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| Mark and Matilda |
Let’s see how I scored on my pre-Memorial Day camping trip list:
Yes indeedio! It was put to the test during a 20 minute hail storm–IN MAY!!
Our rainy/sunny/rainy/sunny weekend was sandwiched between two glorious, sunny weekends. But I’m not complaining–really!
2. Beat the pants off of the kids in Speed.
Sadly, I didn’t play any card games this trip. Nor did I read a single word of a book. Very unusual for me.
3. Successfully dodge all the marshmallows spit at me.
As I was oh so very innocently sitting at the picnic table I noticed a few marshmallows sail past me, and I hollered, “We’re under attack!” So that would be a no.
4. Take advantage of any sun breaks and walk off all the chocolate I stressed ate last week.
Not once!! I did take many a leisurely walk though, but I did not spill one ounce of sweat on a training walk. Not one!
5. Relax, rejuvenate and refresh…kind of like reduce, reuse, recycle…only different.
I relaxed as much as I could while dodging hail and combating pneumonia.
Most definitely the funniest part of the trip happened on a walk with my friend Dawn, the instigator of building our tarp thingy. She had seen it on a camping trip last summer and knew we must have one. Anyway, while on the walk I pointed out an officially store purchased double sized pop-up. She stopped dead in her tracks, gawked and said, “You mean you can BUY one of those things.”
She couldn’t believe I hadn’t at least mentioned we could buy one during the process of designing and building our own. I just thought she wanted the joy of creating. Who knew? Anyway, Matilda, that’s what we named our glorious tarp thingy, is bigger, better and much cheaper than any store bought double sized pop-up tarp thingy. Even though it does take a village to put it up.
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| Mark setting up Matilda |
But Matilda did her job during our 20 minute hail storm. The ground was a mid-January white but we were as cozy as could be under Matilda’s protection. It was a proud moment.
So I only accomplished one and a half out of the five on my list. But that was all this single chick could handle under the circumstances.
Question: If you knew you could make something cheaper than you could buy it, which would you choose? Build or Buy?
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There is a fear amongst single people of dying alone. That’s why I have cats. But, I try not to be the epitome of the single-cat-loving-woman, so I have kept my cat quota to two. There were times I wanted more, but to keep the stereotype at bay, I decided against the third feline.
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| Mary |
We’ve all heard the pathetically sad news stories of single women being found alone and dead in their apartment after days of no one knowing. Alone except for being surrounded by hundreds of hungry cats just days away from eating their dead flesh.
I really don’t want to be that news story.
Those are the kinds of thoughts that run through my head when I am sick. Like now; I have pneumonia. Never had it before. Never want it again. I was first diagnosed with it by all my camping companions on my trip last weekend.
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| Martha |
I kept denying their claims until late one night. It was cold so I burrowed way down inside my sleeping bag. As I opened my mouth to breathe I noticed there was a motocross race going on inside me. The sound of revving engines and squeaky brakes coming from my lungs was hard to ignore.
The next morning I told my friends they were probably right; and the doctor confirmed it this afternoon. I have pneumonia. And cough syrup with codeine that makes me warm and sleepy…zzzzzzz
I shall deliver my camping trip highlights next week after the drugs have worn off.
Question: Have you had pneumonia? Can you spell it correctly on your first try?
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A couple of weeks ago I caught the “crud” that had been going around. I found myself alone on a Saturday night with a temperature of 101. I had been throwing up and was feeling pretty sorry for myself. My cats seemed to care more about their dirty litter box than the fact I had spent half the night on the bathroom floor next to it. So I decided to solicit sympathy via Facebook. People came to my rescue and the outpouring of love and homemade remedies made my little heart smile.
Living alone can be great for an independent soul such as myself. But then there are the times you really miss the comfort of another human being. Interestingly enough though, some of my married friends tell me when they are sick they wish their husbands would take the kids and leave to let them suffer in silence. Other women say their children don’t get it when mom doesn’t feel well so they aren’t even allowed a sick day to mend.
I guess it’s one of those “the grass is always greener” kind of moments. Once I felt better it didn’t bother me to be alone again. And I’m sure once those moms were back to health the constant commotion and calling of their name was music to their ears.
So here’s to sending love out wherever, whenever and to whomever it is needed. And don’t be afraid to ask for it. You don’t want to miss out on all the chicken soup offers or learning that rubbing Vicks VapoRub on your feet and then sleeping with socks on can make you feel better. That’s good information but sometimes just a hug would suffice.
Question: What’s the best “medicine” you’ve received when you were sick?
