Camping

Dear Dad,

All weekend I could hear you laughing at me. Since March, we had plans to go camping in Lackawanna State Park during Memorial Day Weekend with the C—- family. Initially, the forecast called for rain only on Friday. One day of rain wouldn’t have been too bad — we’ve endured rain before. However, as the trip drew near, it looked likely that the entire weekend would be wet. UGH! But as you know, there was no way I was going to miss an opportunity to go away even if it mean being cold and damp.

We arrived at the camp site on Friday afternoon. As we were driving, the clouds moved in and the rain assaulted us. I do not like setting up the tent in the rain. But last year we bought a canopy and we had our ponchos so we managed to get the tent set up without getting too wet. However, the rain was coming down far to heavily to even consider a campfire, so we drove to a local diner for some fries and mozzarella sticks to munch on so that we didn’t go to bed with empty stomachs. Back at the camp site, we huddled in our sleeping bags for warmth and played Yahtzee. 

Saturday morning it was very cold (for late May) and still raining, but thanks to the canopy we were able to cook breakfast — egg sandwiches — on our camping stove. My spouse claims the egg sandwiches I make while camping are the best. I can’t help but disagree. No one makes them as good as you did. After breakfast, I texted mom to say good morning. She texted back telling me that you would have thought we were crazy camping in the rain. I have no doubt she was correct. I can still hear you complaining about camping with the Boy Scouts. I’m sure my memory is faulty, but I remember you coming home from every camping trip with my brother smelling like the campfire and grumbling about how you were cold, wet, and miserable all weekend. You always made camping sound like an absolutely painful activity, but it seemed the more you kvetched about it, the more I wanted to experience it for myself. While I prefer camping on warm sunny days — who wouldn’t — camping in the rain isn’t all bad, especially when the people who are supposed to be at the other sites cancel and you have more space to yourself. 

After breakfast on Saturday, we drove into Scranton to do a few Adventure Lab caches which revolved around the television show, “The Office.” I have never seen it, nor do I have any desire to, but the caches were still fun, especially since they took us on a tour of the city. While we were out the rain let-up a little. I had hoped that maybe we could take a hike when we returned to the campsite, but of course, the moment we pulled into our parking spot the rain began again. At least it didn’t rain hard so we were able to get a campfire started. 

Late in the afternoon the C—- family arrived. G3 was ecstatic — thrilled to have other kids to play with. This is our tenth summer camping, and for the last several years he has told us he’d have more fun if we went with another family. We finally found friends willing to rough it with us. Friends who were crazy enough not cancel due to the rain. As soon as the girls were there, G3 ran off with them leaving the adults to set up and cook dinner. Luckily, the rain stopped so that we could eat around the campfire and toast marshmallows. I have to agree with G3, camping with other people is more fun.

Sometime in the middle of the night the rain started again. I admit, I love listening to the rain beat down on the tent. It’s soothing and it helps me sleep, and Lord knows I need as much help as I can get. Ever since you died, I don’t sleep well. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about you. But the rain helped lull me back to sleep. In the morning, not wanting to sit around a wet campsite all day, we all piled into the C—-’s car and headed to the Lackawanna Anthracite Coal Mine Museum. We had gone there several years ago, but G3 was really little and he didn’t remember it. Before heading down into the mine we watch a documentary about what life had been like for the miners and how difficult it was for them to form a union. Working in the mines was awful miserable work and the pay barely enough to survive on. But immigrants were desperate and the company exploited them. After the museum, the kids all wanted ice cream so we went to a local place that served homemade ice cream. It was good. I had vanilla with wet walnuts, which, as always, reminds me of you. Perhaps that’s why I choose that more now than I ever did before you died.

Again, the rain was kind enough to leave us alone at night so that we could eat dinner and sit around the campfire without getting drenched. While the adults cooked, the kids played in the tent with glow sticks. I marvel at how much kids love glow sticks, at how much they are entertained by them.

This morning we woke-up to blue skies and sun shine. Finally! Just in time to break camp. But before leaving, we stopped down by the lake. The kids took turns driving G3’s remote control car and they had fun running around on the playground. We had a picnic lunch and then the C—s headed home. We went on a short hike before also hitting the road.

All in all, it was an extremely enjoyable weekend. We dealt with the rain the best we could and still managed to have a really good time. Neither G3 nor I are happy to be home. Already, we are looking forward to our next adventure. 

I miss you.