Friday, July 15, 2011

The Not So Happy Camper

In case you were wondering if my blog has joined the ranks of inactive blogs, you can stop. I've been busy being an unhappy camper. Literally.

We have a very nice tradition in our family. Every year we camp at beautiful Nickerson State Park in Brewster, Massachusetts. The excitement of this trip begins in the snowy month of January. I say that because you have to make your reservations 6 months in advance. The process took me about 5 days to secure one of the best sites(in my opinion) in the park. Each morning at 9:00, I would line up our laptops and frantically click on sites trying to be the first to reserve the coveted sites. Why?

I don't really know.

I do know.

I am a mommy to 4 boys.

They need to camp. Their friends need to camp.

They need to inhabit the woods for a few weeks.

They need to commune with nature and get very dirty.

They need to conquer the mosquitoes, the fish and build fires.

Normally, I am enjoying all of these things alongside them.

This year, I am not a happy camper.

Perhaps it was the babies crying in the night, no the toddlers crying during the day. I felt like crying.

Maybe it was the weird boy peeking in the windows at the showers.

Or the sunscreen that didn't work.

Or the mosquitoes that worked overtime..

Or the man who had to land his catamaran right on the beach where we were swimming.

Perhaps, it was the boys bickering in the tent.

And the smelly fish that were caught.

And the stifling heat.

And the torrential rain which I missed..

I missed my blog.

And my bathroom.

And my husband, who was called away to work.

Then I was called away to work.

I was thankful to be needed elsewhere.

My air-conditioned office became my safe haven.

The urgent needs of others delivered me from my vacation in the woods.


I decided working isn't so bad.

Camping, I will give you another chance next week.

I know, I am a glutton for punishment or someone with serious short term memory loss.

It's for the children.


I'll keep telling myself that.

I am redefining myself by the moment.

I think I'd enjoy glamping.




How about you? What kind of camper are you?

Thanks for sticking around.
I missed you all,

If you aren't always a happy camper, join me in my misery,
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6 comments:

ChristinaB said...

Terri I had to laugh while reading your post! It just so happens my family just got back from a camping trip to and I blogged about it @
http://thestoryofus3.blogspot.com/2011/07/ultimate-survivor.html

Good luck with your next camping trip!

Christina

Unknown said...

Ha ha ha! We grew up camping and I have yet to experience that with my kids. I keep thinking just one more year and then we'll go. I don't know how my mom did it all those years. :)

Jessica said...

Oh lala! I want to go there! We are looking forward to attempting again in the fall when the weather cools off again. We don't like sweaty nights.

ssmurray5 said...

Sorry to hear your week was tough, but isn't that what rough'n it is all about? Our last three attempts at camping consisted of a week of heavy rain, a too-close encounter with a bear, and a forced evacuation due to hurricane warnings.....but I still love camping! I hope this next week goes better for you.

Lizzie said...

So btdt, lol
We are off on our annual camping trip the 10th-24th. At least you HAD a shower. We have no running water and a composting toilet. Oh and last year, drunks squatting to poo on the trail in full site of the girls. Not to mention a crazy stalker. I can't wait for this year.

mysteryhistorymom said...

Oh my goodness! I could so be a "glamper" but please don't make me camp! I am on the Paws Up mailing list but who can seriously afford to go there? I will dream.:) Good for you for toughing out camping for your boys. We can't even make it one night in our backyard. We have tried but it's just not for us. lol Lori

Now following!:)