Heide, my beautiful, blond, best new friend in Colorado, asks me (in front of Mike and the kids), “So, Laurel, do you really like doing all this camping stuff?” Heide’s idea of camping is staying at a Holiday Inn instead of a 5-star hotel. All eyes upon me, tension in the air, I respond, “Well, it’s not something I’d choose to do on my own, but I do it knowing that it’s good for me, and that I will be glad I’ve done it when it’s over.” Kind of like going to West Point, I think. I explain to her that I often make myself do things that I know will push me outside of my comfort zone; and I always feel better for having done so. She tells me that she’d like to discuss my philosophy more in depth later.

So we finish packing the truck for our 3-night camping extravaganza in Utah, and hit the road for a 7’ish hour long journey. Having traveled from coast to coast and a little bit of everywhere in between, we are armed with several books on CD, lots of snacks, and empty plastic bottles with lids (the boys have become quite adept at the pee-as-you-go technique, preferring the bottle to the dirty gas station every time. And there’s a reason we switched from glass to plastic, but that’s in another story!)