Camping

My story for dad’s birthday is not necessarily just one story but more of a collection of stories that I remember from my childhood. I remember going camping a lot and we were able to go camping at times that other people weren’t. That’s because we were home schooled. It was really cool because we could go to the campsites when they would they were empty.  It was nice to not have to go at times when they were normally super a crowded. 

Are We Camping Or Swimming?

There was one specific incidence that I remember from going camping. I believe it was when we lived in Florida but could be mistaken. It was a time that it rained and poured just for the entire freaking night.  Me and Stephanie were sleeping in one tent by ourselves. It rained so much that we had and make a little island out of our sleeping bags and Mom and Dad (and I think Casey?) were in the other tent.  It was a just such a torrential downpour and so crazy; I can’t remember if we ended up getting into the car that night or not but it was insane. 

There was another time we went camping it was when we lived in Maryland.  This time there was like a bear and a skunk and they got into a fight outside of our tent and that was absolutely insane.  We were all freaking out it was totally nuts and there was like nobody else in the campgrounds.  I remember we went to the bathrooms to get cleaned up and the girls bathroom is so disgusting and full of spiders (ewww). We ended up all just going to get ready and showered and stuff in the boys bathroom. There is nobody else there, just deserted. 

Back To Nature

Besides those specific instances there were just all he times that Dad would take us show us how to go fishing and he would show us how to build fires and everything like that.  Dad was always the main driver behind us going camp and kind of like connecting us with nature. Going to find little creatures, going for walks and hikes and things like that.  So he is the main reason that I have so lot of good memories of a lot of outdoor time and being in nature. 

The smell of camp fire will always remind me of dad and roasting marshmallows and making s’mores and telling scary stories and freezing in a sleeping bag in the middle of the woods. But those are some of my best memories from my childhood in that are also centered around Dad.