I guess you could say I am feeling my age these days. Memories from my childhood just creep in more often. Why? Well, let’s face it—I am 73! I find myself pausing to remember the positive things in my life. I find myself thinking back to when I didn’t have a care. I was just playing and having a good time. My best life was about enjoying playing, swimming, and being the best I could be as life went on. One of the best times I remember was when we went camping with my mom, dad, sister, brothers, and their families.
Life With My Family
Now that it is summer, I think back to how we spent our days. We lived on a farm, so growing vegetables and harvesting them made the summer a busy time of year. My family always made time to enjoy the little things, like fishing and camping together.
It actually started in the spring. Spring break—rather, Easter weekend, since we did not have a “spring break” at that time— always meant camping at the lake. I was the youngest and grew up pretty much at home without siblings. You see, my two brothers and sister had grown up by the time my parents started raising children again with me. My aunt and uncle became my parents at that time. Anyway, they lived in different cities. We all would meet at the lake and go camping. Fishing was a big part of that.
Camping Memories At The Lake
Camping for us was not in fancy campers and motor homes. We used tents and slept on folding cots or the ground. We would always go to the campground and have camp sites reserved and set up before the good ones were gone. We usually had one on the water’s edge. This way, we could drive the boat close to the camp and park it. Then I would fish from the bank or swim if I wanted while we waited for the rest of our family to arrive.
Once everyone arrived and while the adults set up their camps, all of the kids would swim. There were seven of us kids. We always would have a blast. Usually the first night we cooked hot dogs or made sandwiches for dinner. We would have a campfire and roast marshmallows. Then I remember us kids were so wound up and excited that it was hard to want to go to bed, Ha-Ha. Imagine that. But the day had to end, and we would settle down for the evening, thinking about what would happen the next day.
Breakfast and Fishing
The next morning we would all get up and want to go swimming right off the bat! The adults would start cooking breakfast. Yes, we always had a big breakfast. We had eggs, bacon, and sausage, along with biscuits and gravy. Afterward, we would head out on the lake in our boat to find good fishing spots. My mom and sister didn’t go out because my mom didn’t swim, so she didn’t care for boats much. However, our campsite was on the water, so we had some places they could fish from the bank.
My dad was a good fisherman. He was very patient and taught me how to fish. We liked to fish for bream. It was best to do that during the heat of the day. It was nothing to go out and catch 50-100 per boat in a three-hour timeframe. They weren’t small ones either. They were as big as my dad’s hand was wide and longer than a fingertip past his wrist.
Since we all had boats, that made four of them. That was a lot of fish. Of course, each family took some home and froze them so we had them for later. My dad liked to fish for bream and catfish while my brothers fished for crappie and bass. When we came in after a midday fishing spree, the work began for the men. Those fish had to be cleaned and bagged to put on ice.
First, they would grab a sandwich and take a break for lunch. Then their work would begin. Since we were young kids, we would go watch until we got tired. Then we would go back to the camp and swim. We never slowed down. It was great!
Once they were through cleaning the fish, the men came back to camp and relaxed and visited with each other. Nothing grand, just spent time together as families should. Plus, as the day passed, they would begin to get ready to cook supper. Of course it was a good old fish fry. The best part of the day. Of course my brothers intended to go night fishing. The fish we would catch at night was crappie or catfish, especially when the water cooled down.
It’s Fish Fry Time
My brothers usually cooked supper. They would get some of the fish and salt it down good. Then they would get a paper bag and put cornmeal in it along with red pepper and salt. In the meantime, they would have a big, deep iron pot and a fish fryer, each with grease in it getting hot for frying. My mom, sister, and sisters-in-law would prepare the hush puppies and potatoes for frying. Since we were younger kids at the time, we watched and learned. Of course, we would get our turn to help when we got older.
Traditions Passed Down
Oh those were such good times. It made for some good times then and today. That made for the kind of memories I wanted my children to have. I have to say we lived our years with our kids the same way. My parents were able to enjoy those camping days with us and our children, and to make those memories for them. Truly, we pass down traditions and memories.
Our children have passed those traditions down to their children, who are now sharing camping with their own children. I can’t think of a better adventure to pass along. Hopefully, this tradition will continue.
I share this so you think of things to do with your children that will create lasting memories for generations. Memories today may cost more than they did when I was a child, but I realize that making grand memories doesn’t always mean going to amusement parks, cruises, and the like.
Find the little things to share. It will mean so much more as time passes. Those stories, meals, campfires, swimming holes, etc. that will never fade. All because we took a little time to enjoy the small, but significant, things. As we age, we sometimes only have the memories to hold to. Due to the outside temperatures rising, health issues prevent us from getting out as much, and the body begins to break down; our memories are our lifeline. Make those memories you will hold on to as you age. Don’t let time get past you; do it now.
I wish for everyone reading this to take a few minutes and think of the little things that meant the most to you in your life. I hope you will think about those small things you thought were meaningless at the time but that have made you the happiest over the years and that make you smile.
Follow along with me at Life Unboxed With ArmieG for more memories from the past. Maybe you have something you would like to share with me. Send them to armieg1125@gmail.com. If you don’t mind, I may share it here, or your recipe. You might just remember a memory you had forgotten about. Believe me, my memory takes some jogging. And I love all of them.