Story Tellers

We camp often to relax. Camping is a great way to unwind, it also gives us time together and it disconnects us from all of the technological marvels that can become strings. Imagine if you can, complete absentia from, cell phones, lap tops, I pads, Blackberries, GPS and e readers, voice mail, answering machines and social media! It’s a slice of heaven.


Now I’m not against technology at all, in fact I, like most of us enjoy the benefits of it, but it is great to take a step away from it for a while.


It’s hard to beat a day sitting under a tree reading, reading a book with paper pages. I’ve struggled with getting an ereader of sorts, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had it “in the cart” and not been able to press the button. I’ve tried to justify buying one with various rationalizations; the house won’t be cluttered with books, I won’t need a separate bag to carry them in when traveling, they’re cheaper to download than buy. But, I’m still haunting the used bookstores, which are getting harder to find also.


There is one concession I make to electronic communications while camping, and it has become not only a ritual, but you could almost say an obsession, Prairie Home Companion. When I’m home, I can (using technology) listen to it at my convenience by downloading it. When we are camping it is a different story.


I get the radio out, warmed up and tuned in. Wherever we go I check ahead of time so see what station, and time it is on. I’ve been fooled a couple of times, and as The Who say, “We won’t get fooled again.” Once the radio is in place, I also place a can, or glass bottle if I can find one, of Coke, in ice. It’s got to be extremely cold to really be enjoyed and plastic bottles just don’t cut it.


Next, I pull up a chair, hush the camp and turn on the radio. When the familiar opening strains announce the beginning of the show I sit back, open my soda, take a long pull, and relax. I love listening to stories and I’m surprised that there aren’t more story tellers like Garrison Keilor around.


I hope to be a story teller someday.