Saturday Night Alone at Home
The smell of old canvas in my car was comforting in the last few work days of the week. I started packing on Wednesday for the trip I planned to make on the weekend. It wouldn't be far, just a few miles from home, and it wouldn't be long, only a single night, but I would be ready. This was to be my first solo camping trip in about a year. Various health issues and scheduling conflicts had kept me from the experience, and now that I was feeling mostly better and could stake out a Saturday, I was eager to go. Eager and a little nervous. The past year has been busy pointing out that I'm older and less invincible than I used to be. Could my skills have deteriorated while I waited to be strong again? Those same health issues had impacted my daily walking routine and kept me from taking the longer weekend hikes I liked as well. I could see the difference in my leg muscles. Then there's the matter ...