Soul Kitchen

I went camping with my family and family friends last week. I haven't been camping in the better part of a decade and I forgot how... dirty it is. I used to like it. We used to go camping all the time, but this time wasn't like I remembered it. Maybe I was only remembering the good parts. Not the dirt, not the cold, not the... dirt. I don't like feeling dirty and, as my wise older sister said, "The next time I lie that close to the cold, hard dirt, I better be dead." I agree.

Please, don't get me wrong, I had a good time and I'm glad I went, just, next time, I'm going to get a beach house.

We went down the Oregon Coast to a little town called Cannon Beach and camped (in tents) at a campsite within walking distance of the town and the beach. What a beach it was too! My goodness! The sand was fabulous and stretched forever. The water was a touch cool so I never actually went swimming, but it was good for standing in and letting the waves crash over my feet (and up my legs and onto my rolled up jeans).

During the day we'd make forays into town. We went to Tillamook and went to the cheese factory and one day we went into Sea Side to go shopping (we may be camping, but that doesn't mean we had to rough it to much). Then, on the warmer days, we lay on the beach.

We had campfires every night and would sit around chatting while eating dinner. Then, shortly after dinner would come dessert. It's a novel thing, going on vacation, with my family. Usually, we eat very strictly. Almost everyone in my family has a "list" that our Naturopath doctor gave us that dictates what we should and should not eat and, for the most part, we stick to it pretty closely. It generally means, however, that we can't eat half the stuff that we love and would eat daily if we could. On vacation, though, we get to eat what we like, and trust me, we do :) (I will concede to admit that I spent the week not feeling so hot)

Although the trip ended with a very long car ride home in the back of Camry stuffed to the brim with camping gear and people, I had fun and enjoyed myself. But now, it's back to the real world and if I don't get up and get going, I'm going to be late for work.