When can we go camping?
In December, Gabriel asked me one night as I was putting him to bed "Mommy, when can we go camping and fishing?"
I paused, "You want to go camping and fishing?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm" Time for a little background. I grew up in an outdoorsy recreational family. Every weekend was a new adventure of water skiing, snow skiing, roller skating, sledding, camping and outdoor fun. My parents take life by the horns and enjoy every minute they possible can. They had me a bookish, board game nerd who would of rather read a book or go to the theater then any of those things.
I do miss some of those things these days and realize my children will be opposite of me. I need to get in top shape to take them to do those sporty things. One of our family’s focuses is realizing things each other would like to do and try to accomplish them.
So when Gabriel asked me I went through an internal checklist. I was a Girl Scout growing up and there is some wilderness training I have received but one particular area I lack confidence. That is the ability to start a fire. I had the physics and chemistry explained to me dozens of times but I have never been successful. My next thought was of whom do I know who could help with these skills. My thoughts immediately went to my Dad, the retired Marine and my StepMother the Girl Scout leader.
"I’ll tell you what Gabriel, tomorrow I will call Pop-Pop and Nonie and see if we can plan a trip together."
"Can you call them now? Can we go tomorrow?"
My Dad and his wife live in Florida and we live in Oregon. It was nine o-clock our time so it was midnight their time. "No, it is to late Gabriel I will call them tomorrow."
The rest of that night was of him jumping out of his bed and asking me questions about camping, fishing and him elaborating on what he was looking for in the trip. He wanted to sleep in a tent. He wanted to catch and eat the fish. He wanted to sit around a campfire.
So the next day I called my Dad. He liked the idea. I delegated the trip to him and his wife for timeline since they were the ones who would have to fly.
Tomorrow we are taking that trip.
My goal is to learn how to start a campfire.... I'm already good at putting at fires
--Mom
