camping

We like to go camping alot...
Had quite a bit of stress free camping trips when we had two elderly parents to tend to...
Now all of a sudden they are gone...
Funny how things work...parents stress you out while they are here (dad calling you wanting you to help), Mom worried constantly about you...
Then they are gone and you really miss them...you miss the phone calls and the conversations...
I would call Mom from our camping trailer...
I would tell her when I got there and when I left...
I would tell her about the little turtles and squirrels...

I would tell her how much I loved her
Now I feel sad because she is no longer here to share with...
I have no one to share with and
my cell phone grows cob webs on it as I sit by the camp fire!!

Easter camping trip 2010

Easter Bunny or Easter dog??

Pictures are of our camping spot...Easter sunrise on a cloudy day..and looking toward I-40 and our camper...which is now stationary..

We so needed a camping trip...I had been facing depression since my Mom and passed and I missed both her and Dad...having taken care of them both for over 10 years then the neighbors moved...It was like I had no family...So I told my husband we were going camping for Easter..

We were to leave on Thursday however the neighborhood had a "Goodby" cookout and "Welcome" to both the old neighbors and the new ones..We were extremely close to the old ones but I finally faced acceptance after they would not load me in their pod after I got in there about 3 times (LOL) It was good and I told Pam that Life is constantly changing and you have to accept the changes that come with it..

We headed out on Friday and yes I felt the depression as I sat working my Sukudo puzzles..

however once we got there and sat up camp I began to forget my problems and started enjoying the trip..I think Friday was taken up setting up camp and getting everything out...adjusting the Satellite etc

We were both dead tired and went to bed pretty early..

On Saturday we spent most of the day looking for a way to get our water container back and forth to the water that is close to the restrooms..Our lot has electric, and a septic tank but no water..well we found out Checotah is not like OKC you have to drive around until you find it..

we found a little trailer but the ball would not fit our hitch and we could not find a 2" ball so our neighbor lent us his water and when we get back we will get our trailer taken care of..

Saturday afternoon I got a Phone call from a dear lady in our Sunday school class saying they were thinking of us...that really made me feel good..to know others understand and care..

We made several trips to Wal-mart for stuff and I found myself eating candy Easter eggs in the parking lot (something Mom and I used to do together but then some traditions never die out)

Saturday evening I also got a Phone call from one of my stitching friends...everyone else had gone to sleep (including the dogs) but we laughed and giggled for about 15 minutes...Always great to hear from friends who are thinking of us..

On Sunday I got a text message from another frined...wishing us a Happy Easter...so many friends to be Thankful for...

While camping I met a 79 yr old man name of Tom Martin...He was so nice and had just lost his little dog..I sat with him a long time and just spent some time with him..his wife was ill and did not camp with him so he just needed a frined..

Our dogs also made friends with the neighbor dogs (Whitie and Biggie) all four dogs are about the same size and Biggie tried getting into our camper with Peanut and Babe..LOL

We also made friends with a couple fixing up their lot two lots down from us their names are

Brenda and Richard and we got along really well...

We talked a long time...

It was a great week-end and we enjoyed ourselves..I feel like we will have a terrific summer and our next trip will probably be Mothers Day week-end (another tough time for me)...I told John (our next door neighbor) after Biggie tried to get in my lap looks like his dogs will have to send me a Mothers Day card just like my two do...VBG..

Escaping down the road

At first we starting camping for FUN...we were young and had a tent...we dealt with rain and storms and life was simple...I still remember camping trips with Dad when I was growing up and now with my husband...
Then we got into Motorcycles and had a cargo trailer that held a tent...we packed it full...tent and sleeping bags...we then went onto a timeout trailer that you pull behind the motorcycle and it folded out into three rooms...
We are now outta bikes and life is slowing down a little
So we started out with a bumper pull trailer and now a fifth wheel (the dogs have more room to run...gotta get it for the dogs...LOL)
But we found our camping trips became stress free weekends because I had my dad in a nursing home and it was really hard...then Mom fell..I had to move her into Independent living..at one time I was trying to help both Mom and Dad and clean out their house with stuff accumulated for over 50 yrs plus go on our stress free camping trips...It was our get-away trips..
Well now Mom and Dad are gone...Mom passed in Dec and our neighbors to whom celebrated Holidays with us are moving and we are finding we have no family close to us...
So our camping trips are becoming Get-away from life trips...
When we are feeling sad...we go camping. When there is a Holiday and there are lots of families we go camping...Instead of the BIG Ham dinner for Easter (that Mom loved) we go camping with lots of chocolate and Hamburgers..
I was never privilaged to be a Mother however I would take Mom to church on Mothers day to honor her...I always felt out of place and when they had all the mothers stand except me It would hurt my heart down deep...so for Mothers Day I go camping with my husband and my two dogs...I can feel Human and my sensativity is not as previliant...
Camping is becoming a run-away lifestyle..but a free and easy one that makes us feel better..
We are in the 1% catagory that never had children and wanted to...Only God knows WHY but when we go camping we can get with Him and realize He does offer a way of escape...to enjoy His nature and His goodness and not feel so sad anymore...

Home away from Home

This is our Home away from Home and after this winter we are more than ready to get rolling again...