May 25, 2009
This past weekend of memory (aka Memorial Day), I went camping in Big Bear with Miss Cheryl. We went, terribly unprepared, into the wilderness and took it by storm. A tent, two sleeping bags, an aluminum cook set, a mag-light the size of a tube of chapstick and we drove. As far into the wilderness as we could and set up camp.
A lime green tent for eight was easily assembled and, fire-ban not pending (i.e. in effect), we illegally built a 'fire' inside a pot between a few rocks. Other than stroking our egos, this fire managed to brown a couple sausages, and half steam some brussel sprouts and purple cauliflower.
We ate this, from pan to mouth, with hot sauce, a super sharp swiss army knife and the fading sunlight. Packed the food back in the car... (Cheryl: "They don't call it Big Bear for nothing!") And with a small chocolate bar in hand, we went back to the tent to read a Sunset Magazine with a light source the circumference of a silver dollar pancake.
A la 8:30pm: Bedtime. Just like the old days. Wrapped up in our wool socks, jammies and Kealty sleeping bags, we found a position of comfort and for the next 40 minutes played a game called "D'you hear that?" Keep in mind we were a tad bit stoned. And our search for a remote location was almost too fruitful. Every 3-4 mintues our eyes would blast open at the sound of what was probably our tent tarp skimming ht screen.
But it was in those moments of terror before sleep that i think it dawned on us. We were two women/girls, alone, semi-prepared and out in the middle of nowhere. And we were more than fine. We were thriving. We MacGuivered a fire you could make a reality television show about. We stayed to our diet of protein and vegetables (and peanut butter). We were maximizing the pre-midnight hours of sleep and waking with the sun. This wasn't roughing it. This was killing it! This was success in it's finest form.
Now, from the hours of 8-12 the following morning we were not really killing it but 'driving it'. I'm not sure what the definition of 'lost' is, but we were testing it. However, our energy bar infused jaunt ultimately resulted in exercise, suntanning and a water hole for swimming. Far from failure, I'd say, but the second film of a double feature always does tend to drag on a bit.