lake home. I’m beyond grateful for the friends I’ve made here, and I don’t see myself ever saying goodbye to this amazing place, hidden between two freeways, tucked away behind the gates of Canyon Lake.

I don’t want to make this too long, so for now, let me say, “have the best day ever.” Thank you for taking the time to read my new column. I look forward to writing more in the coming weeks, and until next time, keep loving life in Canyon Lake.