Camping Out

When we were little, Mom and Dad used to take us camping. Usually we'd go to Lake Berryessa in California. Back then, we didn't have a lot of money, no tent, no sleeping bags, etc. So, they'd throw out a quilt, we'd all four lie down in a row with Mike and me in the middle, cover up and sleep out under the stars!! I remember that Daddy was a little leery of snakes, but we had a really good time.

One year on July 4th, when we were about 10 & 13, they took us camping to Lake Berryessa and I got to bring along my friend, Christine Collins - who was a hoot!! Well, of course since it was July 4th, Dad got us some firecrackers. Now, some people had tents and some didn't (like us). There were a lot of people camping that weekend. Back then, there were no bathrooms with showers, etc., only porta-potties and you'd wash off in the lake water. Those porta-potties tended to stay rather busy that weekend. Now, I can't remember who came up with this idea, it could have been any one of the three of us, but we thought it would be so much fun to throw a firecracker under the potty when someone was in it. So, we hid behind some brush and when a kid went in (we wouldn't dare do this to a grown-up), we'd light a firecracker and throw it under the potty. You never heard such hollering and carrying on. And we about split our sides laughing and crying so hard. I think we got 2 or 3 people before we got caught and got in soooooo much trouble. Not only were our parents a little put out, but the kids' parents were really mad. But I'll tell you what, we all agreed, that it was worth all the trouble we got into. Mike and I had a few laughs over the years about this one.

Lynn