Moonlight and emptiness

[mamculuna]

Last weekend I went camping for the first time since my children were young. Actually I was just sleeping in a tent--not out in the wilderness, and food was prepared and eaten inside, but the sleeping outside part was even better than I remembered. I don't think I'd ever actually slept alone outside before, but always shared tents with friends or husband. But this time I bought a little one, and there was something indescribably cozy about having my tiny little space with just me and my lantern. When I turned off the lantern, the first night (a warm one) the bright light of the almost-full moon shown through the tent, making wonderful shadows of pine boughs on the roof. The second night had the moon again, but also quite a big thunderstorm, not quite right there so not so scary, but amazing. Pieces of the storm blew in and out, and in between the moon was even brighter than before. The thunder rolled past, and sometimes there was moonlight and lightning at the same time.

But 25 years have seen a lot of improvement in camping technology. My tent was so cheap and easy to put up, and so waterproof, my sleeping bag so warm, my lantern so bright and rechargeable, and best of all, an air mattress (also with rechargeable battery). Now I want to get some cooking stuff too, and do more--but in summer, maybe, next time. Needed a little more heat than I had in the morning, to say nothing of those little midnight trips outside...

Comments

[ngakmafaery.livejournal.com]

...that sounds so fun...and the air mattresses are certainly an undreamt-of luxury way back when...!

[altaego.livejournal.com]

That really does sound great. I love to sleep outside but don't get many chances to do it. I would probably have more chances to do it if I went by myself.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Well, I think I maybe didn't clarify that this was part of a group at a retreat, sleeping in individual tents but near each other. I'll probably be up to camping totally alone pretty soon, though.

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

I haven't been camping in years. Used to do quite a lot of it, and I remember how neat the sound of rain on the canvas sounded, when I was warm and snug in my sleeping bag.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that. It really was lovely. The other part I like but didn't do this time is eating breakfast by the fire.