Tenting
I feel like getting a tent. I
found myself surfing online one day and checking out tents on websites. I’ve always liked tents. An instant home in the wilderness has a
coziness that’s quite unique.
I remember sleeping in our big family tent when I was young. Of being snuggled in my sleeping back, curled
and mesmerized looking at the canvas of the tent wall in the early morning
forest. Listening to the birds in the
nearby trees as they say hello to the morning.
And watching the shadows of mosquitos as they perch on the outside of
the fabric. After a few minutes of
examination, I hold out my hand… middle finger cocked in a circle behind my
thumb… take aim… and fire!
The mosquito instantly disappears.
I imagine great power of destruction at the tip of my finger. In reality, it buzzes off from the side of
our tent and ventures over to the picnic table… looking for breakfast.
I remember having the family tent set up for an entire summer in our
backyard. That summer, my bedroom
basically became storage. The tent was
my sleeping quarters.
Every week or so, friends would join me for the tent sleepover. Flashlights making teenage conversations
appear more like secret plans being made behind enemy lines during the first
World War. The flashlit shadows in the
corners of the tent as we sit, encircling the centre, planning our midnight
route of the neighbourhood or discussing the level of hotness of Whitney
Houston.
On nights when I was alone, Schokee would join me in the tent. Our puppy West Highland White Terrier Would
hop into the tent behind me… tail wagging with a puppy smile upon her
face. High stepping over my sleeping bag
as she looks for the most comfy spot to curl up.
I still remember the time I was laying out the air mattress and
sleeping bag. And with a great flick of
my arms, trying to flap the air mattress across the floor, my elbow struck
Schokee’s nose. She let out a puppy
yelp… I turn quickly to beg her forgiveness… and she looks at me sadly… purses
her mouth in a big “O” shape… and lets out a mournful howl.
The next five minutes were spent rubbing her down. Rubbing her snout… moving on to ears…
progressing down her back… all while telling her how sorry I am. And, always being quick to forgive, Schokee
rolls to her side… lifts a leg… and, in her not so subtle way, tells me to rub
her belly.
Tenting years later with friends.
Four couples driving out to Terra Nova Park… sharing a line of camp
sites for the weekend. And soon after
the tents are up and the first bag of potato chips is opened while the first
two litre bottle of pop is cracked… the rains begin. For the next three days, the rain stopped for
little more than three hours.
Tarps and tents kept us from drowning that weekend. We went to an outdoor concert in shifts. Half of us going to the early show… the other
half heading to the late show. The split
being decided up out of necessity. We
all brought rain coats, but there was only enough serious rain gear to cover
half of our group. So four of us suited
up as astronauts or deep sea divers… covering ourselves from head to toe in
rubber before trudging along the woods path to the outdoor stage.
We sat on benches as giant water balloons. Red, yellow and green… peaking out from under
hoods as the singers kept close to the stage overhang while gusts of wind shoot
some rain into the sound system… causing pops of static to play with the band.
Upon our return, we strip off our suits… change into drying clothes…
and watch the second round of friends put on the layers we lost and disappear
into the woods on their way to soaked songs.
I’ve many memories of tents.
And sitting in front of my computer these twenty years since my last
excursion, I examine the changes that have occurred in tent technology. Tents that come in rooms. No longer is the great, single space the only
option. Now dividers with shelves and
porches are available.
Tents were put up back then with hammers and knots of rope. Poles being connected piece by piece. But today’s tents advertise instant
access. Popping up, seemingly the second
the tent touches the air. I picture it
as an airbag in a car. That you can toss
the flattened fabric to the ground and, the second it touches earth… it
explodes into an instant home.
Tents seem so astonishingly advanced compared to days gone by that I
feel I must get one. What I read makes
me feel as though such devices should cost thousands of dollars to own. When I see $300 or $400 as the cost I feel
like I must jump on such a deal.
But then I think of using a tent.
Would I go camping by myself? Would I venture to an Ontario or Quebec
campsite for the weekend friendless? I know there’s nothing stopping me from
doing so. It may actually be a very
relaxing time. But I’m not sure if I’d
take it upon myself to do. Going to
movies alone is one thing. A weekend
camping trip alone is a whole other ballgame.
And I’m too old to settle for backyard camping. My neighbours would think me insane to spend
my nights under backyard canvas.
So here I stay tentless. It
isn’t a decided matter. It remains in my
ponderings. I often ponder such things
for quite some time before taking action.
I pondered a new HD TV for two years before finally taking that
plunge. I pondered my hammock for near a
year.
So the tent is being pondered. Pondered while I remember past campings with friends in the rain. While I remember teenage conversations within the backyard. While I remember my best friend howling in pain for a knock upon the nose. And pondering as I remember being curled up in my sleeping bag… staring at the shadow of outdoor mosquitos… that vanish with the flick of my finger.
MONDAY...
--- Alone at work. Quiet for the morning. Got busy in the afternoon.
Would have been nice to even it out. Oh well.
--- Ball in the evening. Winning by a run. We are 8-1-1 this season.
Bit of fun.
TUESDAY...
--- Alone again. And much like yesterday. Bah.
WEDNESDAY...
--- Nights. Fairly easy going and good good Thai food for supper.
THURSDAY...
--- Took night two off. Do a two hour walk with the camera. Good
stuff. Lots to see and take pics of. A much nicer way to spend the day than an
afternoon nap and nightshift.
FRIDAY...
--- Morning walk then an afternoon movie alone. Pacific Rim, in 3D,
is a bit of fun on big screen to be sure.
--- Some baseball on TV. Some hammock time as well. It's a fine
summer day.
SATURDAY…
--- Some baseball on TV in the afternoon and off to Carlton Place
right after that. Supper with Paula and
Eddie, Sandra and Dwayne… and the kids.
Nice family time.
SUNDAY…
--- Quiet day at home. Rain
comes and goes so I don’t feel too guilty staying in. Some TV… bit of a nap… not much else.
