Thursday, June 2, 2011

My article

Here's my article that was on the front page of our local newspaper. They said I could put them on my blog, I just cant give them the same title, etc... So no title! LOL

 Do you remember the feeling of sleeping in a tent with your family in the mountains? Remember the dew on the tent roof in the morning, the rushing of a nearby river? Can you smell the acrid odor of a campfire in you mind?
I loved being in the mountains as a child, listening to my parents tell us stories as we fell asleep in our sleeping bags. I miss being a kid—the freedom of it. It's not the same once you're grown.
Now when we go on camp-outs I'm in charge. That's not always fun. My husband and I prepare the meals, cook the food, and do most of the clean up. It's okay, just not the same as escaping to the stream to get wet one more time before bed.
As a child, the hills beckoned and I came running. I remember my homemade fishing pole that caught more fish than the store-bought one my brother had. I remember trying to get lost with my cousins on the stinging nettle-lined paths of the campground. I remember being sticky with marshmallows, and miserable from sunburns. I loved every minute of it.
Ah . . . to be a child again.
I can't go back, but I can make it magical for my own kids. Now days, we take our camper. I hate sleeping on the ground. If I do, my back aches. I want an indoor toilet and hot water. I'm spoiled and obstinate in my old age.
My main goal now is to make memories with my kids. I want them to feel the rush of the wind, feel the freedom of the mountains, hear the cry of an eagle, like I did at their age. I want them to take these memories with them so they can tell stories to their own children about the wonderful camp-outs they went on as kids.
Never get too old to appreciate nature. Never get to the point where it's too hard or takes too much time. Even if your kids are grown, take the time to get out there, to smell the fresh air, to fish in a river.
The world is our oyster. Never tire of seeing and experiencing something new on this beautiful earth we live on. There are so many places to go. Make it a goal to get out there at least once this summer.
Happy traveling!

18 comments:

mooderino said...

That was great, glad you got to post it here.

mood
Moody Writing
@mooderino

Rob-bear said...

OH, delightful. Your vignette takes me right there with you, past and present. Camping with my family, Boy Scout camps and jamborees. Ah, yes.

I get grumpy, too, from the pain of sleeping on the ground. But then I'm a really OLD Bear; virtually antique.

Old Kitty said...

Beautiful!!! I love this article - it deserves to be front page - it's making me want to go camping and to enjoy nature!! Lovely!!! Thank you so much for sharing here!! Take care
x

Melissa Ann Goodwin said...

Right now, we are in the process of selling our house so we can buy a nice RV and hit the road full-time. I'm with you - I want the camping feeling, but I want my creature comfortst - especially if this is going to "home" for us for a while. I've realized that I feel so peaceful and at ease when I am out in nature. I want that feeling all or most of the time - again.

Sarah Allen said...

Congrats, and great work!

Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)

Unknown said...

Congrats! What a beautiful memory-filled article and such a lovely message.

Jennifer said...

"Wildness is a necessity."
~John Muir

I really enjoyed this post. :)

Belle said...

I loved this article. It brought back happy memories of camping with our two daughters and sometimes their friends and cousins.

Now our girls take their children camping every summer. It is a family tradition of joy.

Dan said...

Congrats on the article, and may there be many more publications to come!

I love the instant satisfaction of writing for the paper.

Suester said...

Thank you for posting your article. It did, in fact, bring back some wonderful memories. I thank GOODNESS that I do not have to go camping anymore! We went every year (several times) when I was a child and I have been Young Women's Camp director several times in the past. It is a great deal of work. I'm way too tired in my nearly senior years. It was indeed fun thinking about those good times though. So, thank you!

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

Not too big on camping, but I love long hikes, especially in the mountains or at the beach. The scents, sights, feelings...mmmmm....

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Great article. Used to do a lot of camping as a kid, and one summer while camping at the beach with my cousins, we must've had two weeks straight of rain. Heavy rain. The canal got so full, it nearly reached our tent. And we spend an awful lot of time playing pinochle in that tent with cards so thick from the humidity, we resorted to sprinkling them with the tooth powder we'd won at a little auction place on the boardwalk. Good times, and a good article to bring those memories back to mind. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Jennifer said...

Great article. so nice that you could post it here. It really makes me want to pitch a tent in my backyard and have a campout night this summer:)

Hogan's Hero's Swim School said...

Nice.If I'm not writing or reading, (and even then I might be outdoors) I'm doing something outside. Great post

Blaze McRob said...

Great article! Yes, you certainly instilled remembrances of many fine camping trips in me. Thank you.

Blaze

Writer Pat Newcombe said...

Lovely article. I well remeber the joys of camping!

TracyRobin said...

Great article Melissa. Congrats on having it published. Makes me want to get out the camping gear, reserve a spot under the shady trees and get a fire going for 'smores. In fact, I think I will pitch the idea to my family for a weekend getaway this summer. :)

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