Faked Disability in the News

    I can’t stop thinking about what I heard last night regarding the people who are faking having a disability.  My first thought was very naïve. Why would they pretend to have a disability?  I and others that I know would give anything to not have a disability or the pain from an illness or injury.  I know it is all about money and not wanting to go to work.  They are at home enjoying life while collecting workman’s compensation. 

  The clip that was on the news was about the lady who could not work due to a shoulder injury.   They showed how she could spin the wheel two times using her bad shoulder on the Price is Right show.  She said that she had great pain after that.  She could be telling the truth.  Those with disabilities do things they probably should not even try.  There are consequences for those who try things, but then there are the accomplishments.  I sure know about consequences and accomplishments.  So far my consequences in dealing with this limited vision have been small: just a burning oven mitt, sliced finger tip, broken drinking glasses to name a few.  I solved the oven mitt by replacing it with a silicone oven, slowed down to peel potatoes, and replaced clear glasses with colorful heavy mugs.  Pat now hides his McQuinn Yankee replacement drinking glass up in his office.  The first one broke while I was just cleaning off the kitchen counter.  

    When I was teaching young adults with disabilities, I would show them videos of people with disabilities overcoming their disability while facing a challenge.  I still remember the video of a young adult with a cognitive challenge applying for a job and then becoming a valued employee.  She was so happy to be working and making money.  Plus she had something to do, and she was making friends.  

     That is another reason why I got so mad about those faking, and not working.  There are so many people that want to work, but cannot find a job.  Some employers just don’t want to hire one with a disability.  They are worried about liabilities, accidents, and accommodations, just to name a few.  It took me a year before I realized that I needed to retire because I could not do a job like I had in the past.  Productivity and quality would not be there. I had too many things to relearn such as spelling, reading, writing, and use a computer.  Every day I worked on getting better and relearning. I took classes from the Commission for the Blind and the Med Center for Visual Impairments. I had to do homework that looked like something that Easton age 5 would work on.  It was tracing pages to relearn to write.  Finding letters and circling when found.  I am still working on things like increasing my short term memory. Just today, I could not remember how to turn on Pat’s laptop.  I tapped on the start icon over and over and it still would not work.  Then Pat had to ask me if I was using the curser?  No I had forgotten that was what you needed.  I use an I Pad most of the time and all I do is tap on the icon. 

     If I went back, I would be a special education teacher with a disability. It would not be fair to my students and the staff.  I did talk with a blind teacher that told me that the district would have to make accommodations.  They could get someone to do the computer work, someone to drive me to job sites, and whatever else I needed.  The district was fine with me retiring, and even encouraged me to do that.  Deep down I would be worrying about the job stress causing another stroke that could do even more damage to my brain, if I went back to my teaching job.  I was also encouraged to apply for social security.  I did but knew I would not be accepted.  I was not disabled.  I guess being legally blind is a disability and was accepted on my first try.  I had worked two jobs most of my life, so I had a good work history that paid into Social Security those many years. 

     I am always thinking about what jobs I could do.  I think I could work in a laundry folding laundry.  We do not live on a bus line, so it would be hard to get to work.  I would have troubles with crossing streets. Pat does not want me to work, because he would then be the one worrying about me. A blind lady told me about trying to cross Q St and a car began honking and then yelling, “What are you blind lady.”  All she could do was shake her white cane at him.  A blind man was killed on Center St. a few years ago, so I do have a little fear of crossing busy streets. 

    Working and earning money for a job well done helps one feel a sense of accomplishment.  When I worked in group homes, the guys would get their very small paychecks, and were so proud of making money. They could not wait to go shopping to spend that paycheck on a new CD or video.  Those disabled fakers lying to their doctors, employers, and the government are missing that sense of accomplishment.  Instead they just relish on the fact that their lies are making them money.  Meanwhile there are those with real disabilities who cannot receive services.  They cannot find a job and have to live with parents or in shelters if they have out lived their welcome at home.  Those are mostly the ones with mental disabilities.  Some end up doing prison time having been used by others to break the law.  Plus we help pay for the lying fakers through our taxes and high cost of goods.  We are sick and tired of supporting you lying fakers!

Victory Over Fear

     What can I do about my fears---those fears that come in many different shapes and forms, creeping into the mind causing a paralysis of body, mind, and soul?  Some of those fears grow from worry and anxiety, yet others originated from various traumatic events that have taken place throughout my lifetime.  At times the force of fear has been so great in my life that it became a totally controlling influence, limiting my productivity.  To combat this controlling fear, I have been learning, throughout the years, how to attack my fears; if I do the thing I fear, the death of fear is certain.  

    From the cradle to the grave, we will face many kinds of fears.  People have differing types of personalities which will cause some to the more susceptible to fear that others.  I admire those who can stand before a crowd of people they do not even know and speak without trembling.  Have they learned to overcome their fear, or were the born with an outgoing, confident personality?  I am a shy person, so I have had to learn how to overcome my fear of strangers, crowds, and rejection.  I have the faith that one of these days; I will be able to speak with confidence and boldness before a group of people.  I base this faith on God’s promise: “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6.  With God’s help I will be able to overcome the butterflies in my stomach, the nervousness in my voice, and the trembling of the hands as I speak before a crowd.

     As I am dealing with this blindness thing, I am slowly building up my self-confidence.  Confidence in oneself can overcome fear with prayer.  I try not to think of losing sight as a disability.  I can compare myself to a turtle and his shell.  When I was inside my shell (house), I was protected and safe from the fear of failure, but I was not going anywhere or attempting new things.  I was selfish in being unwilling to go out.  I would gradually stick my head out of my shell a little at a time, venturing out to try new and old things and facing the things that I feared.  At times I still find myself stuck inside my shell.  Someone usually comes around with a dose of encouragement, building up my self-confidence and allowing me to come out of my shell.  When I stick my neck out of my shell, I feel a sense of accomplishment.  “Hi, world: You are not as bad as I feared.”

    Easton and Katelyn were the first to give me the encouragement that I needed.  When I first lost my sight, I did not want to go out to new places and deal with crowds.  We all went to a dog rescue event in Lincoln. I did not want to go.  I was so safe in my shell. Fear overtook me, with unfounded thoughts like I will get lost, I will bump into people.  I used the white cane back then, but held Katelyn’s hand, so I would not get lost.  I had a good time and could travel using the cane, and I did not get lost.  When we got home, I got encouragement from Katelyn and Easton, “Grandma I am so proud of you”, and “You did a good job.” Later that day Easton said. “Grandma you are not sick anymore.” Yes, I can get out of my shell (house) and try new/old things slowly overcoming new fears that I needed to deal with.

    I now am getting out more without my seeing-eye husband.  I do use prayer for safety as I cross streets, or head into a store.  I have been lost a few times, sometimes I can figure it out or when I can’t; I have learned that it is ok to ask for help when lost.  That builds my self-confidence up.  A couple of weeks ago I walked to Walgreens twice that day, and was really proud that I did it.  Wow the little things in life.  I am less fearful of walking in the dark, but only a little bit.  Still have a long ways to go with that fear. Going to the zoo helped to work on this fear.  Those buildings are really dark and crowded, but I did it.  I did not get lost at the zoo, but Easton did.  We did find him after awhile and prayer.  I love it when Pat is working.  You are thinking, of course he is making money.  That is part of it, but back in the past (26 months ago) I was so fearful of being home alone.  Now I enjoy the independence, and the fact that I have overcome that fear.  Traveling was another stupid fear.  I did not want to go on our first trip.  I did and it was great making memories with the grandkids.  Julie helped in overcoming that fear.  She was a great help helping her dad not get us lost, as we traveled in major cities such as Washington DC.  Katelyn helped by holding my hand as we crossed streets or parking lots as we traveled the streets of Washington DC or found a woman’s restroom.  

     When allowed, worry and anxiety can lead to fear.  Pat tells me all the time to stop worrying.  If one consistently worries about things, worry can become a fearful habit, causing unnecessary health problems.  I do not want to get into a habit of worry.  I want to keep my health that is, what is left of it.  When I find that my thoughts are full of worry and negativity, I try to replace the negative with positive thoughts of faith and God’s Word.  Thinking positive, “Yes, I can,” thoughts can allow me a victory over worry, anxiety, and fear.  More that 75% of all the things we worry about will not even come to pass.  I just made up that percentage. The truth is I was too lazy to look it up.  This is not a school paper and I am not getting a grade.  I did write a college paper on Fear back in the day and maybe even gave a speech on it.  I do not need to waste my time worrying about things that will not happen, crippling my thought pattern.

      What are the roots of fear?  We pick up much of our fear in childhood or past.  In our younger years, we develop normal protective fear, an element of sensible caution, such as with fire.  If allowed, some normal childhood fears can easily become abnormal adult fears.  When I think of some of the fears that I have, I realize their roots were planted years ago in childhood.  You know those fears, doctors with needles, dentists with drills, spiders, snakes, amusement rides, and big black dogs.  

     Traumatic events in one’s life can leave deep scars of fear.  The origin of my fear of huge, dark-colored dogs comes from having been attacked by a huge, black, vicious dog while on the way to grade school.  He did not bite me, but would not get off my back while I walked to school with his paws on my shoulders.  Now that I am older I have to laugh about this.  He might have been ___me?  Or maybe he was trying to get my thin mints that I had hidden in my pocket.  My fear of scary amusement rides like the tea cups at Disney World, stem from my daughters spinning the tea cup so fast that I later vomited my expensive hot dog lunch.  My fear of swimming in water over my head may have come from having nearly drowned as a child.  I don’t really remember that anymore, but I still do not like deep water.  Once I slipped on ice which resulted in a broken leg back in 6^th grade, which left me with a fear and respect for ice. I need to stop now.  I could share about fear/concern/or healthy respect of storms, tornadoes, blizzards, all from events in my past.  Yes, I was caught in the big ones back in the 70’s.  Think it was 74 and 75 but too lazy to look up those facts.  If you are my age and lived in Omaha during those years you probably also have a healthy respect for tornadoes and blizzards.  

    Uncertainty concerning the future is an overwhelming fear for countless people.  This type of fear is a combination of fear of the unknown and fear of what life has to offer.  Children fear divorce as they listen to their parents arguing.   Adults worry about money and the uncertainty of their jobs.  Senior citizens are fearful of being unable to afford the luxury of staying alive.  People fear sickness, disease, and pain.  Some people fear life and seek to end it through suicide; yet others fear death.

     Why is there this universal fear of death? Is it a fear of the unknown?  Multitudes of people, those who believe in life after death, do not know whether they will spend eternity among the indescribable glories of heaven or in the frightful horrors of hell/lake of fire. Yes, these are real places for those who do not believe there is a hell.  I just read someone’s comment on Face book saying that a lady who killed her many babies can’t go to hell because there is no hell.  Someone commented that she will go to hell for what she did.  Yes she is a sinner, but we have all sinned. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 

     The early part of my life I had no assurance of where I was going to spend eternity.  I was a good person, so probably I would be destined to heaven.  Back in 1975 I read what the Bible said about life after death. It was nothing that I could earn by being that good person.  When I was a young adult, I helped an old lady across the snow and ice at church, while thinking to myself that ought to get me some heaven points.  I even walked to church in a blizzard that day, to go to mass, for some more points.  I overcame this fear of uncertainty concerning my future after death.  This came about when I fully believed and accepted the whole plan of God’s creation and redemption for mankind.  His plan was so easy and simple; if we believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again, we would spend eternity in heaven and not hell.  John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”  Ephesians 2:8,9  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”  I was a sinner saved by grace through faith.  My good works points, my infant baptism; my church was not going to save me from the lake of fire/hell.  

     I am gradually learning about what I can do with my fears, those many different fears that are stored deep into my subconscious.  When I allow those fears to surface, they cause a paralysis of my mind, body, and soul.  Fear can become a controlling influence in my life, limiting my productivity.  Replacing doses of fear of failure with a huge dosage of self-confidence and prayer is the greatest medicine that I can ask for.  Realizing my fears and the origin of those fears allows me to attack fear by doing the thing I fear.  This causes the death of fear, a victory for life.

     “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

     “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7

The Enjoyment of Camping

      While writing about my mother for my last blog, I spent some time going through her things.  I found some writings that she had written on paper plates.  Yes, paper plates.  Maybe at the time she only had paper plates to write on.  I also found my first college paper that I wrote back in 1984 for an English class.  Not sure why my mom had saved that paper, but she did.  We moms save the strangest things.  When going through my things two winters ago, I had saved a Slo-Poke sucker with a tooth stuck inside.  Can’t remember whose tooth that was, but both girls claim it was theirs.  I threw it in the trash.  I should have done that thirty years ago, but I do have hoarding in my blood.  Now back to that college paper that my hoarder mom saved.

      It was the summer of 1984, and I was on my way home from Florida.  I remember thinking about my life and where I was heading during that drive.  My youngest Julie was heading to Kindergarten that fall.  What was I going to do with all my free time?  Was I going to continue doing childcare, teaching preschool, or get a job at McDonalds?  I knew I did not want to go back to Northwestern Bell, since it had been seven years.  I was teaching preschool at church and enjoyed that.  The preschool director, Carol Owen said go to college and get a degree in teaching.  I of course, said “no way. “  I never had plans for college. My goal when younger was to be a wife and mother and nothing else.  Going to college stayed in my mind, so I prayed about it.  College would give me something to do, and I might even finish when Angie graduated high school in ten years or so. 

      I did it and started with a Sat. English class back in 1984 at UNO.  I was so fearful of going to college at such an old age of 33.  My first English assignment was to write about something that I enjoyed doing.  I wrote about, “The Enjoyment of Camping.” I got my first college paper back with a 98% and comments from the professor of, “It has been a long time since I have given such a high grade on a first paper.  Congratulations! I liked it, Excellent, Far Out, Perceptive, open, honest, clear, concise and to the point!  I made it a point when grading my students English writing projects to make encouraging comments like my professor did back in 84. 

I am now going to write about camping now days and then compare it to camping in the 80’s.

      In 1984 I began that paper with:  Like many Americans, who reportedly flood our parks every year, I enjoy camping.  Camping: that chance to enjoy the great outdoors, to sleep under the stars.  I first caught the camping fever a few years ago when we purchased our first camper.  The purchase allowed me to discover and experience the many things that camping has to offer.  As a result, I have found that camping can be an inexpensive way to travel, a leisure break from work and everyday pressures, a stimulating outdoor activity, and an entertaining way to encourage family closeness and harmony.

     30 years later, my thoughts are:  I still enjoy camping.  We currently camp in a 2014 Newmar Bay Star Class A motor home, a very big move up vs. the pop up 30 years ago.  People are still flocking to campgrounds on weekends and you have to make a reservation to get a weekend summer camp site.  That is why we like to camp Sun. afternoons until Wed or Thurs.  We recently got back from Florida, having spent three week there enjoying the sunshine, warm weather, flowers, green grass, palm trees, beaches, and meeting new people.

     1984: I have this desire to travel and see America.  During my travels, I have found that camping can be an inexpensive way to travel.  On our last vacation, which was a trip to Florida, we saved ourselves hundreds of dollars traveling by car and sleeping at night in our camper.  In fact, my family of four could not have afforded a vacation to Florida without our camper since the prices of airfares, motel, and restaurants were so outrageously priced.  I think of myself as being an economically minded person:  in fact, some people call me thrifty, others, like my daughter, feel I am cheap.  Whatever the case may be, I do like to save money.  So, when given the choice of staying in a sixty-dollar-a-night motel versus a ten-dollar-a-night campground, I would choose the campground without further thought.

       Today: I still have a desire to travel and see the USA.  I was not able to travel as a kid, but we did go to Louisville swimming in the summer.  We also took trips to a small town far from South Omaha called Millard.  My dad had a friend who lived in Millard, so we would all pile in the car with a lunch packed and travel. I am sure we made comments like, “Are we there yet?”  Or “she/he is in my personal space.” No we were not that nice; we probably just punched or got hit.  I was laughing as I was copying the above paragraph.  Nothing has changed about me in 30 years.  I still like to save money.  Not sure if one could find a $60 a night motel or a $10 a night campground.  Our Florida campsite at Lazy Days was $52.63 a night.  We got a free breakfast and lunch on M-Sat.  I love that place and can’t wait to go back.  We did find some free campsites along the way.  One was a gas station outside of St. Louis where we stopped for gas.  We were tired, it was dark and cold. It got down to 19 degrees that night.  I asked the guy if we could camp at their gas station, and he said yes.  We also stopped and camped twice at my favorite free spot-Wal-Mart.  One of those nights we splurged, and I let Pat go into Wal-Mart and buy chicken for dinner.  One day at Lazy Days I also let him buy a $15 sandwich at their café.  That was it with the eating out.  I like to make our own healthy meals when on the road.  I had the freezer stuffed with premade meals or items to grill or bake.                                                                                                                                                                                                    I don’t even want to think about what gas cost us for this last trip.  Back in 84 it was 1.24 and now ??.  I quit filling up my car with gas many years ago when the prices went up to $2.00, because I was on strike until they go back down.  Having a great husband comes in handy. He would pick up my car at work and take it to get washed and filled up when needed. I do not know what the gas price is today, nor do I care to know.  That would take the fun out of traveling for me if I knew.  I also do not know what we paid for the RV or what our monthly payment is.  I told the sales person that I did not want to know the price and just show me where to sign.  The day we got the RV, I loaded up with Peace and Calming oil and prayer for strength to follow my husband. This was why I was able to sign on the dotted line.  Pat has been talking/hinting around about getting a new pickup truck, but I am sure that would cause me to have a stroke.  He can get a new one when he gets the RV paid off in 30 years??  I am sure I have heard the grandkids at times call me cheap.  I did buy their souvenirs at a thrift store before our trip, and then gave them the lighthouse snow globe that plays music when we returned from Florida.  I did see a lighthouse at St. Augustine, and it looked just like the one I bought at the thrift store. Weston my three year old grandson knows grandma does not like to spend money. Last weekend, I told him he could have candy if he pooped on the toilet.  He asked if it was Angie’s candy, since he knew grandma does not buy candy.  It was grandpa’s candy.  Pat had bought it when I was not with him grocery shopping.

     1984:  Camping can be a leisurely break form (from, needed to proofread better back then and still need to now) work and everyday pressures.  Such a break could be anything from a two-day weekend to a five-week vacation with pay.  The warm spring days are a sign: the camping season has finally arrived.  The long wait for warmer weather has been spent planning and looking forward to summer vacation and weekend outings to nearby campgrounds.  The camping fever has overcome my thoughts with anticipation of things ahead.  The day is here, the sun is shining, and the weather is just right.  What a great feeling it is to lock up the house, hop into the station wagon loaded with the children, dog, and camping equipment, and head for the campground.  The everyday pressures and demands for my time have been left at home: no telephone to interrupt my quiet thoughts or the novel I have been trying to find the time to read for the past year.

     2014, March 29.  Not much has changed, I still have that same feeling.  I can’t wait for the weather to get nice and we can go camping.  My summer months  this year is filled with camping outings with the Good Sam Pathfinders club, Samborees for NE, IA, KS and other states maybe.  Julie has our family trip planned for July to CO.  We are even campground hosts at Walnut Creek in Sept. Now we pile in the RV with 3 dogs, 4 grandkids, and my daughter Julie, plus all the other things we need for our trips.  Most of the time it is just Pat and I and two dogs camping.  No longer can we leave a phone at home, we got rid of our phone last month, and Pat always has his cell phone.  He has to be able to check Facebook and post pictures, play his many Words with Friends games that he has going, and watch his ball games on his phone.  I listen to novels that I downloaded on my I Pad or player for the blind.  Camping is no longer a break from work.  When you are retired it is something to do!

     1984:  I can not wait.  The great outdoors, that a place to unwind, allowing my senses to come fully aware and alive.  In the fresh, crisp air, there is the aroma of coffee and breakfast bacon cooking over an open fire.  I listen to the songs of nearby birds as I am sipping my morning coffee.  I allow my senses of sight to come alive, observing the prismatic colors in the dew drops upon the blades of grass, the rough textured bark of the nearby trees, and the transparent blue of the morning sky.  The clouds, in God’s spacious sky gently drift overhead, taking on the forms of imaginary creatures.  This restful time is my chance to praise God for His numerous creations.

      Today:  We only eat bacon if it is nitrate free. I precook it at home and then take a slice or two out to microwave for breakfast.  Coffee is from a K cup machine but mine is tea.  No open fires for us.  We did get a propane campfire with the mock logs to warm up with at night or roast marshmallows for the grandkids.  It is still nice just sitting around and doing nothing, praying, or listening to my Go Bible.

     1984:  In addition, I look at camping as being a stimulating outdoor activity, my chance to tighten up flabby muscles and obtain a healthful glow.  This goal can be achieved by various outdoor activities, such as a hike up a mountain trail with my backpack loaded with gear or a five-mile nature walk through the woods, with camera in hand, ready to film some unsuspecting doe and her fawn.  Since I need a few rest breaks along the way, I choose my favorite stop, one beside a quiet stream.  Patches of sunlight find their way through the trees, causing my reflection to move across the surface of the water.  I take note of the hidden life that surrounds me as I hear a rustling in the bushes and splashing in the stream.  

     Today:  My stimulating outdoor activity now is walking the dogs around the campground.  Pat would never take me up a mountain trail or go on a 5 mile nature walk. He will walk a little with me around the campground with the dogs.  We are not looking for nature, but we are just looking at all the different RV’s that people camp in.  We might stop to visit with those who are walking their dogs.  In Florida, I stopped and asked a man what kind of dog he had?  It was a mix of two breeds that cost him over $10,000.  This is not a typo.  He uses the dog in his job of hunting down bed bugs.  I do enjoy walking with the ladies in our camping club.  This last summer we walked so far and long that we had to call for a ride back to the campsite.  We were just a little lost, hot, thirsty, and tired of carrying the dogs we had on the walk.  I get my healthful glow by sitting in my lawn chair while listening to a book.  I worked on my flabby muscles this past month in the RV by doing an ab workout that increased each day.  That was a very hard workout but worth it, because now I have a 2 pack.

     1984:  Back at the campsite, a game of yard darts or horseshoes can be played, being careful not to be too far off target.  Just before dusk, I enjoy a bike ride around the lake.  It is a great way to burn up the dinner calories after eating too much barbecued steak, fried potatoes, and corn-on-the-cob.

     Today:  No outdoor games for me, maybe an inside game in an air conditioned RV of a camping club friend.  They like playing a game called marbles, that is not played with marbles but cards and a peg board.  I tried to learn the game last camping season, and may try again this season.  I still love bike riding, but have to be extra careful when riding.  Pat, I, and the grandkids love steak, fried potatoes, and Jocelyn’s favorite corn on the cob.  I have to add pickles and popsicles to that meal.

     1984:  Most important of all, camping can be an entertaining way to encourage family closeness and harmony. Family members can talk and listen to one another because the television has been left at home.  Together as a family, we can go to the nearby beach, to swim, and build castles in the sand.  We will try our hand at fishing, cheering on the one who catches the first fish.  Most of the fish caught will be thrown back into the lake because of their small size.  We will play games such as our favorites, UNO and Sorry.

     Today:  Our television is not left behind!  We have two tv’s in the RV and Pat wants to take an extra one to watch outside.  He recently got DIRECTV for the RV.  We can’t watch DIRECTV when camping under the trees.  I love camping with the grandchildren and family.  They love it also. We took Jocelyn to Grand Canyon and South Dakota when she was 4.  Fall 2012 we all went to Washington, DC to visit Angie, then traveled south to visit friends and family on the McGee side.  This past fall we all went to see Niagara Falls where we met and camped with Angie. We also visited the Owens in NH.  On our family trips we have to take our two dogs and our grand dog Maggie.  Tiger the grand cat gets left behind at his house. Julie has a summer trip planned for CO, this time my son in law Sean will be going.  He will be following along in their van, while I and the grandkids will be in the RV playing games, working on legos or puzzles, drawing, watching movies, or whatever things they think up as we travel down the road.  Last time we camped with Sean in MO, Katelyn was very little and cried all night.  I also enjoy traveling with Pat, Riley and Missy.  The grandkids each have a fishing pole stored in the RV, and love to go fishing with grandpa.  We tend to play most of our games on our I Pads, my favorite is Scrabble.  The grandkids each have an I Pad that is loaded with games and movies.  We still enjoy a board game at the table.

     1984: At nightfall, there is a special feeling that overcomes me as I watch my family gathered around the campfire.  My husband tells me he loves me, as he throws a new log on the fire.  My children have long sticks in hand with white or black marshmallows at the end.  A few marshmallows will fall into the crackling fire, causing amber sparks to dance into the dark night.  I am stretched out in my lawn chair with a Pepsi on one side and chips and dip on the other.  I treasure this moment knowing that soon we will have to return home to the telephone, television, work and everyday pressures.

     Today:  We still enjoy the fire and roasting marshmallows.  You will not find me drinking Pepsi. I quit drinking pop years ago.  I still might have a small handful of salt free chips. That is a portion size.  Yes I read the package and count out the number on the bag.  I would be too tempted to eat too many if I had the whole bag in hand.   My dip is for dipping healthy vegetables.  Pat still thinks dip is for chips, and I remind him that we have vegetables for that dip.  We can stay longer at the campsites since I don’t have to go to a job.  I am retired.  I hated saying that word a year or two ago.  Now I can say it.  In fact I just attended my first Millard Public Schools yearly retirement luncheon.  It was great seeing old friends and coworkers.  It was a very nice free lunch.  Pat still tells me he loves me, he seems to enjoy getting away to camp also.

     1984:  Why are new campgrounds being built and old ones full to capacity?  It is because so many people like myself are finding out what camping has to offer.  It is a way to see America and save money at the same time.  Camping offers a way to leave the city behind for a chance to relax and enjoy God’s creation, the opportunity to partake in many different outdoor activities.  Also, through camping, families can enjoy the special closeness of family unity, a harmony and oneness that gets shoved aside while at home, lost in our busy world.  These are the reasons why I enjoy camping so much.

     Today:  I can’t wait for camping season to start.  Our first campout is planned at the end of the month with the Pathfinders camping club.  

     Florida trip in June 1984:  It was our first trip to FL and Disney World.  We camped at Fort Wilderness Resort on the Disney property for 8 nights at the cost of $27.00 a night. We had a popup camper back then, and used a port a potty for the nighttime bathroom trips.  We had an ice box.  It kept things cold with ice. We kept cool with a fan and slept with the screens unzipped to allow air to pass through. Fort Wilderness was the best place we had ever camped.  We had electrical power and transportation to the Disney properties.  We could go back to the campsite and grab a bite to eat. We visited the Magic Kingdom and Epcot for 4 days at the cost of zero.  We just had to stop at guest relations and pick up our four 4 day passes.  A friend from church knew someone that worked there who got us free tickets.  The girls swam at Fort Wilderness and we made our first trip to the Atlantic Ocean. I made the girls wear life jackets and they played near the water and collected sea shells and built sand castles.  I told the girls to make sure they do not swallow the water.  Next thing we knew Julie was vomiting up salt water. We met a couple from Louisiana who had a boy and girl who were our girl’s ages. We all hung out at the campground as the kids played together. They left at the same time we did, so we followed them back to LA.  We camped and ate out together.  We even traded kids.  We traveled with one of theirs and they had one of ours.  It was a peaceful trip to LA.  No sisters fighting in the back of the station wagon or a husband threatening to pull over to give a spanking. 

     Florida trip March 2014:  Just Pat, I, and the dogs.  Jocelyn and Katelyn begged to go with us.  They would have wanted to visit Disney World and the prices now days are around $100 for one day, per person.  To camp at Fort Wilderness is over $100 a night.  I wanted to just relax, so I told them that they could not miss school.  Jocelyn replied with, “Grandma you can do school with us.”  I promised to bring home a snow globe for their collection. I love Florida in the winter.  It was so nice to enjoy the warm weather and sit in the sunshine. I got to see green grass, outdoor flowers, and palm trees.  Pat got to see the Yankees play four times.  The Lazy Days resort was beautifully landscaped.  They are a site that is just as big as the Magic Kingdom.  They had a shuttle that took you around their resort.  One day I went walking by myself to explore and enjoy the greenery.  I walked and walked and then got lost, so I flagged down a shuttle that took me back to the RV.  I even swam in their outdoor pool.  We took day trips to the beach and collected sea shells to add to the seashell collection that was started back in 1984.  The only ride I went on was a ferry ride from Honeymoon Island state park to another island to see nature and the dolphins.  I did not miss Disney World, I am sure we will be back with the grandkids someday since the boys have never been.  Hopefully with Julie, so she can pay for her kids.  It’s that cheap thing that sneaks in.  Maybe in the future when Pat retires, I still make him work his part time job, we will live in FL during the winter months.  But then maybe not, I really like it when he goes to work.  After spending 3 weeks in FL I got homesick, and wanted to go home.  I missed my family, grandkids, and friends.  I really missed my routine that I was used to.  It is great to be back and into my routine.  I just looked out the window and I think I saw some green grass trying to come up.  I also have blooming flowers in my living room to enjoy thanks to Bag ‘n Save.

                                     

Grandkids with popsicles on our last fall trip.  Rene, Julie, Angie, Weston, Jocelyn, Easton, and Katelyn at Niagara Falls.

Camping in NH with the Dave and Carole Owen and their family.  Campsite is their driveway.