Thursday, February 24, 2005

Ashes to ashes...and swimming...

Not a spiritual thought, but a practical one. You go to Princeton's and sit around a lot of smokers, you wind up smelling like smoke. Ashes to ashes. Or...smoke to smoke....something like that...

I'm not griping, though Stacey did when I got home. Heh. I really enjoyed going there instead of Applebee's. Went with Jack, Eric, and Hank after band practice (which lasted almost until 9:00, btw). Too bad the greasy/smoky smell-thing is still a part of the experience that lingers long after you've gone home, because Princeton's is a better place to hang out than a lot of the Decatur eating establishments.

-Side note: It's humorous to watch drunk rednecks try to pick up drunk blondes who are there with someone else.

Anyway, I saw a commercial on TV while we were there that made me think of Jack's River in North Georgia. I went there a couple of times in high school (before they closed the land to the public). It was a lot of fun. The river runs through a lot of rocks and creates a lot of tall waterfalls that fall into deep pools. Being able to climb way up on a rock outcropping and jump 30-40 feet into the water below is a thrilling experience.

That is, unless you forget to tuck your arms against your body and have them extended and let them smack the water when you hit.

Ow. It hurts to remember that.

Those summer trips there were among the most memorable of my teenage years....hanging with my friends...hearing a bear wander along the river (50 feet from the camp) while we were sleeping...chasing deer down the dirt road in a church van...hiking 5 miles to the campsite...freezing cold water....this kid from another group who jumped too close the rocks and severely lacerated his legs below the knees when he jumped 30 feet down into 6 feet of water...again, ouch...

-Side note #2: Found out years later that the group leader who took us one year was arrested for sexually molesting his 2 adopted sons, who went with us that same year. EEEEYYYYIIIIKES! Thank God that guy's 'activities' were limited to the confines of his own home. Besides, we outnumbered him like 15 to 1. No "Deliverance"-like crap happened on our watch...

Anyway, I miss being outdoors. I feel alive out there. Staring at a star-filled sky through barren trees in the fall...listening to the wind....the only other light coming from the glow of the campfire. One of the only ways I know of to silence the 'noise' of everyday life...

Will have to share some stuff about other camping spots some other time...

Gotta get a group together and go camping....soon...the best memories come from trips like that...creepy group leaders notwithstanding...

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