We always do everything the same way -- water jug on the end of the table, supply box on one bench, food and ice chest near the fire. And we always eat the same things -- salmon for supper, S'mores before bed, and scrambled eggs with cheese and hot chocolate for breakfast. Going camping with Grammie means those things are always the same.
After a swim the girls were hungry, so we opted to start supper even though it was only 4 p.m. I figured it would take a half hour to get the fire just right and another half hour to grill some salmon, one of our traditional campfire foods. At 5, an hour earlier than their usual supper time, we were fine dining on salmon and creamed corn when it started to rain.
"That doesn't sound very friendly," Eliza Grace said
Just as we finished and were headed toward the restrooms, a deluge hit. We waited the worst of it out under a tree, dashed for the pavilion, waited a bit there and then went on to the restroom.
The girls both said they were glad it wasn't like last year when hail pounded the glass skylights. We did our business and, when the rain slowed again, went back to camp to inspect the damage -- one soaked sleeping bag, one dry one lying on my sleeping pad, and one that was wet on one side. Thankfully the girls had brought extra clothes; unfortunately they had unloaded them all into the tent which now had quarter-inch deep puddles in it. Eliza Grace announced, "Well I guess we're sleeping in the car tonight." And then the girls began planning the rest of the evening -- a trip to the camp store, a hay ride (if they still had it), and a movie in the pavilion. So we went shopping and learned that the hay ride way off. We headed back to the campsite, where our fire was smoldering, added some more logs and started making S'mores. Just as the marshmallows were beginning to brown, it started raining hard again so we made a dash for the car. We pulled down the back of the seat (like a hatchback) and saw that we could all three lie flat -- feet in the tunk and heads on the seat backs. We crawled in and the girls played a drawing game while we waited for the rain to pass. Then we made S'mores in the drizzle. I loaded dry clothes into a grocery bag, added a toiletry bag and we went back to the restrooms for dry clothes. After that we watched the film at the pavilion, and then headed for bed -- in the back of the car.
I donned a rain poncho this morning and loaded the car while the girls drew and played inside. They were dry and didn't have rain gear, and I didn't want any more mud tracked in the car than was already there. I announced that we would still have our scrambled eggs and hot chocolate, but that we'd have them at my apartment in Broadway. They protested a tiny bit, but understood when I told them our wood was soaked and I'd end up cooking on the camp stove, which wouldn't really taste any different than if I cooked it at home. And, as it was still raining, we'd stay drier, which was important if we were to make it to church on time. Maggie stated that it ended up being a short campout and expressed a little frustration with the weather man who had not predicted the weather right, but she didn't pitch a fit. She just stated her opinion and adapted.
Later Anna Maria told me that Eliza drew a picture of compassion for her pastor, and chose a grandmother with her hand on a granddaughter's head. AM said it was a complement to me, a complement I didn't really deserve as I WAS feeling a bit grumpy about the weather until I saw their contentment and their willingness to make things work. And it really was beautiful outside -- a mist floating amongst the dark green of drenched trees. I checked my attitude and enjoyed the grandchildren.
As I reflected on the trip, it dawned on me that the girls hadn't complained once about the weather or the changes in plans. Basic tradition remained the same and that's all that mattered to them. They didn't mind being soaking wet, though Maggie was glad when I saw her shivering and got her a sweater. The girls' momma and dad let them play in the rain often, so this was nothing new to them. They just adapted and made things work. Their good attitude and creativity saved the camping trip, and I couldn't help but think about what good parents the kids have
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