"I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to put to rout all that was not life, and not when I had come to die, discover that I had not lived" ~ Henry David ThoreauI read a little bit of Thoreau one summer in college when I was trying to pursue my own inner simplicity & transcendentalism. I wanted to go out and live at Walden Pond. It's been a recurring theme throughout the years. So it's no surprise that we're back here.
There's a slowing down that happens when you go camping, which is exactly what my family did over this 3-day Memorial Day weekend in Central Maryland. Under the tent, on the blow-up mattress, in the sleeping bag, by the fire, we camped with our 7 other compatriots (who were fascinating, seasoned outdoors men & women--with camping resumes "to die for!" & with fireside tales that can't be beat--perhaps both fact AND fiction!!). In this, there comes a slowness. No need to tidy, to laundry, to tend the lawn nor the dishes. Add in the cooking (given we were trekking with two rather talented fireside chefs!--Oh my, no pork, beans, nor dogs for us!!), we needn't worry!! Not to mention the absence of TV or phone distractions......Yes, a slowing down, a decompressing, a "being one with life."
On top of the camping, let's add in multiple days of hiking and such, where my pedometer topped 10K every day....Yes, a slowing down and yet a simultaneous "move forwards" activity. A 2.5 mile hike in Cunningham Falls, Maryland one day.... a 1 mile hike through the Appalachian Trail another day....more "walk-a-bouts" than perhaps the aborigine do in a day down in Australia! Being a girl who spends way too much time grading papers, and even far more time stationary at the computer...the movement felt GOOD. My body ate it up! I needed those jaunts, and it felt oh-so good to sweat--even when there was a sharp uphill grade involved! I relished the activity, and the inactivity (of slowing down) simultaneously!!
Did the report cards I brought to work on get addressed (given it's my last week of school, here ahead)? No way, José!! But you know, here in the aftermath of rest and relaxation, that just might be okay! One could argue I'd be restored and refreshed....and those report cards will go twice as fast here later on!!
Picture of our camp base and borrowed tent, à la my very laid back and relaxed weekend camera.