Memorial Day Weekend

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you all had a safe Memorial Day weekend.

The DH and I didn’t do much…just kinda hung out at home and binge watched Yellowstone (I’m a huge Kevin Costner fan!) and I made a huge batch of spaghetti sauce with meatballs and sausage (it came out really good, too. I’m never quite sure how it’s going to turn out because I don’t measure anything…it just looks and smells right while I’m adding the ingredients). 

In our younger days, we would take this weekend to head up to the mountains and rivers where it was much cooler than Phoenix and go camping (we had all the gear…tents, camp stove…you name it, we had it). It was our version of a vacation from the day to day. Our son and all the dogs loved it.

I admit, I enjoyed it, too. I always brought a book or two and several brand new writing pads and pens. Gently rocking in a hammock suspended between trees and listening to the stream rushing between rocks was the perfect place to think and dream and write. Looking at the star-studded sky was a big inspiration as well (though difficult to write by), not to mention the spectacular sunsets. I started many a story on a camping trip. It doesn’t take much to inspire me. A deer in the field when the sun is rising and mist is coming off the meadow. A hawk soaring through the clouds. The smell of a campfire and fresh brewed coffee. The sound of the wind whispering through the trees.

We don’t camp anymore and we’ve given away our equipment to someone with young children who will use it. The places we used to go have all been developed. I’m sure there are other places that remain like they were, but frankly, I don’t want to sleep on the ground anymore (heck, I don’t even want to sit on the ground. I want cushions). We’re not as young as we used to be, the DH and I, and I have such a hard time getting up (my knees sound like rice crispies after you pour on the milk). For my DH, it’s even worse (arthritis has not been kind). We did use an air mattress several times, but somehow, always managed to find a rock or develop a hole and ended up sleeping on the ground anyway.

No, now I want creature comforts. Maid service. Restaurants so I don’t have to cook over an open flame or that little camp stove. A nice soft bed and even softer pillows. Air Conditioning. Yeah. Or better yet, I’ll just stay home. I can always close my eyes and dream I’m writing next to a gently flowing stream.

Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie