Down off a doxx-back (pt 2)

John arrived. He explained he really didn’t have any breakfast foods, except some Kielbassa which was in his car (a good half-mile hike). We all insisted that such heroic effort wasn’t necessary. Besides, by then Barry had opened about 10 eggs into a bowl, and hadn’t added anything else yet.

We would have enough food.

Then, Barry added chunks of my lemon pancakes to the eggs. *laughing* He had eit one while John and I were talking – said they were great! *nods – see?!!* We were skeptical of how the lemon would melange with the other flavors, but, we all understood the need for “filler”, especially since we didn’t have potatoes or anything.

He added some dill, the mushrooms, and..something else – I can’t remember now. Anyway, it just about filled his deep skillet to the brim.

John and I talked about camping and hiking and gear and whatnot, and did errands for Barry as he had need. Soon, we were spooning great hunks of omlette into tortillas, and covering that with a layer of chili.

It was dang fine eating. I had 3 burritos, and we fed 5 people from our pan.

For me, it wasn’t just a good breakfast. It was another example of “community”. Here were lots of essentially strangers (yes, we all knew each other from camping, but none of these people really “knew me”, nor I them) who risked their individual breakfasts together in hopes of something greater.

Its things like that which I experienced, and really appreciated about, the whole weekend. Wonderful!

After eating, John and I prepared our tents for packing (this is the ventillation stage), and then headed back to the water. Several of us talked about fishing, then John decided to swim to the other beach.

I got out and talked with my other neighbor Carl (who doesn’t know that he kept me up all of Friday night…) and did something else which escapes me now.

Eventually, John came back, and the three of us started striking our tents. John also fetched his Kielbassa, and offered to make lunch for me as thanks for breakfast. So while he cooked I bundled my gear, and drove the flies from the tent by lowering it back-to-front.

I managed to get the tent completely rolled and stowed just as John finished cooking. I asked Carl about lunch; he was having the last of his cold-cuts. So John and I ate, still full from breakfast, but it was a friendly gesture as much as anything.

After eating, we all headed back to the water. By now, it was hot (around noon) and the water was beginning to gain heat back. We listened to Dee’s friend Kay’s husband talk about bike touring – he told procedural things, plus lots of funny and horrific stories too.

Notice that no where in here have I mentioned MY putting on sunscreen! Directly, I realized I was starting to cook, and John noted that he was overdue for leaving (he wanted to check out a local fishing lake before heading home). We made our way back to our camps, I wished him well, and proceeded to finish complete pack-up.

I made my way to the Barn to see if there were any chores for me, and realized – I am heat stressing. PT put Aloe on my sunburn, then ordered me to go drink water. I obiliged easily. Then I came back and just stood in the breezeway for about half-an-hour.

Then I went on a trash run, then I went back and gathered my clothes and keys, and made my way BACK to the barn, thanked everyone, went and got my car, loaded up and left.

Went to a movie (I thought sitting quietly in AC for awhile would be a good idea.) Then I came here.

Quote of the day: At breakfast, after a contemplative lull in the conversation, I just kinda said “Ya know, I think its neat to be standing here, looking at all these campers running around, wearing the same thing”.

Now, I sit at my aux office, typing on the Mac. I am relaxed – warm and relaxed. I have a nagging concern of the housework I have still neglected, and of having to unload the car, etc.

But mostly, I just wish I didn’t live alone.

Then I’d have someone to put aloe on my back. *sigh*

*wink, smile*