The Day We Ran Away

Okay, okay. Time to lighten up and remember things that are good...happy memories always help me get past rough spots.

I had to post this photo of me my sister (l) and me (r). This was taken about six or seven years ago during one of our family's annual fall fishing trips...it just also happened that we were both having personal battles. Little did we know that it would be one of the last times we would all be together at Merrisach Park as a family.

We 'ran away' that day...after we both got off work, we literally flew from our hometown and cut a two hour trip almost in half...one hour and 15 minutes, to be exact. Our intention was to visit for the evening, then drive back home. But, when we got there and smelled the fresh air, the evening lingered...and the whites were biting, and we just could not tear ourselves away from our family, our fun, our escape.

We returned to camp with an ice chest literally crammed full of some the biggest whites I've ever caught. When we drove up, I could smell the coffee Momma had brewing, and the campfire was lit. Our grandparents, our parents and friends were all there...why would we leave????

So we didn't. We risked causing ourselves heartache, but we decided to stay where we were welcomed, appreciated, wanted and loved. We knew there would be hell to pay when we got home, but we didn't care. Reluctantly, we made the necessary calls, telling the ones at home that we wouldn't be home late, we would be home tomorrow. Instead of receiving words of encouragement, we got just what we expected...a ration of shit. After that, we defiantly discussed the possibilities of staying two nights instead of one.

Our impromptu visit turned into an all-nighter. We cleaned fish until very late, packed and iced them. Meanwhile, Momma and Papaw Walcie got the grease hot and fried fish and taters. We had a fabulous dinner that would rival any gourmet eaterie, plus we watched as the huge fiery-red sun sank into the west over Lake Merrisach.

Afterward, the chairs were gathered round the fire, and fresh coffee poured into every cup. Stories were told, and there was laughter all around. The night sounds mingled with the earth-shaking rumble of barges passing in the canal. The wind swept throught the campground, carrying with it the smell of nature, of water pure and sweet. Occasionally, a great horned owl would send his message into the night, causing my grandfather's eyes to brighten in recognition. A lone coyote called to it's pups across the lake, and they reciprocated with their yip-hips of reply. Long into the night, we sat...not wanting to let go of the magic. Finally, yawning and weary, we retired to our camps for some of the best sleep we would ever enjoy.

You just cannot put a price on that. And if we had relented, and gone home to our loveless dwellings, we would have missed it all.

If you have real love in any form in your life, hold on to it...And nurture it. Don't miss out on those invaluable opportunities to tell the ones that matter most to you how much they enrich your life. Because tomorrow, you may not get another chance.

Time is so limited, but the possibilities to live for the moment are limitless.

Peace.