This is Girl Person. When I think back to the adventures we had with Brickle and Digby, most often, the funny ones involved some kind of injury to me. This story is no different. And the curse still continues today. The retention pond curse.
After a particularly long day of driving, we stopped for the night to camp at the only campground we could find in that Florida place. It was off the side of a very busy and loud interstate. But it had places to walk the boys. We stopped at a store and got some potatoes to grill. And we were all set to wind down. Boy Person took the grilling job and I started out to walk the boys.
After long days of driving we all were usually keyed up instead of tired. So I walked the dogs around the campground loop a few times. At the third time around the loop, we saw a pond. Well, a retention pond. But when you’re off the side of the interstate, you take what you can get.
The boys liked to watch things, especially the going’s on at camping. The retention pond was set very low in relation to the campground. Even though Florida is flat, it seemed like a mountain up there. That’s when the boys decided that the ducks below in their retention pond were asking for it. By “it” I mean a show.
Before I knew what was happening, both Brickle and Digby took off down that Florida peak dragging me on my stomach as I held on for life. I twisted. I turned. I flipped. I slid right into that pond backwards. Why didn’t I let go? If you knew Brickle and Digby back then, you knew how they liked to run away. And on the side of an interstate was not the place I would let go. The ducks laughed. But no one else saw us. Yet.
I made my way up that bank and back into camp, limping and dragging broken flip flops. The boys were proud of their antics, as always.
I had been gone a long time. And as I made my way to our campsite, I saw Boy Person chatting away to fellow camper. The potatoes had been done long ago. They both looked up at me, and their look of concern turned to horror when they saw blood all over my legs and arms. At this point, Boy Person didn’t ask for details. He just took the dogs inside. And told me I better get a shower.
But that shower turned out to be the curse too. If you’ve ever seen a campground shower, you know it’s a gamble what you’re gonna get. Literally. And apparently, days later I would find out I had a staff infection from it all.
I literally almost didn’t make it thru that infection. And years later, when another accident happened at a dirty dog beach, I almost didn’t make it thru then either. Till this day, I have to be very careful. Because every time, the illness is worse. But you know what? The experiences to me are priceless. And well worth my trouble.
Brickle and Digby were some of the hardest dogs to travel with. But we made it work. And as the years went by, I longed for the crazy days again. I long for them now.
The ones in our lives that may challenge us are worth the extra effort. They are worth the inconveniences and even the retention ponds and campground showers. Live life and laugh at it’s not so serious side. But stay away from retention ponds. Just a suggestion.
–Girl Person
Message:
Thank you.
Venmo travelingdogs2
When I was a kid and my family went on vacation, we always stayed in a motel. We never learned to camp because my dad and mom both served in the army and so camping was never a part of our lives. Motels were where you stayed when traveling. Then I met my partner. She and her family were campers. What do you mean I have to walk to go to the bathroom? I told her what was wrong with a motel or hotel? Finally, she brought a RV and we had our own bathroom. I still prefer hotels since most motels are gone. I’m a city girl through and through.