In July I decided to spend some quality time with my BFF (e:springfairy) on a weekend get away. She was just finishing up school and paper/project deadlines. I was just ready for a break from my life; work; bills; job; family; apartment; et cetera... The Universe being the accomodating beings they are choose to have me get Heat Exhaustion / Dehydration the Wednesday before I am to leave on said vacation. I have to have an emergency visit to the doctor, who then sends me to urgent emergency care. UG! I woud like to live me life without having those symptoms again! The doctor was very thorough in letting me know I should: Take time off; enjoy a couple of days rest; drink - stay hydrated; no work; if symptoms return come back immediately.

I even asked the good doctor if it was ok to go on said vacation, he said it was doctor's orders! Nice doctor! So I slowly packed for my weekend vacation. I hung out with BFF at her house. The drive was nice. Stopped for some tobacco for my elder. Geesh! How money flies out of the wallet! Prices have gone up quite a bit for tobacco. Drove into local store to get some groceries and snacks and breakfast foods... Got to camp, visited with several people haven't seen in a couple of years. We got invited to camp with friends - from out of town specifically New Orleans. Good times! I promised myself no work, so I did what must be done and relaxed!

Managed to touch base with more people than had planned. Great Company. Great conversations. Lots of dancing. Lots of drumming. Lots of silliness. Lots of connections. Finally gave friends their belated present from 2007; pictures of their wedding. Spoke with my elder and found out we are rebuilding due to unforeseen circumstances and set a date to come and work. It was good to see the surprise on his face when I gave him the tobacco, definately worth it! I tried to spend quality time with as many friends as I could time allowing and weather permitting.

The morning of our day to head home a thuderstorm rolled in and did not stop raining for several hours. Who says Mother Nature does not have a sense of humor? Therefore our plans had changed. There was flooding and roads were closed. Once the rain stopped the locals reported that after 2-3 hours it would all seep into the ground and we would be able to head on our merry way home. My response was what can I do to change this situation? Nothing. So, what am I going to do while I wait? Have a spot of lunch, visit with bff and wait until our lake side property became dry land once again, so that I can begin to pack up camp and pack the car.

Drama Queens. Two friends were acting quiet strange and were upset about the situation and were shouting orders to people in camp. I ended up being one of them and did as ordered. Only because I have been in this persons shoes, even though I had never met her before - not because I was ordered. The order part got me to leave promptly after help was given. Miffed I began talking to bff about issue. We vented. We also decided since people were reacting badly it would be best to spend time with each other or other people with the same mindset. We too had to break camp and the rain had flooded our stuff and no one was helping us. Was that simply because we decided not to let it upset us and pardon me for the pun, but go with the flow!

We hung out in a community dry space while waiting for the water level to disappear. We found other people who were just chillin'. We were invited to partake of cherries and share in our weekend festivities stories. We spent some time around a small camp fire still burning from the night before which wafted into my hair and stayed there until my next shower. Meet some new friends who were concerned with catching a plane on time. I sat and meditated on many different thoughts, ideas and feelings. It felt good to just be. Thank you Mother Nature for those moments with nothing to do but wait. I spent some quality time with myself and my thoughts. Sharing with others as they came and went. Mostly centering myself and finding the secret of taking home my vacation when I left. I think it was Mother Nature's gift to me.

When the water level had disappeared it was time to get to packing up. I took my tent and other wet camping gear to dry in the hot sun. I then waited while having a snack of cookies and water knowing that the car was packed, mostly. And once all the wet stuff dried we would be off heading home and dinner at Aunt Millie's. I was planning on steak and potatoes! I do not ever seem to have room after eating dinner for dessert. And Aunt Millie's desserts are supreme. Headed back to BFF's house and partly unpack the car, to do some laundry of wet clothes and watch tv.