In Praise of Men: Part II

So where was I?  Oh yeah, there I was, at Vista Point group campground, squeezed in tightly between two large RV's.  

After I got my 12 foot "rig" plugged in and leveled, I went off to meet the others from the group I was joining.  I had hopes of making new friends and since this group camps around the state for long weekends most months of the year, I hoped to find some camping buddies too. 

Just two sites down, there was a tiny travel trailer that in my opinion definitely won the "cuteness" award, with its retro design and little picket fence to contain her dogs.

And so for the rest of the afternoon and all of the following day I met new folks, shared an elegant potluck dinner, hiked, paddled, sat around a campfire, and sized up the group.

By Saturday night I had had enough and was ready to pack up and head home early Sunday morning to make it home in time for Mass. So I approached the friendly family camping behind me and asked the father to help me lift my kayak back up on top of my car, explaining that I was going to make a quick getaway in the morning.  Just as we were setting the boat down on my roof, out came the family from the RV next door. 

First I saw the man whom I had met as I entered the park the day before...the one who had arranged for the pig cooker.  He was followed by his wife who looked awfully familiar.  And then behind them was none other than my daughter's good friend from high school who had spent the night at our house many times over the years.

It was Micaela and her family and I was overjoyed by the amazing coincidence that here we were, right next door to each other...in the same park on the same weekend albeit with different groups ....and even though I had been feeling a bit uncomfortable and alone in this big campground, here we were together...we were THIS CLOSE:

After a round of laughs and hugs, the man holding the other end of my kayak said he was at the park with this family too and they all invited me to stay another day to join them for a swim and a meal where they were celebrating Memorial Day weekend with their church family.

And feeling so relieved and so happy, I did.