So what did you do this weekend?
I had planned for over a month to take my three sons camping. The weather forecast wasn't cooperating, but I didn't even consider cancelling as those things are hard to schedule and hard to keep, so...... we went..............camping,.............in the rain........
My oldest brother passed almost 4 years ago, he bought 20 acres near Romney WV, his son goes up there occasionally and I set it up with him and his son, the four of us, and a friend of my son's.
All the crap going on around DC, once you get outside this area, it is so refreshing to experience what I have to call the real America.
We stopped for lunch at a small restaurant, connected to a gas station and convenience store, and I asked the guy behind the counter if they might know where I could buy around $20 of DRY firewood, as I was up there taking my boys camping. He said no, but a guy in line said I could follow he and his dad back to their place around 2 miles up the road. I followed him, and backed my nephew's truck down to a woodpile covered with a tarp. I took out the $20 and told him whatever you think is fair. He told me, your money is no good here, you're a dad taking your boys camping, he refused to accept any payment.
Once the paved road ended, we had to drive around 8 miles on a one lane gravel road. At one point, I looked to my left, no guard rail and the drop off was over 100 feet down to water.......
We got to the camp site around 2 on Saturday, got the tents up' (in the rain) got a fire started, and then while I started dinner, they all went down the hill to shoot guns for a half hour.
The boys slept soundly, like they were at home, even with the sound of the rain on the tent all night, a light rain most of the time, but heavy at times.
I learned I cannot sleep on the ground anymore, I didn't sleep at all Saturday night, next time I go it will be on a raised cot, maybe even a roll away with a mattress..........
We got up Sunday morning to more rain.
We ate breakfast and more rain
We went over the hill and shot guns again and more rain. This was the first time my son with Down syndrome had ever shot a gun, and found out from my wife he went to school today and told them all about it.........
Drove home in the rain.
My youngest son asked, "Can we do this again in December?!"
So right there, I realized, again, just how important the little things are, stuff we might consider a pain in the ass, these things are life experiences for our children.
Yes, we will be camping again, soon......... |
