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Health & Fitness

Survival Gear

A page from my own memory book..Surviving well to tell the tale.

Have you seen that tv commercial where the newly married couple arrive at their honeymoon retreat, which just happens to be a tent? They laugh and cavort with lilting musical accompaniment..until it rains and they race to the car. I can't even tell you what the whole thing advertises as it sends me on a magical memory tour.

Dear Husband, former boy scout and war veteran, and I decided one day to take a grand outting. Freshly married and truthfully poor, our options were few. We decided to go camping. While he packed a weatherbeaten canvas tent, Army green sleeping bags, fishing tackle and trusty axe, I packed my suitcase, marshmallows and a good novel.

We set out in mild temperatures for a little lakeshore campground, walked hand in hand along the water, skipped rocks and ate a lovely fire cooked meal while enjoying the wane of day. That's the pretty part.

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Dear Husband chopped, piled his wood, and I marvelled at his strength and applauded his purpose. The stars took over the world, and we had such freeflowing conversation I was melted like my marshmallow. While the campfire cooked our fish and toasted our toes, the air got colder and colder. I looked longingly at a motor home parked across from us. As I tried to wait patiently for a hot cup of tea to chase the chill,  a bathrobed lady of the house on wheels..dumped her hot steaming kettle oustide.

It was at that point that I thought maybe we had overestimated the whole outting thing.

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The swing of axe and crackle of fire continued. I stopped smiling.

As I was headed for the car dear husband coaxed me to look in the tent. I write that nicely as he actually removed my fingers one by one from the car door handle and half dragged me to the tent where surprisingly inside....was another smaller tent made from our king sized, pink, electric blanket.

While that dear man survived the perils and dangers of fighting a terrible war in a foreign land, he also learned the value of an extra long extension cord. Survival of the fittest may be the rule of nature but nothing beats a good love story.

If anyone catches the point of that tv commercial I would love to read it but, I don't need it. Pictures may speak volumes, but not clearer than written words.

Gratefully,

Mary

 

 

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