by Kim Leady
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!" What interesting words. I'm sure most of you have either said them or heard them during your trip through life. But what does this little phrase really mean in our daily lives? How about - no way, that's too cool, or maybe; I don't think so, not while I'm still alive; but for me, these few words mean, I've lost my mind, but maybe someday someone will point me in the right direction to find it.
Let me explain. There I was sitting on my couch, enjoying the spring air drifting through my windows and the warm sun on my face watching a couple on TV, all smiles, canoeing in waters that were beautiful and serene when this idea hit me. And I can't even blame the three males which I live with for this one. No, this little doozy is all mine.
I needed to drive my family one thousand one hundred and thirteen miles north into what some people call God's country or what other people just call the Minnesota and Canadian border. I've always had this dreamy, romantic idea of canoeing the waters in Voyageurs National Park. And now that our oldest had his driver's license and our youngest would soon be getting his learner's permit, I was sure that they were ready to forge into the wilderness with their father and myself to enjoy the great outdoors that was still like it was several hundred years ago, when the trappers paddled those waters.
It's not as if we've never been canoeing with the boys. We've canoed several rivers many times with them. They have even taken six and seven-year-old children down a river before during their summer camp adventures as Counselors-In-Training. And as for the camping, our children were in a tent by the time they were eight months old. However, now we camp in a trailer that has a built-in bathroom and kitchen and the camping we did do in our tent was car camping, which means we could see the car from our campsite.
Nevertheless, none of this entered my mind when that evening at the dinner table I so nonchalantly suggested we visit this beautiful park and try our hand at canoeing the backcountry. And when I uttered these words, 'How would you guys like to go into the wilderness and canoe', that's when I watched my control of the sisituation slip through my fingers as the spaghetti fell from my fork.
I should have known better. It's not as if I had just been dumped at the table of males and didn't know the score. After all, I had lived with my sons all their lives and my husband for seventeen years…I knew the score. You see, I have witnessed for several years now them getting ready for their hunting trips. Which, if you have never had the opportunity to watch a male get ready to go bag a deer or another animal, or catch the perfect fish, I highly suggest you find a friend or family member who has a male outdoorsmen living with them and ask them if you could stay with them. Preferably a couple of days before the big event, as to allow you to fully enjoy the activities that take place in their homes. Now, I'm not into male bashing, even though some males do make an easy target…however, have you ever wondered why it takes so long for the military to get ready to invade a place or to defend something? Well, this question and many more I'm sure will be answered for you, if you ever get a chance to watch a man get ready to go out into the great outdoors.
When I uttered the word outdoors the males' eyes around the table glazed over as thoughts began to flicker in their minds at what wonderful challenges they would conquer. I'm sure whether you’re a man or a woman, you're aware by now that the opposite sex thinks differently from the other. I feel very comfortable in making this statement because, one, I live with three males; and two, there are many studies to back up my statement.
Seconds later, excitement filled the air as the males in my home spoke of gear, maps, GPS, compass, sea rations, MRE's (meals ready to eat - military use them), and all the new techno gear that was on the market. As I sat there observing my family, I wondered how they were ever going to survive the four month wait until it was time to make our trek into the wilds. Of course, don't forget what I just spoke of in the last paragraph…they were going to need the four months to get ready for such an adventure.
THE 2ND PART COMING SOON...
Hope you enjoyed the first.
Kim
