The great escape

     Talk about a great time.

     We just got back from a week long camping trip, and I can't even begin to explain how great it was to just get away. It's the simple life.

     A life where we have no television, computer and by accident on this particular occasion no cell phone. The cell phone is only brought just in case of an emergency. Camping to us is a great way to spend time with each other again and rediscover just how lucky and fortunate enough to have one another. We get to teach the kids new things and watch as their eyes light up as they discover new things themselves. It's a place where nobody can touch you or hurt you. The rest of the world feels like it doesn't even exist.

     Camping is exactly what we all needed, to get away. We had the perfect spot, with a huge hill behind us, our tents pitched in the woods and our very own private little lake. The lake was great, both Dustin and Cassandra became much stronger and better swimmers, and Cody loved playing “life guard”. We brought out our rubber raft and the kids had a ball rowing it out into the middle of the lake (which wasn't deep at all) and then jumping over board as if a huge monster was after them. They all loved learning how to use the saw and ax to help cut up wood for our fires. We talked, laughed, played games, and ate s'mores. All in all in was a great time had by all.

     The major difference between this camping trip and all of our others is that we had a whole new generation of animals with us. This camping trip we brought along our 2 dogs. Storm, she is 3 yrs old and has gone camping with us only a couple of times last year, Jack who isn't even a year old this was his first camping trip, and 2 of our cats. Rascal who just turned a year old, he belongs to Cassandra and Giddian who is only 4 months old, she belongs to Dustin. Neither cat has ever gone camping although they have gone for a few day hiking trips. All the animals loved it they ran played and slept well with the kids.

     Despite having a great time every bone and muscle in my body was hurting. All the hiking, bending over and just walking on uneven ground was enough to send the left side of my body into full blown muscle spasms, but it was worth it just to see the smiles on the kids faces.

     All that being said, both Tim and I were really looking forward to getting home and sleeping in our own bed. We planned to get home Sunday afternoon was the plan, but that is not what happened. It took us much longer to tear down camp than either of us though it would so the van wasn't packed and we weren't ready to go until 9 o'clock Sunday night. Happy that we were finally done and had everyone piled into the van Tim turned the key and right away found out that our battery had died.

     Right away Tim and I hoped out of the van and after a quick assessment and a few curse words we realized that we were stuck. Stranded, litterily in the middle of nowhere.

     The road that we drove up to get to where we were was nearly 5 miles up a dirt road and the paved road is one that is not driven on much because it is way out in the country. With the bugs eating us alive and the sun rapidly descending in the sky we had know choice but to make a split decision. Because we would never make it anywhere near the paved road before dark and even if we did, the nearest store would be closed. We had no other choice than to find our big tent and set it up right there in the middle of the road way up in the middle of nowhere.

     Quickly Cody and Tim set the tent up, Dustin pumped up the air mattress and Cassandra and I rummaged through the food we had left and found a few things to eat that didn't require any cooking.

     We piled into the tent and ate our snack. Neither Tim nor I slept very much at the top of the road, but thankfully the kids slept great. By 7 o'clock in the morning Tim was up and began the long hike to the paved road. I stayed back with the kids and animals.

     Luckily for Tim half way up the long dirt road he came across the gravel pit that we had both forgotten about. Some how he managed to reach the gravel pit just as the men who work there were arriving for work. A very nice man in a four wheel drive truck told Tim to hop in. right away the man drove Tim up to where we were and the van was parked. He pulled out his booster cables and gave us the boost we needed.

     12 hours after the van was originally packed we were finally on our way home. We arrived home at 10 o'clock Monday morning. Quickly we unloaded the van and began putting everything away.

     We had a great week spending time together and as much as I wish we could stay out there never to return, we had to come back and rejoin society.

     I must say it was very nice to get home and find that my sister Natasha and cousin Tracy haven't missed a beat and even though I was no where near a computer their mission on trying to ruin me and my reputation continued.

     I think that the world would be a much better place if people just learned what was really important and stopped putting others down, instead use that same energy to try and help somebody out. I live my life going out of my way to help people and animals in need whenever I am in the position to do so. It's the best way to focus your attention, it will make you feel better and help someone out in the process.

     My advice to all those out there that are hell bent on destroying peoples lives need to find something else to focus their attention on. It will make you feel better about yourself, and you can actually do something worthwhile like help some one in need.