I did something on Saturday that I haven’t done in probably seven years. I went up to our camping lots in Steedman, Missouri, at a place called Wildwood. We’ve owned camping lots there for probably close to twenty-five years and when the boys were small, we went there quite often. We had one set of lots, but when our lots became surrounded by large campers and large groups of people, we decided to find something a little less populated and quieter.

We were able to find lots in a relatively underdeveloped area of the park, and for several years we enjoyed the peace and quiet. I loved sitting on the deck of our camper and just “being” in the peace and quiet. The only other occupied lot was the one behind us, and that person was never there, so on all sides, there was nothing but trees. The Great Hunter and I would take a short ATV trip on the trails, mostly looking for wildlife and he would fish and sometimes, I’d sit with him and read a book.

But, as they say, all good things must come to an end and it did. Our camping lots are small, only 25′ x 25′ and we have two lots side by side. There is a 10′ gravel road separating our lots from what we were told were lots that would not be developed. They lied.

So over the course of several years, our quiet little oasis has become surrounded on three of four sides by larger campers and the wooded area across the road from us is now completely cleared and is occupied by campers and small cabins. So much for tranquility.

I have refused to go to the property since the Great Hunter told me those lots were sold and being developed, because I try to avoid things I know are going to piss me off (sorry, I couldn’t think of any other way to describe it). But my middle son recently received a four-wheeler from a friend and wanted to take his son up there to ride it and fish. I suggested that he could go with the Great Hunter when he returns a riding lawn mower. He thought that was a great idea and said he was sure his wife would want to do so if I wanted to, I could go too.

Reluctantly, I agreed to go. A disaster was averted at the very beginning of our trip when our son noticed that the tire on the trailer was losing air and on closer inspection, the tread on the tire had begun to shred. Luckily, the Great Hunter had a spare. It would have been pretty disastrous if that tire had shredded on the highway.

The Great Hunter and our son got the grass cut and they fished and rode the four-wheeler. My grandson had a great time. I was the dog wrangler.

Anyway, I don’t foresee going back there anytime soon. It was a nice place (at least for me) until it wasn’t. But it will be a nice place for my son and his family.