Joy in the Journey -

Couple weeks ago, I get this email from my Dad. He is doing a little “prepping” for the backpack trip. Resurrecting the old Whisperlite stove from 25-ish years ago.

> Well finally got around to doing a test firing of the old whisperlite stove.  The fuel bottle holds gas, pump makes pressure, burner ignites, leaking stove creates puddle of gas on 4 wheeler, burner ignites puddle, tower of flame appears, luckily man in charge is wearing gloves, thinking clearly and quickly grabs stove and tosses it out of door, fuel on 4 wheeler burns out before starting said machine on fire, man in  charge with shaking hands and racing heart sits down and decides a new stove might be a good idea.  Have a good day.<

Michael Card had an album back in the day, a particular favorite of mine, called Joy in the Journey. The stove episode just made me think how fun it was to do the journey and to laugh all along the way.

Keeping in the laughs spirit, a chilly low (low 30’s - cold to Arizonans) was forecast several weekends ago.  Perfect for testing out the new sleeping bags in typical summer Silverton, CO temps. Ms. K wasn't interested, so Ms. M joined me in the backyard, in a tent. 

We get done eating popcorn, watching an episode of ST:Voyager and The Cosby Show, then head out. Sometime later that night, I hear her rustling around. She says she needs to go inside and use the bathroom. And she’s staying inside since there are too many noises out here to sleep (dog barking in the distance, coyote yipping, cars driving by...) I asked if she was warm, the answer came back “yes”.  Ok says me, see you in the morning.

In the morning, I go inside, wake the family and get breakfast going.  As I’m talking with my wife, she  tells me Ms M. said in response to her query of why she was inside...  “mom, dad was snoring!”