A couple of weeks ago, I was preparing food and supplies for the 2 of us to camp for 9 days. This week, I have been readying for 'Cousins Camp.' We leave today and will be back Sunday, so I keep wondering why it doesn't seem a lot simpler. It must be because it will be 6 of us for 3 days so it still multiplies out to 18, right? That's my theory anyway, and I'm stickin' to it.
My cousin George and I in our adorable years. Having spent my early years a long, long time ago in a town far, far away, where ALL of my cousins--14 on one side, 11 on the other--lived within 20 miles of us, I have a special fondness for the bonds that can develop in these really rather serendipity relationships. The saying is that you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your relatives. Maybe we learn more about getting along with people when we don't have any choice in the matter. And if you do have a cousin who is also a friend, especially the same age and gender, you are doubly blessed.
Cousins Camp, 2012, at Backbone State Park But our children and grandchildren have been much more spread out geographically from the beginning and rarely get to see each other. There's also sizable gaps in the ages of the first four. But the last four are much closer--three of them 10 months apart. So after I retired, I determined to get them together at least once a summer. And Cousins Camp 2013 starts today. Jack, 12, flew in yesterday from Texas. Grandpa is on his way to pick up Sophie, 12, and Elliot, 9 from Illinois. Steven, 13, will be in this morning from his home nearby.
We will be heading to a private campground near Galena, Illinois. There is a pool, miniature golf, and horseshoes, so there will be a few more things for the kids to do. Jack is a bit of a Civil War buff and we will take in the historical sites in Galena. There is even a geocache right in the campground. We have also printed the schedule for sightings of the International Space Station. We picked up water balloon slingshots, another water balloon toy, and diving sticks. We are stocked up on glowsticks, flashlights, and headlamps.
And what's on the menu? Goulash, chicken, hot dogs, sweet corn, cupcakes, mac and cheese--not our usual gourmet level, but appropriate for the clientele. We will not starve. Even better, the weather forecast is scarily perfect--and with the Iowa State Fair going on too! Stay tuned.
We will be heading to a private campground near Galena, Illinois. There is a pool, miniature golf, and horseshoes, so there will be a few more things for the kids to do. Jack is a bit of a Civil War buff and we will take in the historical sites in Galena. There is even a geocache right in the campground. We have also printed the schedule for sightings of the International Space Station. We picked up water balloon slingshots, another water balloon toy, and diving sticks. We are stocked up on glowsticks, flashlights, and headlamps.
And what's on the menu? Goulash, chicken, hot dogs, sweet corn, cupcakes, mac and cheese--not our usual gourmet level, but appropriate for the clientele. We will not starve. Even better, the weather forecast is scarily perfect--and with the Iowa State Fair going on too! Stay tuned.
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