My first camping experience was the summer of 2003, the year after I had met my husband. Since that first experience we have tried to maintain the tradition, and go camping for a few days each summer. Every time I have gone camping there has been plenty of fun and laughter while out in the woods with my family.
The very first morning I woke up in my huge tent that fit up to eight people, even though it was only set up for my husband and I. As I sat up in my air mattress that was on a frame off the ground I couldn’t believe that I was camping. There was a dresser, dirty clothes basket, an ashtray, and even an air freshener! If I was outdoors why did I need an air freshener in my tent? As I was greeted by my mother in law with a fresh brewed cup of coffee I realized that I was all about camping! After breakfast the reality of camping set in. The bathroom is down the street, water needs to be brought to the camp site for dishes, and trips to the local store were as common as trips to the bathroom!
It was about eight o clock at night and my husband and I were making the final trip to the local store, when the people monitoring the main gate to the camp grounds stopped our vehicle. They let us know that the local police were looking for a male that had escaped from one of their police cars a few miles up the road. Of course my husband and I chuckle “dumb pigs” as we drove away. when we returned to the camp grounds I watched as we slowly drove past the bathrooms. I look at my husband and tell him I should go before we got back to the site, but changed my mind and told him I would make the separate walk before bed.
About fifteen minutes later the local police drive past our campsite and ask us if we had seen anyone suspicious wondering the camp grounds. We tell the officer no, but thinking to myself, everyone looks kind of suspicious walking around in the dark at a campsite! My sister in law and I make the long walk to the bathrooms for our end of day routine. We start talking about how a stranger walking into our campsite would be the worst mistake of his life, and our husbands are laughing when we get back because all four of us had been talking about the same situation. We find ourselves enjoying the fire and each other’s company when we realized hours had gone by and I was looking to make another bathroom trip. Of course no one was up for the walk, so I needed to find a hidden spot to pee before bed! I could have not planned it better because the moment the stream started coming out the sirens and lights are quickly approaching! I barely had my pants back around my hips when the spotlight was on me! The officer asks “where did he go ma’am?” He? The officer told me that he seen a man coming out of the bushes! I told the officer that he had made me nervous about walking alone, so I was just peeing real quick before I went to bed. I pulled my hoodie back over my head and made my way towards my tent. The officer says” well that explains it ma’am…from down the hill you fit the profile of the suspect!” I lowered my head and laughed my way to bed with one last chuckle.” Dumb Pigs!”
