Camping Trip Reflections Poem by Mike Smith

What to do what to do?
Write.
It typically entertains. Helps to focus also. Focus. That's the goal. At attention. Mindful. Calculated.... Stay on topic.
What's the topic going to be I wonder? Probably the camping trip. That's where my thoughts keep taking me anyway. Back to last night and earlier this morning.
It was a bit of a chore to get the tan truck all loaded up so that we would be well prepared when we arrived at the camp site, but it was worth it. We had everything we could want or need at our disposal.
Besides dinner I suppose. For dinner, after camp was made of course, we went to the burger place just up the river. We took the tan truck, now free of all its camping materials. I didn't realize until we were in the thick of it that it was Byron fest. I tend to stay away from large gatherings like that. I get a little nervous being that anonymous. So I put on my work shirt and my work hat. They say the name of the business I work for. Said business has done business in Byron. Therefore, maybe a friend or even a stranger will recognize who I am and I won't be so damn anonymous.
It worked. I found an old friend. Three in fact. And a fourth later on. The fourth gave us a lighter because my date wanted to smoke while we waited for our food.
We ate outside. It was a beautiful day, and there were less people outside on the patio than there were inside at the bar.
The food hit the spot. We flirted with the idea of riding the zipper. She (my date) would've waltzed right into the event. I stopped her with some words spoken softly so as not to draw attention.
I had seen that everybody inside the gate had a yellow bracelet made of paper. We had no such bracelet.
We learned that the bracelets would cost 10 dollars each. We didn't know how much it would be for a ride on the zipper... To rich for my blood.
So we finished our drinks and went on our way back to the tan truck.
Once out of Byron I came up on a blue vehicle. A struggling driver tried best they could to keep it between the lines... Poor guy, must have been on the sauce for a while already. I backed off slowly and discreetly. I gladly accepted a white minivan to move in between me and the drunk driver. It looked for a moment as if there could be a collision. I took the next available turn and tried not to think of what might become of the two vehicles.
One more pit stop and then we were back to camping.
I got the fire going good again and re-cast my fishing line. My green glowing necklace illuminated my work shirt. I was tired of work, so I removed it. She liked that. She usually does.
We played a quick round of 5 card draw. I won the first with a two pair, queens over 4's. She won the next with a jack high straight. Even stevens.
Checked my line again to no avail. My bait was also gone. I grabbed a worm from the styrofoam container and cast once more.
We sat on the picnic table for some time and then she wanted to sit by the fire so I built it up to a big flame and moved the chairs to the opposite side of the smoke and wind.
Then I remembered the fireworks. A couple of bottle rockets didn't draw any attention from the other campers. So I tried an m-200. Still nothing. So I tried Roman candles. Still nothing. Either they don't have fireworks? Or they aren't concerned with mine. My money would be on the former.
We talked about some important things. She cried a little bit. Not a bad cry. Just an honest one. The kind you sort of need to get out I guess. Before we knew it it was bedtime. It took a while to get my eyes closed. But I slept soundly even with the air mattress being inflated.
Rise n shine. Mornings are time for actions in my world. So I began to act. Like a bumblebee nearly I buzzed from fire to fishing pole to cleaning to this to that and the next.
It would exhaust some people. But to me it's lifeblood. The business that is.
I wanted drinks from the gas station. Caffeine. And I wanted to let her sleep because she gets so tired all the time. So I walked across the street to a gas station and bought what I found appealing. The caffeine helped me to stay busy.
Finally I reeled in a little baby cat fish. Only maybe 4 or 5 inches. He didn't even get my bait. He must've accidentally swiped into the hook because it had pierced through his chest area. I took my picture, sent it to my fishing friends using my phone, then promptly unhooked him and cast again to try for something bigger.
After a phone conversation with my brother I found something bigger on the other end of the line. A smallmouth bass I believe. He wasn't huge, but he was worthy of a picture. Maybe 7 or 8 inches. Too small to keep by my standards. So he got unhooked and released.
She woke up almost right after that. I gave her an apple and some water and a cappuccino. She was grateful.
Before long it looked like rain was setting in. So, without panicking or rushing we packed up all our belongings back into the tan truck. I left the fire burning. I don't think it could have caused anyone any grief... Plus my bucket was full of stuff so I couldn't grab river water to put it out.. Like I said though, it looked like rain was coming.
We returned the fishing poles to their rightful place. And the tackle. Then it was time for breakfast. Yet another gas station. I got a banana. She got some greasy looking pizza and some kind of potato bites.
We got back to her apartment. She ate. I drank a Gatorade. We sat on the couch for a while.
I got nervous. There was poison ivy rampant along the banks. I hadn't washed off. I told her what I was thinking.
Time to shower. Got cleaned up. She was tired still so she laid down for a nap. I probably need one, but I have trouble taking naps. Especially when I'm not alone. So I grabbed my banana and got back in the tan truck. Drove past the White pines on the way home. Save the woods for another day. Today is for reflection, not for adventure. Focus, attention, clarity, remembrance.