the trick of memory

 the other day I was reminded of the Dolly Sods backpacking trip I led back in 2021. I watched some clips of videos I took and thought, 'wow. that was like the best time of my life. I would give anything to be able to do that again.'

But then! I remembered that I was also like annoyed the whole time. Or, not the whole time. There were a lot of great moments. It was a really special trip. But there were plenty of times where I was annoyed or frustrated. 

But maybe it's not a mean trick that memory plays on you. To only remember what was good and special about it. 

Maybe it's a sign that you should let stuff go more. That all those little things are going to fade away anyway. So why bother getting worked up about it in the first place? 

Hmmm hmmm much to consider

I'll tell you what I did do though that I was rarely annoyed with. WINTER CAMPING. Go find that post from March 15th, 2013. 

I'd run that back in a SECOND.

Trips I'd Run Back (ranked)

-Winter Camping 2013

-Costa Rica 2023

-Dolly Sods 2021

-Florida 2022

-Costa Rica 2020 and Florida 2024

better look for clues

 I try to get the camp bus back at the gym right at 4 so that pick up happens fast and there isn't a lot of sitting around at the end of the day and so I've started this bit called 'looking for clues' where if we're going to get back too early I go to a random parking lot and drive around in circles and tell the kids to "look for clues". 

And then they yell at me, "what are we doing?! are we lost? we need to go to rocky top? why are you doing this?!"

And I go, "I don't know guys there's a lot of mysteries out there. We just gotta look for clues."

And then that kills like 2 minutes at most but it makes me laugh.

I'll tell you what's more fun than social media

 playing hide and sick in the woods and you're lying on the ground behind a log and there's a tiny little window where you can see the seeker perfectly and they can't see you.

that's what social media is trying to be.

except without leaves and dirt and occasional bird noises

 I saw a post today that reminded me of Maw Maw. 

The post said "Likes can never love you like one who does."

I never take for granted that I've got a Maw Maw that loves me.

built a PVC strike zone this weekend

 thanks to shembus for the help

excited to debut it at camp

we were in the woods with camp the other day

 A boy I coach said, "Andy! Come over here and look at this!"

And I went over expecting to see like a cool rock or a frog or a snake or some berries or something and he was pointing down at the ground and my eyes were scanning all around and he said, "Look at the flowers."

And they were the tiniest little pink and purple flowers at the end of these long thin wisps. He said, "they're beautiful."

Dang. Got me in my feels. What a guy.

gonna build a pvc strikezone this weekend

 stay tuned