Return from Paradise

I'm laughing to myself because I'm not sure this post is very aptly named.

I would imagine that when most people think of paradise they conjure up images of blue waters, white sands, palm trees, tropical breezes, and picturesque sunsets -- I suppose if you asked me to draw a picture of paradise it would look something like that too. But I just came back from six days of camping, high up on a mountain, where the air was fresh, the nights (and days) were cool, and there was absolutely no cell phone signal, no Internet access, and no electricity.  Paradise is the the only word that comes to mind to describe it.

There is something so pure and cleansing about camping.  When you're unplugged from the world and there is no accounting for time -- all there is to do is just breathe...and eat, and sleep, and read, and play games, and fish, and hike, and canoe.  When there is nothing to distract you from enjoying time with the ones you love, how could that be anything other than paradise?


So what if we slept on the hard ground and lived without the modern conveniences to which we've all become so accustomed?  So what if we were visited (twice) by a skunk? And a raccoon invaded our campsite while we slept?  So what if it rained buckets on the night before we left?  Those are just incidentals that added to the memory.

The heart of our trip was the pride on my son's face after he caught his first bass in the lake.  And the awesome moment shared with my daughter, when we stood looking up at the clear August night sky and both saw the same shooting star.  And the realization that the little boy who used to cling to my leg as a child, has grown into a funny, intelligent, brave -- and independent young man. And the truly restful nights of sleep laying next to the man I know will always protect me...my very best friend, and the love of my life.

No other words needed.  Paradise.