Camping roundup: The worst?

  My standard question I always ask before taking on a new venture, big or small, is: "What's the worst that can happen?"  Sometimes your questions get answered.

So. We planned to leave as soon as the bus arrived with darling son.  Darling husband and I had a few bumps in our day (meetings and work that hadn't been anticipated etc).  Our packing and shopping was behind, but we were still only about an hour behind schedule. 

I was wrapping up the upstairs; turning off lights, making sure the kitties were fed and accounted for.  Darling son shouted from the basement that I needed to come.  I thought, as was true, that he was just so anxious to go.  He was, but he said this was an emergency, and that dad needed me.  But he wasn't stressed, just that I was to come.  I said I'd be right there.....until he said "Dad has a fish hook stuck in him!"

OK...I moved a bit faster.  And yes, said fish hook was embedded in his arm, and good.  I tried to move it, but it was in deep. 

So we were really packed and ready, and the ER was on the way, so off we went.  An hour and a half later, he was bandaged and drugged and we thought, OK, this was not in the plan, but now our fun weekend can start.

How bad can it be??  What could possibly happen to top this?  HAH!

Tents. Rain. Rivers where rivers are not supposed to be. Standing water in sleeping areas. And when you thought it couldn't rain more, it rained harder. And harder.  Then even harder after that.  And it kept coming down.

All I can say is this: I love these people.  Seriously, if you can spend 24 hours in conditions like this, and still laugh at the end of the day, that says something.  That says something huge about the people you are with....all 38 of them. 

 S'mores over an open propane flame.  Laughter and hugs amid the unbelievable conditions that were not forecast.  That people planning on just coming for the day still drove an hour each way in the pouring rain to bring the food that they intended to bring, so you wouldn't be left without lunch.  That you can pack 5 extra people and an extra dog in a tent when necessary.  ((And sleep well, and still like those people (and the dog!)). 

Do you have friends like this? I hope so.  Everyone needs people like this.

They are keepers.



(ps: If you desire a grotesque picture of a triple fish hook embedded in an arm, just email me.)
(pps: The puppy got wet, was shivering, and spent the rest of the day swaddled in towels in someone's arms.  She is fine today, exhausted, still wondering what that was all about, and catching up on her sleep. And she's more spoiled that ever.)