All I can think about.

I got these from my dad today. I can't stop thinking about them and trying to remember this trip. I have the world's worst memory [of important things!] and it pains me to think that all the little neurons and synapses that once held these in my mind have blown or just moved on. At least I can comfort myself with knowing that we enjoyed the moment at the time; that is for certain. Oh to be there now!

I do slightly recall that Mom wore bandannas, the pattern on that tablecloth, and that awesome nesting cookpot set that I am sure my twin and I will bitterly squabble over someday. We still have the Igloo cooler, somewhere, and also somewhere, out of the photo frame, surely must be the big old green army surplus type tent we all piled into on trips like these.

God bless my parents for taking three little kids out camping, showing them how to love it, to love nature, getting dirty, sleeping in a tent, and knowing to be quiet in a campground full of people. God bless them for hauling our gripy little selves around and making us behave and putting up with all the work that goes with all the fun. The fun I remember in my soul even if my brain leaked it out; the fact that the planning, the getting up early, the driving long distances, the food and smoke and stars and cold showers and everything involved with heading West to camp still gets me thrilled to the pit of my gut even in my old age proves it. I can barely contain myself from grabbing a handful of maps, the tent, and a sleeping bag right this minute.

Sigh. Yet I can't. I have to be here right now, doing the stuff I have to do, being responsible, making plans and arrangements and fulfilling duties. But it won't always be so; those mountains are still there, and I know the way. I can get to my tent in about one minute. Dad would drop everything and come with me in a second, forty-year-old campboxes full of vintage gear and happy memories. Just knowing that with one phone call and about two hours of intense preparation I could be on my way gives me a happy feeling deep inside, and I can almost deal with the fact that I just can't go right now. *sob!* But where's my cellphone...maybe we can at least start planning...