Dear Friend,
I’ll be honest with you. I’m kind of dreading the next couple of days.
You see, my three oldest kids’ school has an annual camping trip. And this year we’ll be spending three days and two nights in a hot, tropical swamp. My wife, me, and dozens of screaming kiddos. With bugs. Skeeters as big as eagles. And no-see-ums that fly up your nose all night (the tent screens won’t keep ‘um out). So we’ll be covered in bug spray. There are chemical toilets of course. And somebody thinks that there might be a cold water shower available. Maybe. Somewhere. If it’s working.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I know that this place is beautiful. I’ve been there a few times before. And it’s next to a national seashore that has a fantastic beach. But the water is too cold for me this time of year, and just behind the beach dunes is one whopper of a marsh swamp. That’s where we’ll be.
Of course, my kid’s teacher, a biologist at heart, can’t wait to scour the mud for interesting creatures to study. My kids can’t wait for the trip either. Their friends will be there. They get off of school. It’s an interesting environment. And they probably eat bugs when I’m not looking (who knows what they do sometimes?).
Ok. I admit it. The Passionate Warrior, king of “creative family living,” is a wuss. I love the outdoors. But I really love hot showers, too. And a cozy bed at night. I love the smell of nature. But not the essense of Deet (bug spray). After three days of this I expect to feel like I just moved to the Meadowlands in New Jersey – covered in mud and smelling like a chemical plant.
In year’s past our class has visited the mountains. Now that was nice. The weather was cooler. Bugs were moderate. Healthy hikes. But this time, I just don’t know. I really don’t think that this teacher knows what she’s getting us into.
I’ll survive, of course. What did I quote in one of my earlier posts? “The difference between ordeal and adventure is attitude.” – Bob Bitchin. Or maybe that was on Twitter I said that. Anyway, it looks like I need an attitude adjustment.
And I don’t care what they say, I’m takin’ my ‘puter!
Talk to you soon,
Hugh
