Travel, Cruise

Have you ever been in a metal box with three small children during a thunder storm? Well, that’s what I felt like last night. Three of my grandchildren wanted to go camping last night but since we can’t find a camping spot at the closest lake after Wednesday, unless you can pay a friend to sit in her lawn chair in the middle of a camper spot for two days, we convinced them that camping in the vacant lot just south of our house would be just as fun. The lot is tree covered and from the front of the camper it appears you are deep in the woods. They reluctantly agreed and we set out for an evening of games, smores, and late-night story telling. Let me interject here that the girls are 13, 4 & 3. The 13 year old was busy rolling her eyes and saying "Whatever" to everything I suggested. The two small ones were happy as little larks. They ran, screamed (sorry neighbors) and had a ball until about 10 pm. We then convinced them to come inside and tried to settle them down. I don’t know what it is about a camper that causes kids to think they need to open every cabinet, every drawer and unload all of your carefully placed necessities. After turning on all the flashlights and taking the batteries out of the walkie talkies, spilling juice on the bed, and losing the remote for the television, I finally setteled them down with the promise of a camp story. The 13 year old has her IPOD in her ears and once again rolls her eyes and says "Whatever". The story was short and their little eyes got droopy so I put the youngest in the hide-a-bed in the living room with the 13 year old and the 4 year old was carried up to my bed. We all settled down for a nice nights sleep when Papa knocked on the door and told us that there was a small thunderstorm headed our way but it was nothing to worry about. He promised to come and get us if it got too rough. The 13 year old - well you know what she did. We had slept for about 30 minutes when all "you know what" broke loose. This was no small thunderstorm. The thunder and the lightening were fierce! The goose-neck camper rocked and shooked and Papa didn’t come to get us. The noise was deafening in that tin box! I lay in my bed praying that the camper would remain upright and for about 2 hours I endured fear like I hadn’t felt in quite a while. I tried to remain calm because I thought everyone else was asleep. About 2 am. the 13 year old appeared at the side of my bed with big frightened eyes and said "Nana, can I sleep with you?" I hadn’t heard those words in years! After snuggling her in beside me I reassured her that the camper had withstood much stronger winds than we were experiencing and to remember that Papa had promised to come get us if it got bad. About now I was thinking I might strangle Papa if he should show up but he never did. About 3 am the storm passed and the lightening subsided. The thunder became a distant rumble and the 13year old went back to her bed and when I told her goodnight she responded with, "Whatever". Well for a few minutes she was my little sweetie again.

The next morning the little girls were up at the crack of dawn and ready to play and I desperately needed a cup of Java. When we went into the house Papa was sitting in his recliner with a smile on his face and he said "Did we have a little shower last night? I must have slept like a baby!" ARGGG!

Next time there is even a cloud in the sky I will convince the girls to stay in the house. No more campers in the storm!

Just stepping thru this storm ridden life!

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