…. I am a fucking ROCKSTAR  for getting us here despite our obstacles…

We departed on our adventure, Monday, June 18th.  It was unseasonably hot, as hell, and humid around 100 degrees, in Pennsylvania.  I was preparing our rig for the travel and sweating as if I just got out of the shower, drenched, while doing so.  I decided to “hit the road” after the sun started on it’s way down, for the safety and comfort of all of us girls.

We were on the road at 7 o’clock pm.  Filled with a range of emotions, I started to tear up as I was pulling out of the familiar life we had been living for the past month.  Don’t get me wrong, the transition started with the decision to do so, and then with the action of moving into our camper to “practice”.  Our routine was set for the past month, now that routine was changing.  We were off on the first leg of our adventure.

It was going to be about a 12 hour drive to camp.  I decided to split it into 2 days.  As it got dark, about 3 hours into our travels, a major storm blew in.  The wind started to blow with a force that swayed our rig.  It took me a minute to get used to towing the camper weighed down with all of our belongings, then to have the wind gusts “smack us around”…  I almost felt as if mother nature was telling us that we made the wrong choice… “Turn Around!”  When the storm was at it’s worst, the rain was coming down in buckets, blinding rain splashed across the windshield.  The lightening was flash blinding.  You know the lightening I’m referring to, don’t you… The kind that lights up the universe with one flash.  The flashes came often.  At it’s worst, my estimate is 1 every 15 minutes, for about 2 hours. The thunder was so loud, I could feel the ground shake.  The tractor trailers were even slowing down…

Not only was there a storm, there was a lot of construction.  The kind of construction, that changes traffic patterns often and with large, reflective barrels on both sides of the lane.  I suppose I should be grateful it wasn’t cement “cattle shoots”, but reflective stripes on both sides of my driving lane was creating double vision.  (My eyes are aging, as the rest of me ages…LOL)  It wasn’t only double vision but blurry hazes surrounded every barrel.   It was all I had to hold it together to get to the other side of this storm and construction without incident.

The rest stops were jammed packed full of folks waiting out the storms.  There wasn’t any choice but to push on.  We eventually got to the other side of the storms and now I needed a nap!  We were in Ohio.  I asked my phone directions lady where the nearest rest stop was.  She took us to the entry of the Ohio Turnpike, about 20 minutes out of our way…LOL…needless to say, I didn’t want to get on the Ohio Turnpike. I pulled a “U-ee” directly in front of the toll booths. We got back on the highway.  Before asking my phone lady, I was thinking there had to be a rest stop coming up soon.   I should’ve trusted my instinct.  About 15 minutes down the highway, there was a great rest stop with clean bathrooms, plenty of private parking, and a nature trail that was dog friendly…WE DESERVED A BREAK!  Now I started to think the Universe was “throwing us a bone” for surviving/pushing through the commute thus far…

We arrived at Camp Miniwanca about 4p on Tuesday.  I was able to park our camper close to the house we are staying at.  My understanding was; we would be in a cabin/house by ourselves.  However, that is not the case.  We are sharing the house with 2 others.  One, is the Director of the kitchens.  Camp is split into 2 areas. 1=Boys camp, 2=Girls camp…each side has a kitchen.  Jody is the Director of both kitchens.  Did I mention she doesn’t like dogs…She has a pretty hectic schedule, we haven’t seen her once here at the house.  The house is a 4 bedroom/ 3 bath, the downstairs is finished with 1 of the bathrooms and bedrooms.  Jody stays downstairs and has her own entrance.  Our other house mate is Max.  Good guy.  His bedroom is directly across the hall from us.  His room has a bathroom.  I only describe this in such detail, because….He is AFRAID OF DOGS!!!….

Max wants to overcome his fear, the girls need to adapt to meeting new people easily and smoothly.  Max wanted to stay in the house so we can all work together on our growth.  I’m very appreciative/proud of him and his willingness to challenge his fear as well as help my girls challenge theirs.  Sooo….living situation isn’t exactly what we hoped for, however, I’m getting the feeling that the Universe is giving us what we need to promote growth.

My anxiety was high, upon settling in to the house, as a result of not knowing how my girls were going to adapt/adjust, without my control of the entire situation.  Not as if we could pick up and move to another location.  Living in our camper, on camp property, is not permitted, trust me I offered!

Rob is the Director of the Health Team and my supervisor.  He’s Great!  This week has been preparing/training/policies & procedures/learning the lay of the land in prep for the campers arrival tomorrow. I am the nurse for Boys Camp.  Number of campers will fluctuate as different “sessions” of camp time come and go.  It’s my responsibility to administer their daily meds/run a clinic (for about an hour every day)/respond to emergency’s/ and overall keep the boys safe.

We had some down time yesterday, and I was able to initiate my trail finding skills.  I asked around camp…LOL…, the camp staff is from all over the world; however, some of them are natives to Michigan or have been here in years past.  The girls and I set out to find Sischo Bayou, part of the Manistee National Forest.  My phone directions lady got us lost.  However, despite her misdirection, I was able to find a trail to hike with the girls, off leash…They have been waiting for this…

Ran into a cute couple at the Pines Point camp ground.  They are the manager/host there.  The girls and I stopped so they could swim in the White River.  There was a great access with a sandy beach in the Pines Point campground day use area. Wayne and Char were patrolling the day use area. We got to talking and the girls and I ended up at their campsite to continue the conversation/they gave me a tour of their camper/showed me some helpful items/shared some very helpful advice… They have been living in their 33 ft travel trailer, full time, for the past year.  I definitely picked their brains, got some ideas, and insightful hints to life on the road.

Reemphasizing my belief that people cross paths for teaching/learning life lessons.  Some are meant to stay in our lives and some are just brief encounters…However those folks cross our path, I’m recognizing the importance of learning from each one of them.  As my girls and I build our confidence, I’m surprised at how far we’ve come in a week’s time.  I knew this experience was going to challenge us.  For a while I was content with my complacency.  Numb to my spirit. I felt as if I was “ok” to settle for my life being the best it would ever be.  If I didn’t make any changes, my life would have plateaued.  Where my life was, back then, would have been the best it would ever get.  I was reminded of my spirit, by a red tailed hawk; the messenger.

I was also reminded of my approach to conquering my fears.  It had always been to identify that which scares/intimidates you, attack it and face your fears.  Put yourself in that situation, often, until it no longer scares you and instead is a source of confidence and strength.  It leads to growth and the path to finding genuine happiness.  I’m proud to say that courage is leading us down that path…

…Thanks for following along with our travels/adventure down that path…