After a week of camping with no wifi, they all agreed, maybe nature was too relaxing after all. The conversation started between Tomi and his grandfather from simple to complex questions of life, before long, Tomi asked his grandpa, *”have you ever gone camping before.
Grandpa smiled before answering his inquisitive grandson Tomi. ”Tomi did you remember that I did not grow to be like this in a day?” growth is a gradual and systematic thing that happens to everyone and everything was the first thing grandpa said before starting his story.
He cleared his throat, sat well, adjusted his faded shirt and started his story. I remember the first family camping I went with the Fabowales, Olupitans and others. We went for the camping a week before Christmas, we just wanted to get away from the hustle and noice of life, we wanted a serene environment with little or no noise so we decided to camp at the Fabs farm.
Usually, during that time of the year, all the farmers would have returned to town for relaxation, change of environment and in getting ready for Christmas celebration so that was our reason for choosing the date and location plus we wanted a place where we are going to enjoy nature in every possible ways.
The camping started on Sunday and ran through to Saturday and I am sure everyone who took part enjoyed it. The activities were simple, we usually have prayers sections in the morning, bath and prepare for the day, we the men tidy our environment while our women prepare breakfast.
We rest and have random discussion for one hour after breakfast before proceeding to do our laundry together at the stream, after washing and drying the clothes we will swim for a while relaxing in the water. After that, the men go fishing or hunting for either fish or game that will be used to prepare dinner while the women go to the farm to get pepper, vegetable and fruits for all.
We all met at four or five to start dinner preparation. All our food and drinks were fresh,we could not even order anything as wifi was not available on the farm so no one bothered to take their cellphones from the car. After dinner, we would all gather again to share our view on a given topic for others to learn from. Mind you, the topics were suggested by all of us at the beginning of the camping.
It was obligatory for everyone to say something. You either contribute or ask meaningful questions. The spoke person can chose to or not to give us take home. By eight at night we will all gather by the fire place and enjoy either fish or meat barbecue usually prepare by the men as a treat to our wives. We play, sing and dance by the fire place till late in the night and all retire for the day.
After the few days of camping, all six of us were looking fresh and renewed so we decided to turn it to a yearly ritual and we did. After all we did not die from not using WiFi for one whole week it's just an opportunity to unwind.
I can not help but imagine things in my head from where I was sitted at a corner in the room, peeling melon seeds when grandpa was sharing his experience when the story ended, Tomi said he wished for a change in environment I was at the camp with you guys.
Thanks for taking your time to read through
Yours truly@ elizy, a teacher, mother and passionate writer.
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