it was a really long day, though, and although it doesn't seem like it would be, it is tiring sitting for 8+ hours and always having to be "on!" we had to be filmed for audience reactions, golf claps, light chuckles and full-on laughter. it's so funny to see the way things look so cheap behind the scenes and the magic of hollywood transforms it to its final products...here is a picture from my phone of the set (which, i might add, is very small compared to what it looks like on tv!)for those of you that have been reading my other posts, you may know that one of my quests, i guess you could call it, is to really try and DO as much as possible, instead of being stagnant and bored and just sit around when i have free time. our friends have been talking a lot about going camping, since i think most of my church friends go a lot when it gets warm, especially. there is beach camping just a few miles away, or mountain camping about an hour and a half east, so it's easily accessible. lane and our friend, nate and i all realized we had the same two days off of work this week. so, we decided to take advantage of the coincidence and went on a spontaneous camping trip! we planned one evening and packed up our stuff, heading out the next day to the san bernadino mountains to just stay one night and the next day out in the wilderness!
we had such a great time! the trip there was a little rocky, as we hit a bunch of rush-hour traffic and then ended up at the correct address, which turned out to not be the right place. i had a texas chainsaw massacre moment, when lane and nate went to ask someone for directions, but it turned out ok. after driving 20 mins back, we found the correct entrance to the national forest, and set up camp! we put up a tent and started a bonfire, and ate lots of delicious campfire food! YUM! everything always tastes better over a fire--hot dogs, biscuits (which our family calls twists over a fire), cinnamon apples, etc. so good! that night was freezing, and it was a rough night sleep, but the next day was in the 80s and sunny, which was great!!
that next morning, we were all up reading/relaxing in the sun, and i had brought my journal. i've always wanted to write poetry, however, anytime i try, it just never seems to come out right. but, that day, i think i just felt really inspired by the solitude of nature, and this poetry just started forming in my mind, so i put it down on paper right away. i ended up writing a poem, which i'll post below. i'm very proud of it, especially because it reminds me so much of my grandfather, and the poetry that he wrote before he passed away this august. he was very outdoorsy, and part of me feels like it all came to me because i was in his favorite surroundings, out in nature. so, the poem is dedicated to my doodah.
before that, though, i have some pictures from the camping trip:
1) a small view of some of our array of yummy campfire food! and, eisley trying to eat it!!
2) lane and me by our tent! looking lovely in our rugged two-day old clothes! i loved roughing it...
3) a funny moment with eisley, the cutest ugly dog ever!
4) a view of some of the mountains as we drove near the campgrounds.
on this same note, i'm totally psyched because i went to a thrift store 50% off sale last night, and randomly stumbled upon a really good quality hiking/backpacking backpack! they normally retail new for about $250, and i got mine for $2.50!!! craziness! but i'm so excited that i now wish i had money to actually take it on a backpacking trip! haha. no, but i'm sure it'll get used a lot for camping and such.
ok, without further ado, i'll leave you with one of my first attempts at poetry. enjoy...
"camping"
Back strained from rocky ground,
Yet I am grateful for no sound
Of busy streets as cars pass by
And walls of concrete raised on high.
For in this place, the mountain tales
Of snowy peaks and wooded trails
Hold secrets kept from simpler days
Where only nature stole our gaze.
It's sad to know it must be planned,
To stop and visit lonely land,
Where escaping the bright city lights
Is worth the glittering stars at night.
I close my eyes and breathe so deep,
Recalling dreams from restless sleep;
Of walks to pick up arrowheads
And Indian stories Doodah read.
That takes me back to younger years
When life had not much need for tears.
But, then I smile and think of Dad,
The rainy campout our family had.
I learned to double-check the list,
Tent, flashlight, and even doughy twist.
My memories of soup from cans,
Served by my father's gentle hands.
My mind has drifted off today,
To thoughts of life in easier ways.
I hate to think tonight we'll leave,
This quiet space I'll surely grieve.
So, as I sit and pen these words,
There's still no noise to be overheard.
I welcome breezes of freshest air,
In its final whips through my dark hair.
Beautiful lines, Lauren! :) I'm not much of an outdoorsy person and even I felt a longing to be there. ;)
Love ya!
Great post Lauren! I love seeing your pics and hearing your words! I miss you a bunch, and I hope that everything is going well.
ps- Sorry I missed your call the other day! :( Maybe we can catch up sometime this week?? Gimmie a call when you're free!