Camping

As we grow older we tend to reminiscent more about days gone by, especially the good times, the fun times, even the not so funny times which bring tears or laughter as we remember.


As a family, whenever we had vacation time, we enjoyed camping at the various National and State Parks. We had three boys, who delighted in camping out. The girls, myself and our daughter, did the cooking & clean-up while the boys pitched , secured the tent and set-up the sleeping arrangement.



Camping is a way for close fellowship, not only with the immediate family, but with other campers. Sitting around a campfire, sharing stories or playing games - a real comradely is formed.


One such time occurred in Florida. We were spending the night at Santa Rosa Island State Park, an island off the shore at Pensacola. After we arrived, we went through the nightly ritual. We were all settled down when something crawled over my body. Not knowing what it was, not being fully awake, and being very dark, I simply reached down and sloughed it off. Soon, the same thing happened to each person in the tent until someone woke up and lit a lantern. Our visitor was a snake - a no-poisonous snake, but a snake. Now we had been informed there were no snakes on this island, in this part of Florida. We came to the conclusion that we had carried the snake in our camping gear from the campsite at Lake Ponchartrain in Louisiana to Florida. It was scary at the time but as we remember and retell this story, we all have a good laugh.



On another occasion we were intending to arrive at our camp site in the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee before nightfall. A very scenic drive through the Smoky Mountains took longer than we expected, so by the time we arrived at the foot of the mountain it was getting late. A long, spiral drive up the side of the mountain was slow and tedious driving so that when we arrived it was pitch dark. We couldn't even see to set-up camp. Being summer and fairly warm, we slept the best we could - in the car and on the ground. When we awoke the next morning, we were startled to find our car was parked on the edge, the very edge of a 1,000 ft. drop. We are able to laugh about the occasion now, but it sure was scary at the time.



As a family, we have encountered many such occasions, but all have been meaningful and have left a lasting impression.

Family

There is a special kind of closeness, tat only families know,

That begins with childhood trust and deepens as you grow.

There's a special kind of comfort in knowing your family is there,

To back you up, to cheer you up, to understand and care.

Of all the treasures life may bring, your family means the most,

And whether near or far apart, that love will hold you close.

Cindy Jacobs