Camping is relationship therapy.

What a long weekend. Thursday night Shannon packed up with three friends of ours and set off for Lopez Island.  I on the other hand had to work; so I didn’t leave until the next day.  The night was exciting enough as I watched Facebook and text messaged anxiously.  Why test message anxiously while my soon to be wife is off camping?  Because three hours away my friend Mike and his wife Josilyn were bringing a baby into this world.  On July 2, 2009, at 9:36 p.m. London Danielle England was born.  After talking with Mike briefly and hearing about his experience, it was time for me to catch the ferry.  I arrived on Lopez Island at about 6:15 then I hiked a mile and a half (Shannon had the car).

Upon arrival I wanted to just rest and relax for like an hour (strike 1).  But four girls who had been expectantly waiting for my arrival had their own agenda for me to start the grill for them to eat.  Mental note to remember:  Men even if you’re not excited you should act as if you are when you arrive in situations like this even if you’re tired it will avoid a disagreement and the females asking you what is wrong?  So after dinner had some amazing smores and conversations.

I woke up the next day to make breakfast and Shannon wanted to help.  I thought it was the man’s job to make the food while camping (strike 2).  After all we are the ones who love to be in a nature and search for food and lean on our caveman primitive tactics.  Later that day we all decided to take a trip to the other side of the island to a place called Watmought Bay and Shark Reef, which are both gorgeous.  We hung out there but I forgot to hold Shannon’s hand while I was walking right next to her.  It was very romantic setting but I did not offer any intimacy (oops)…but being the amazing woman she is she had grace.   We get back to camp around 2:00 p.m. and remember how I said you need to feed the lions, well this the second time I forgot and the natives were getting restless.  I am pretty sure that I will be chopped up and eaten if I forget again.  So, Shannon I head off to BBQ with some friends whom I work with and after we had plans to watch fireworks from Fishermen’s Bay.

The fireworks ended up being the best I have ever seen in my life.  Shannon was there with me is what made them so amazing (brownie points if she reads this).  However my charm and the bonus points I gained that night lasted only a short while…only until the next day.  Now you have to understand that I walked o to the ferry on Friday and she drove on.  Take that back they drove to Anacortez to catch the ferry at 6 :00 and waited four hours to find out they would not catch the 10:45 p.m. ferry.  So they stayed the night and got back in line at 3:30 a.m.  So the ferry was quite an ordeal and it was no different going back.  We arrived and realized it would be about a four hour wait for the ferry and so I decided to be selfish and walk onto the ferry that was arriving within twenty minutes, I asked Shannon she approved but I doubt she wanted me to go (strike 3)  but hindsight says I probably should have waited.  Well. What can I say?  Lessons learned.

I have now decided if you want a true test of your relationship?  Go Camping.