Welcome to the Friday mailbag, where you will find comments, questions and ideas sent recently by subscribers of this newsletter.
“Your story of the storm while camping reminded me of the storm my family endured while camping (Camping, April 19, 2022). We were in the mountains of Washington state, and the wind was howling around us. The rain was slamming into the tent, and a river was starting to form under and over our tarp and tent. I woke up when there was a large crash of thunder and saw Dad standing in the middle of the tent. He was holding the middle support. I’m not sure if he was holding it up or keeping it down, but Mom told me to go back to sleep. So I did. I knew Daddy had it under control. I learned later Daddy was praying very hard that night that we wouldn’t blow off the side of that mountain. He had it all under control.” - Donna
Yikes. Your father was also likely praying for no lightning while grasping that metal rod. - Shane
“Shane, I read with interest your experiences with camping and was impressed with your perseverance (Camping, April 19, 2022). On Sundays, Mom and Dad would load up the station wagon and head to Iowa Lake or Tuttle Lake near the Iowa-Minnesota border to do some fishing. One trip, they decided to spend the night in the station wagon at the edge of the lake. They put the back seat down, and Mom and Dad slept on an air mattress in the back with my little sister crossways at their feet. I had the front seat all to myself. The next morning, Mom perched just outside the car between the front and rear passenger doors making bacon and eggs on a small camping stove. It was raining, so one of us held an umbrella over her so neither she nor the bacon and eggs would get too wet.” - Bob
Keep the bacon dry. That’s what I always say. – Shane
“Shane, your story (Camping, April 19, 2022) gave me many smiles as I read of your family’s adventures. We, too, did the tent camping thing with our kids, and we even had Brad’s parent’s 1973 Apache hard-side fold down for a few years. I remember one outing where my youngest son and I went out to Cherry Glen earlier in the day and set up the family tent. The weather was beautiful, so we didn’t bother to put on the rain fly. Middle of the night, we woke up to raindrops falling on our faces and then a total soaking. Needless to say, I NEVER forgot the rain fly again. Today, Brad and I camp in a 23 foot travel trailer ‘practicing’ for retirement in a few years and will graduate to a 5th wheel at that time. Camping is a great way to get away and enjoy the beautiful country we have.” - Lu Anne
Lu Anne, I look forward to your camping graduation party! – Shane
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com, 515-953-4822, ext. 305 |
