Every time I think I have seen it all and heard it all ....... life proves me wrong.

Oftentimes folks will call and tell me how far away they are and ask about checking in after hours. I will usually ascertain their needs and tell them which site will suit them and tell them to fill out the night registration package and drop either the money or credit card info in the drop box. If they take the time to call, they will usually follow my instructions.

Yesterday morning I woke way too early with a puppy on my face and after taking the dogs out crawled back into bed to sleep until a more reasonable hour. I slept until 8:30 and was about the business of making coffee when I heard the store door chime. I slipped into the store and checked the drop box and saw the envelope waiting inside. I checked it and it had the correct amount, so I did not race to the bedroom to don clothes. As I watched the camper leave, I noticed the message light blinking on the store phone and hit the button. It was a resident camper calling to say that he wondered if Drew knew he had left his tractor running .......

What? Drew is in bed asleep. Did he leave it running all night?? Inquiring minds want to know. He who sleeps in a wind tunnel was in blissful slumber when I turned off his loudest fan and awakened him to inquire about the running tractor. The key is in the house .... I think, so why would he start the tractor before bed and leave it burning fuel. And, if he didn't start the tractor ..... who did? Asking him anything as he bumbled around pulling his clothes on and looking at me like I was crazy was pointless.

He went out to the barn and confirmed that the tractor was indeed running, but that the engine wasn't hot enough to have been running long. We were both puzzled. As he was filling his bubba mug with diet coke he asked about night registrations and I reported that not only did the people pay, but that they actually listed the seven children and paid for them. Will wonders never cease?

They may have paid for the offspring, but they did not supervise them. One of the seven hooligans started the tractor ....... without the key. They also helped themselves to firewood. I guess they figured if they paid to stay, they could do what they wanted.

A Piece Of Quiet

The weather has finally calmed down and is back to normal. Warm during the day and refreshingly cool at night. I have been sleeping well, but can't seem to get enough. Like being so thirsty, yet unable to quench that thirst.

Things have been quiet with plenty of time to reflect. Good for me, bad for business. School starts today and the pool will be empty, save weekends. I am ready for fall and a slower pace.

Peace and quiet? I like it better the way my baby girl used to say it ............  Mommy needs a piece of quiet!

Let Me Be

 These are a few of my least favorite things. It is true that this does not happen every day, but often enough to make me wonder why I strive to keep the park looking clean and nice for my visitors.

 Perhaps I should provide an ashtray?

Or maybe I should just be thankful they did not throw them on the ground. It is so dry here that the ground is cracking open.

I feel like that today. Dried up and hard. I need to have some solitude. Solitude is in short supply here. I have to hide to get it. There are times when the only thing I want is to be left alone. To be able to think a thought without interruption. To just be. Let me be.

I will tire of the solitude of winter soon enough, but right now, this moment ......... I long for it. I am not fit to be around people in my current state. He who knows me best can confirm this.

Weeds

 This was my garden this morning. In spite of the fact that I had been pulling weeds for two days. The temperature was perfect and the sky was overcast ........ and I was determined!

 I had already filled and emptied that wheel barrow twice. The hose was out to wet the ground so that I could get the shovel in under the big clumps of grass and a mulberry tree that had volunteered to grow there.

 I love hollow stumps. Natures planters.

 The cool breezes blew and it rained on me several times. In spite of interruptions and muscle pains I completed my project. Should you ever wonder if it is possible to get a charlie horse in your butt muscle ....... the answer is yes.

 I am feeling quite pleased with myself. The sun is shining now and it looks like it has always been there, doesn't it?
See the big rock in the lower right corner? At some point a big rig decided to exit via the entrance drive and drove through my grass, moving the rock several feet, leaving big trenches in the ground. I consoled myself thinking of the damage they sustained.

 Sweet potato vine in my hollow stump looks content.

 My marigolds and zinnias are really tall and leggy. I am hoping they will fill out now that all the grass is gone. They will bloom through October.

Grass slinger Harvey happened by while I was at work. He stayed in his truck to receive his tongue lashing. Guess he figured he could outrun me if I decided to make a statement with the shovel. He swears he didn't do it. Told me that Drew mowed last time. Drew did mow last, but the grass in my garden took awhile to grow ......... Oh, Harvey, did you really think you could engage in a verbal sparring match with me and win? 

Take Me To Your Leader

The hot, hot weather that has kept me from weeding and Harvey the grass slinger have conspired to make a huge bed of grass in my garden in the entrance drive. The grass is choking out my marigolds and zinnias. Not a very inviting sight. So, for the past two days I have been pulling the grass out when I get more than ten minutes at a time. After closing the store at 7 tonight I was diligently yanking grass out of my garden and silently cursing Harvey. Harvey, who I have told on more than one occasion to steer clear of my gardens with the mower. Harvey, who will be on the wrong end of a broom handle if I catch him near a garden bed again. He who has learned to not sling grass into my gardens always warns those who are want to help with the mowing.

He will only warn them once and then lets me take over. I think he secretly enjoys watching me chew someone up. Harvey seems to be a slow learner to the ways of my kampground gardens. He need not think the gift of rocks he made to me this morning will get him off the hook should I witness another grass slinging session.

But, I digress. I was minding my own business of weeding when a car entered and sped by me, not bothering to obey my stop sign. The female driver pulled up to the store and stared at the door. The door with the store hours clearly posted. Then she put her vehicle in reverse and backed up to where I was still weeding. "We can swim, can't we?" The pool closes at 7 o'clock. "No, it doesn't, it closes at 9." No, really, it closes at 7. "Are you sure?" Quite sure. "Well, doesn't Drew own this place?" Yes. "Well, where is he?" Not right here. By the way, you ran the stop sign. Know why that stop sign is here? The stop sign is here because I have children in the park riding bikes and I don't want them to get hurt by a driver who thinks it is okay to come into my park and disregard my rules ........ "Oh, are you Drew's wife?" Yes, that would be me. "Well, I guess the pool is closed and we should go." Don't forget the speed limit is 10.

I guess my reputation precedes me.

None Of My Business ......

 Okay, this was NOT the color on the box! Really. I was not trying to celebrate the 100th birthday of Lucille Ball. I was just trying to cover some gray and this is what I got. Oh well. Time will take care of it, I suppose ..... or another box of color. In the meantime I have red hair.

So, I took my red haired self to the drop box yesterday morning and pulled this out .......

It says: Hello, I got in at 3:30 AM, and need to sleep so badly! I was so happy to find you! I will come to the office when I get up ( I had brain surgery 61 days ago, and not doing very well ...)   Thank you so much, Robin & doggies. Site 67

It had the registration in the envelope as well as the money to pay for the site. I had a call the night before from a man inquiring about a discount for coming in late. I told him that I didn't and he asked if I was sure ( I almost told him that there would be an annoyance surcharge), and I asked if he were staying at a hotel if he would expect a discount for arriving late and he replied in the negative; so I said "well, there you go, you have your answer." I was pretty certain that I would not see this man in my park. But ..... Robin could be a man or a woman, right?

At any rate, I sought out he who is the performer of all unpleasant tasks, and showed him the note. Then I sent him to site 67 to make sure there were signs of life. Brain surgery ..... not doing well ........ had me a little concerned.

I am always torn with indecision when I discover a camper parked that I did not check in. Most will leave the info and money or credit card info in the drop box (that is, after all, what it is for), but some do not. I assume that they are sleeping and I don't want to rudely awaken them, but I don't want them to skip out without paying. I can't just sit and watch them, I have other things to do. And that is how we end up having folks drive off. Most people are honest and will stop and pay, but there are always those few that just drive away. But, this one has already paid .........

So, do I go check on the brain surgery survivor? Or, do I let the person sleep? The note did say they needed sleep ....... and there is that old saying about sleeping dogs ........

The woman, Robin, did come in upon awakening and was a very likable person. Hard to tell if she was blond, since she was bald after the brain surgery. That sounded mean and I didn't mean it in a mean way. I just don't know that I would take off on my own after having had brain surgery and admittedly not doing well. She had left Tennessee and was on her way to Washington. Kind of a long trip to be taking on your own after any kind of surgery that has stressed the body.

She did have her dogs with her, but they can't drive or call for help on a cell phone ........ Really none of my business when you get right down to it. But she did tell me that she was not doing well and her fiance is in Afghanistan .......

Heaven, Get Ready

Our friend, Paul died this morning. I am so glad that we went to see him yesterday. His wife, Patti was in good spirits and we laughed and talked, remembering times at the campground. I think maybe Paul was listening in. We talked to him, too. I told him to just rest and he did. He was getting ready for his trip to heaven.

The angels will have to be on their toes with Paul, the trickster, in their midst. I bet he has his halo on upside down already. We looked at pictures yesterday. We have only known Paul for about 6 years and it was fun to see him as a small boy with his dog, then as a handsome young man. Always that big smile on his sweet face. The robust man we knew was already gone yesterday, as he was preparing to leave this world. He will be missed.

Yesterday was very emotional for me. I knew that I would not see Paul again and the tears kept welling in my eyes. Patti demanded that we have no crying and I did my best, but the rest of the day found me to be more than a little weepy. I am relieved for him to no longer be in pain, but still very sad to lose him.

Now, Patti will begin her journey with grief. I can hug and I can listen. I hope that is enough. I suppose the pain of losing your mate is something that can't really be shared. The only one who could share it is gone .........