Memories. I have some wonderful memories, and I have to admit not a whole lot of bad ones. Perhaps it's because I choose to focus on the good ones long term.
I was in the Scouting programme and remember two particular camping experiences. One was dead in the middle of winter - coldest weekend of the year. The plan was to build snow shelters, alas we had enough snow on site for but one. Being probably the least-robust of anyone there, somehow I ended up in the only snow shelter overnight because... well, someone loved me. I dunno really... good favor I guess. I remember that was the time I learned that if you coated your pot with dish soap (on the outside) before placing it over the fire, the black soot would wash off much easier than if you simply didn't.
The other camping experience was a two-day hike in, camp on site for 3 and another 2-day exit. It seemed we hiked FOREVER and I remember whining... rather... bitching about the duration - that I didn't have the stamina - I didn't this, I didn't that... All my advisor said to me was "When you look back on this, you're only going to remember the good stuff... all the blisters, sore knees, wasp bites (because as we marched down the trail we somehow upset some ground wasps... that was curious...) are all going to fade away. You're going to have fond memories. Yah... OK, explain THAT to the 13-year-old who sees nothing past the here-and-now!
Know what? He was right. Somehow, all the crap faded away, and I really have to think hard to remember how difficult it was for me to survive those 7 or 8 days. I was cold, tired and mostly home-sick. But when I think about these camps I think how rich an experience they both were and how fortunate I was to experience those people at that time and in those places.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
- Turtle Guy
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- English student, Pottery enthusiast, Yoga novice and lover of all people. I make friends over a warm handshake and a beverage. I discover, every day, someone willing to help me along my path.
7 comments:
My boy scout camping experiences are firmly, and positively, etched in my mind. The survival campout, where I learned that dandelions and cattails can, in the right situation, like starvation, can taste real good. Then, the canoe campout, where I overcame (temporarily) my fear of deep water and I found out that I could cook a mean sausage-egg scramble (as confirmed by my scout-mates--it was one of the first time that older boys gave me some respect!). And, of course, the week-long Arkansas trek, which I learned first aid and learned that spiders seem a lot bigger when you're trapped in an outhouse with them than they seem when you can actually run away.
I loved all of that. Thanks for reminding me!
memories are great - the good and the bad ones
sory double posted
The Girl Scouts camped as well. These days my idea of roughing it is walking down the hall to the ice machine.
Arkansas spiders are no fun at all.
my girls love camping with scouts... I, on the toehr hand...
well, I went once, with them, and that was all for me...
but you are right, to focus on the good, and leave the bad behind... at the end of the day, why carry all that hoo-hah around?
ps... congrats on 19 years!!! that is so cool... :)))) we still have cassettes around...
Your memories of camping do sound rather wonderful.
Personally, I think camping should involve a roof... and perhaps a jacuzzi...
Post a Comment