The Ups and Downs of Camping

Marty loading up the van for the camping trip.

When I informed Mrs. Z. that our family would be away for about a week on a camping holiday in the Ottawa area—convenient for visiting our son and his wife—she questioned, “That’s to save money?”

“No, we like camping,” I sounded somewhat defensive even to myself. This must have had something to do with the weather forecast: rainy and cold.

“Of course,” she said in that ‘I know better’ voice she sometimes uses.

I spent Wednesday afternoon and evening shopping and packing, adjusting my list according to the forecast:

umbrella - yes

playing cards - yes

board games - yes

bathing suit - no

sweatshirts - yes

socks - yes

...everything for a wonderful wet time.

( continued)