Roughing It Smoothly

I must admit my idea of roughing it is... no room service.  So, when the prospect of heading out into the wilds (as in the woods, camping if you will, where critters roam) with my beloved ones was discussed as the potential summer vacation of togetherness, my heart skipped a beat.  I don’t mean in the, “ooh baby, I can hardly wait” mode, it was more like “YIKES! What? Zero showers, nada clean clothes, and no servers dressed to the nines serving up freshly prepared delicacies that excite and tantalize the senses, and treating me like a princess on holiday... and not a connection to the internet and decent shopping in sight” way.

I was in a panic.  The sight of me with no make up is a scary thought - but what would the squirrels care?  This could be an opportunity to bond with my family unit in close quarters and create memories that would last a life time.  To reconnect with my favorite people in the world and rediscover the love we share.  To see our country the way it was meant to be... snap out of it!!  This little foray into the wilderness was going to be work and I felt it in my bones.

I knew, from past experience, that a proper attitude and a hidden stash of M&M’s would help me through the difficult times ahead.  I tried to focus on positive aspects, such as beautiful scenery, starlit nights with campfires and S’mores, flush toilets and the occasional sundry pit-stops with local taste treats.  Besides, I really have enjoyed the road trips we had taken before and have learned an exorbitant amount about my love muffin that you don’t get to know until you either a) co-habitate with them in sin prior to the betrothal or b) go on a trip with your intended and live and breathe the same air and share in all the minor “discussions” (such as directions, frequency of bathroom stops, time spent at each location, etc.) one has in conjunction with a journey of the heart.  After some serious discussions with myself, I had successfully convinced my brain about the trip and was anticipating it for weeks (better make sure I grab 2 extra large bags of the chocolate covered peanut type, just in case).

We prepare our vehicle (oops, forgot to mention a small fact that my snuggle muffin had invested in a recreational vehicle of some usage - but nevertheless, a 28 foot land yacht that he felt would entice me to follow him to the roads less traveled and a possible retirement experience - in his dreams - and a true heaven on wheels... please reread line one if you thought I would be sleeping on the ground with bugs and the such) with pretty much every bell, whistle and NASA mattress you can fit into a home on wheels.  The nice thing about these little rigs is that they come equipped with pretty much every necessity, such as a refrigerator, a television and a toilet (with specially formulated rapid dissolving bun wad paper).  One never truly appreciates such things until the need arises.  It did take me a while to feel comfortable about rolling along, singing a song and using the commode (it felt like the entire interstate knew what I was up to)... I know, too much information.

A few bottles of wine, trashy novels, the camera, the knitting longing to be completed before the next snowfall, the child and the three dogs (the hamster and fish stayed behind with a very reliable neighbor) all loaded up and ready for the road.  The wind in our hair and the sun in our face (pull out the sunscreen) we are poised for our adventure and ready for anything the open road has to offer... how many more minutes until we get there? ...stay tuned - to be continued next week...

Cynthia A. McClelland, curious observer of the obvious with interpretations of the oddities of daily life. Mother, wife and lover of the furry, resides in the north Lake Tahoe area.

Cynthia A. McClelland © 2003-