|
|
|
ěNo dad I donít want to go thereî was an often-uttered phrase from me in my younger years when told my family was taking a camping trip. I was raised on the outdoors, even though I didnít seem to like it in my younger days. We have picture upon picture of my sister and I at nine months old being carted around Big Bend National Park. Within the next few years my brother would be there also. We would take to trips to such parks as Texas Railroad State Park, Guadalupe State Park, Pedenales Falls State Park, and several more trips to Big Bend National Park.
My first fish I was always the girl in the family. My sister was the tomboy and I was the dainty girl that played ěteacherî and house with my dolls. I did not like to get dirty nor did I like to get sweaty. I had my turn at playing kickball or baseball in the front yard with the neighbors or playing in the fort my dad built in the backyard with my brother and sister. When it came to the outdoors, I did not mind ěplaying.î I did mind when I was going to have to take part in a camping trip. I hated camping. I hated the tents. I hated sleeping on the ground. I hated the hiking. I hated everything about it. Hate is quite a strong word; but it seems to be the only word appropriate to how I felt about camping in my younger years. I complained the whole time. I caused nothing but misery to my parents and siblings the entire time. My dad would plan elaborate camping trips across Texas, excited beyond belief to be spending time with the family. Only now do I realize what a pain I was to my parents. I would not smile for pictures, or participate in activities willingly. For example, my family took a trip to Texas Railroad State Park. I enjoyed riding the train, but did not want to participate in any other activity. However I did find an activity that changed my view of nature: fishing. I would never fish because I could never catch anything. I thought it dull to sit on shore with a pole in the water. One afternoon on the camping trip to Texas Railroad State Park during elementary school, my sister and I decided to go fishing on our own. Little did I know that this would be the day I caught my first fish. My sister and I put our matching fishing poles into the water and waited patiently. I then felt a little tug on my line. I pulled my pole back and began to reel in my line. It was a fish! I was ecstatic. I never thought I would catch a fish He was a little thing and one that I couldnít keep, but I had to show my dad. I was so proud and wanted him to be proud also. So my sister struggled to get the hook out of his mouth without hurting the little fish, put him in a bucket with a little water, and hauled him back to camp. My dad was not what you can say impressed with the size of the fish, but he was impressed with me. That is a feeling I would never let go of. Everything I do, I do to impress my dad. That was when I started to love nature: when I realized that it pleased not only me, but my dad as well. When nature brought out a love for myself, as well as another type of love for my family, I knew it was a place that I wanted to go back to. And of course, my sister and I did take the fish back and let him go.
Rafting on the Rio Grande As I grew older, I began to enjoy some of the activities involved with camping. I found that I enjoy all the activities that coincide with camping except residing in a tent. I learned that it was these activities that brought my family together, so I knew I wanted to participate My family planned a vacation when I was in junior high to Big Bend National Park. When first proposed to me, I was unsure because I did not want to stay in a tent, but I was then told that we were going to stay in a cabin in the basin. I was happy about that. We had an incredible time. We hiked all the way to the top of the highest peak in the park, Emory Peak. I remember having to use the restroom on the way back down. My mom and I let the rest of my family go on ahead so I could urinate. Well, I squatted on a log and ended up urinating on my pants. It was quite an embarrassing time in my life. Being with family alleviated some of the embarrassment, so I always look back on it and laugh.
The window overlooking the Chisos Mountains Also on the Big Bend trip, we rode horses along a winding trail to the Window that overlooks the desert to the west of the Chisos Mountains. It is what is known as a pour off. All the rainfall that runs off the mountains into the basin area and collects in the various small drainages will eventually come together and leave the basin at the window pour-off. When the water is flowing, the pour-off becomes a waterfall. We rode down to what would be the top of the waterfall. This horseback-riding experience began my mild love affair with horses. Though my love affair would never match my sisters', it would allow us to share a common interest. It was so beautiful. We, also, went rafting on the Rio Grande and ate lunch on the Mexico side. It was exciting for my brother, sister, and I because it was out first official trip out of the country, even if we were only there for an hour. The water was quick but not dangerous. The rafting trip was quite enjoyable. We also had a guide with us, to keep us safe. What I recall most about that rafting trip was the wasps when we stopped for lunch. There appeared to be hundreds of wasps and I was so scared. I could not sit still long enough to enjoy my lunch. I may have been ěout of the countryî for the first time, but all I wanted to do was get away from the terrible wasps. I am sure I was sight to laugh at. My family and I enjoyed a wonderful time together. But what I remember most about this vacation was how my dad felt about the whole thing. He loved that we got along and he loved that we had a good time in nature. I am pleased with myself when I please my dad. To me, nature had officially become what kept my family together.
Sign at the bottom of Emory Peak indicating how far we must hike One of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had was on a camping trip to Ponca, Arkansas near the Buffalo River. This trip was the summer after my freshman year in high school. I was in an odd stage in my life. I was not getting along with either of my siblings or with my parents. It seemed that not a single one of the five of us could get along long enough to spend a vacation together. But nonetheless, my parents planned it anyway. There is something about nature that brings people together. We rented a cabin away from everyone else. The forest surrounding the sides, back, and past the grassy area in the front of the cabin, was thick with beautiful pine trees. I did take along my summer reading that I had to have read for the upcoming school year. I believe it was Jane Eyre.
Canoeing on the Buffalo River We spent the vacation horseback riding, canoeing along the Buffalo River which was quite low for the season, swimming in the river and getting along like never before. Each activity was enjoyable and relaxing. We would go out in the spacious area in front of our cabin and all lie down on the grass to look at the trillions of stars that we (the three kids) had never seen from our home in the city. The stars were breathtaking and a sight that I knew I would never forget. We all shared a bond in each of the activities that we participated in as a family. It allowed us to put aside the petty differences that young teenagers have with each other and their parents. Thatís what the outdoors does for my family and I. It always brings us closer together and allows us to share not only a love for each other, but also a love for nature.
Inside our cabin in Ponca We (the three children) are now all older and moving in different directions. The trip to Arkansas is one of the last family camping vacations the five of us will take together. Maybe we will travel together when we all have our own families, but it will never be the same. My brother, sister, and I can all look back on our childhoods and smile. We had a chance to bond with nature, with our parents, and with each other. When I look back, the camping trips with my family are some of my fondest memories. I did not enjoy some of the activities associated with nature and camping when I was younger. As I grew older and had the chance to go on more trips, I began to like and crave the hiking, canoeing, rafting, etc., involved in camping. Nature is a wonderful thing that should be experienced by all families. The coined phrase ěbeing one with natureî may apply to us, because it was the streaming river, the tall shady trees, and the cool whistling wind, which brought my family together. We became one with nature and one with each other, and therefore a closer family.
|
