We had a lovely weekend away. Calvin was more than fine on his own, and only mildly happy to see us (which I'm taking as a sign of success). There were s'mores, first swims of the season, kayak adventures, plenty of time spent in the hammock, lots of lounging and reading (being deeply moved by this book), and delicious camp food. We didn't get carried away by black flies, though at times I wondered. It was days full of that hard, outside camp play where the kids (and adults) literally fall into their beds at the end of the night dirty and sweaty and smelly, and don't move until the loons call in the morning. I'm so grateful to my parents for the foresight to find a treasure of a spot like that so long ago, and I'm grateful to them for sharing it so kindly with us now. The kids are counting down the days until we go back (um, 34).
Nearly as lovely as the rejuvinating time spent in the woods, is the clarity that I always seem to come home with. In all that silence of the woods, there's plenty of time for the important things - play, sitting, thinking, dreaming. Good stuff. I feel clearer about my/our priorities, big decisions and little decisions alike, and full of ideas, too. But mostly, I feel calm, centered, and connected. The woods will do that to you.
Jeffrey Yamaguchi just did a little interview with Heather Menucicci, Author of Let's Get Primitive: The Urban Girls Guide to Camping. The book looks really fun - I quickly ordered a copy for a certain urban sister of mine who I'm hoping to drag home and back into the woods with us in a month. Perhaps if I bring the sushi...hmnn...or no, maybe this will work:
It's calling you. Katie (and anyone else who needs a visit to the woods) - can you hear it?
