Where am I?

I woke up this Friday morning wondering, "where am I?". I thought I was in Sacramento, but I heard a noise coming in through the open bathroom window that sounded a lot like rain, and when I got up to walk the dog, found that sure enough it IS raining. It NEVER rains in Sacramento at the end of June! So what gives? I'm not quite sure but I hope it doesn't get too humid and hot today. It is supposed to get up into the upper 90's, so I wouldn't mind if it rained for a week and kept the temperatures down, but we'll see. It stopped raining before the day really got started, by the way.

Granddaughter Arianna's 1st birthday party is tomorrow, so I went to help Ara with the two little girls while she cleaned. When Arianna took her nap I did something I have never done in my life - took a nap while the baby slept. I actually just rested my eyes and stayed awake, but for an hour and a half I relaxed. The advice to all mothers, which is never followed, is to nap while the baby naps. Too bad you have to get to be my age to figure out what good advice that is.

I found Sly Park up in Pollock Pines was nearly booked until after the 4th of July, but there was a campground which had a couple of adjacent sites that hadn't been reserved. I called and talked to the woman taking reservations - she must be on site because she could tell me about the different campgrounds, and even the individual campsites. I selected two sites together at Mountain Top campground. I'm told it has the least use, is the quietest of all the campgrounds, and has the least traffic. That's because it is the furthest from the lake. With young children in the party I love to hear "least traffic".

Yes, Jeannie and Donald are bringing the girls, Steve and Megan will be there, and Joe and Sarah are as yet undetermined. I think Sunday is Sarah's father's birthday, so they haven't committed yet, and Joe is in classes during the week. Ara and I are going up on Monday and setting up our tents and equipment, followed by Steve on Tuesday, and Jeannie on Thursday.

Sly Park has fond memories for all of us, because every time I was in Sacramento before Bill died, we all got together for a weekend camping trip there, at least when the weather permitted. One trip there was pretty cold but we had great fun, terrific food, lots of laughs, and just a wonderful time. Bill loved camping and loved planning for a camping trip. As he got to the point where he was hardly up for it (but still tried to run everything), Steve stepped in and gradually took over the role of Master Camper.

It bothered Bill to let go of the reins, but as I told him - you've taught him everything you know and how to do it, so let him go for it, and let him make the decisions. He'll make you proud. And I'm sure the father beamed with pride at the accomplishments of all his children.

This is the least prepared I've ever been for a trip, and I miss Bill for that among other things. We both liked to be ready for all possibilities, like him with the food and equipment, and me packing the kids things to include plenty of extra clothes in case they fell into the lake. I don't think anyone ever fell into a lake, but I was ready for anything that could happen.

But enough reminiscing about my ex-old man and our camping days. The kids are making their own family memories and I hope their children inherit the love for the outdoors, sitting around a campfire (watching the kids get dirty and enjoying the S'Mores), setting up and sleeping in a tent, and doing without a shower for a few days, taking long walks that they call "hikes", and if someone else is up to it because I won't be, taking them out in a kayak or a raft!