Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!
Brian and his son make their annual Scouting trip to Camp Acahela
If you’ve been following TheBrianLennonShow since its founding here on Substack, you know each summer I grudgingly make my way to Camp Acahela, Blakeslee, Pa. for the Cub Scouts’ local summer camp.
I say I go grudgingly, and maybe reluctantly, but by the end of my time there, I’m always glad I went. It’s just getting out the door, really.
Life is about making memories, and having lost my own father at the age of six, I take making memories with my children, especially my youngest, very seriously.
Camping was new to me four years ago, when we first embarked on this annual pilgrimage. I was more of a “sports dad.” I’d coached baseball, basketball, softball, soccer.
I’m not outdoorsy. I’m not handy. I was not a camper.
But my son loved it. He still does. And I’ve grown to like it.
To be honest, it’s not my favorite pastime, and here’s why.
Let’s start with the weather.
Looking at the forecast for the three days I’ll be at the camp (my son will be staying for the entire six days), the weather is looking atrocious. Sunday’s high temp is 90 degrees, followed by another 90 degree day on Monday, and capped by a beautiful 95 degree day on Tuesday.
The temps will not be dropping during the night, so what is usually a tough two nights of sleep will be only more dreadful.
By the time Tuesday evening rolls around, I’ll be glad to stumble into the nearby Wawa, suck down a cup of real coffee, choke down a salted pretzel, and make my way home.
Then there’s the tent.
It’s one thing to be sleeping outside in a tent. It’s another to be sleeping outside in a tent with flaps that don’t entirely close. Moths, or some other type(s) of bug(s), can be heard slapping against the canvas barrier between you and who knows what? And Lord forbid if one should land on your face. Not ideal.
Add to it the fact I’ve been using a CPAP machine for my sleep apnea since the fall, and I won’t be able to bring it with me, almost assures I will not be having my two best nights of sleep.
Then there’s the bathrooms.
They’re not good by the campsites. You really have to make sure you’re ready (biologically speaking) to go when you’re at or near the pool house, which is the building that houses the modern showers and bathrooms.
Last year, I had the unfortunate experience of having “to go” when I was down by the water, meaning I had to use one of the campsite’s bathrooms. This was during Day 3.
I don’t know how to put this nicely, but have you ever tried to do a No. 2 while sitting on top of the Stanley Cup? Yeah, picture that!
I’m always shocked I don’t lose a good fifteen pounds during the three days at camp, with all of the walking, sweating, and the minuscule portions us grown men are fed.
It’s what makes that Wawa pretzel taste like manna and the coffee taste like Dom Pérignon.
But like I said, I always end up enjoying my time at camp.
You bond with your fellow parents and adult leaders. The laughs are endless. There’s good conversation around the campfire at night, especially once the scouts are all tucked into their sleeping bags.
There are songs and skits for the entertainer in me. And the scouts aren’t the only ones learning things. I’ve learned how to build a fire at camp!