By month five, Live Oak Lake was a rocket ship. Every metric cooking. Nonstop occupancy, weekly rate increases, Instagram domination.
And the lake was the centerpiece. It showed up in every reel, influencer feature, and guest review.
We’d battled algae and finally cracked the code.
Then came a big win: YouTuber Shelby Church was coming to visit and make a video. 1.7 million loyal subscribers were about to see our little oasis! A dream feature.
We spent days plucking every weed, mowing grass, and making sure every detail inside and out was sparkling.
Then disaster struck.
I drove through the gate the day before Shelby arrived and parked at the commons area. I looked at the lake — and froze.
It was gone.
In its place: a flat, matte-green slick. It looked like a reservoir of vomit. (Forgive the image, but it was bad).
Closer inspection revealed it wasn’t algae. A completely new enemy had arrayed itself in full force overnight: duckweed. I fretted all day. Raked it, sprayed it, even tried poison. Nothing worked.
That night there was only one thing left to do. I prayed.
