Mumsy & Pops

Life is like a road trip.  We prepare and plan as we look forward to the adventures that lie ahead.  But unlike a road trip, there's no map to follow, and the destination remains vague at best.  We become impatient and feel lost at times.  Forever asking, "Are we there yet?"  Looking back, I can't help but wonder, what was the big hurry?

It turns out that there's more to life than simply reaching the finish line.  We'll all get there, no doubt.  Perhaps being able to find enjoyment along the way, rather than chasing an elusive destination is the real goal in life.  It certainly sounds simple, but easier said than done. 

When I was thirteen our family made the move from city life in Spokane to new adventures out in Deer Park.  Before the actual move, Kathy and I were introduced to our new neighbors who lived about a mile through the woods.  They were the Camerons, and meeting them was a game changer.  

Any worries or apprehension about moving didn't last long, as the summer of 1972 was destined to become one of the best ever.  We must have traipsed through the woods back and forth between their place and ours a hundred times that summer.  It was the beginning of many deep-rooted memories, the kind that stay with you for a lifetime.  The hours spent around their kitchen table are among my favorite, whether it was enjoying mealtime, playing games, or simply chatting away. It was around that very table that playing a game called "Hate Your Neighbor" brought to light the true meaning and appreciation of what neighbors and friendship are all about.  

Colleen was my dearest friend during those years.  Debbie was the big sister that I never had, keeping us in line and on task at every turn, while Larry was the brother that I'd always wished for.  Let it be noted that technically I did have a brother, but he was just a toddler back then, so it didn't really count.  Janice was the typical little sister, so she and Kathy were always up to something, as that's what little sisters do.  Then there was Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, who we came to know as Boone and Ann, and of course eventually became Mumsy and Pops.  

It's been almost 50 years since that summer, and much of it seems nothing more than a blur.  But every year I get a Christmas card along with a heartfelt message from Mumsy, and it takes me right back to those times and I love her for it.  She's given me the gift of both remembrance and appreciation, which go hand in hand in creating the perfect recipe for the preserving of memories. 

 

Nostalgia has been described as a twinge in your heart, far more powerful than memory alone.  It would have been nice knowing that we were in the "good old days" before we actually left them.  But that's not how it works.  

My life has taken many twists and turns over the decades, all part of the adventure of my life's road trip.  But few stops along the way remain as endearing as those happy times spent with the Cameron Family.