Andrew called me last night to ask if I would go to Egypt and retrieve a pair sweatpants that one of his friends left after his birthday party. Of course, I said I would run up and get them before I left for home. I
t rained and rained all day, never stopping before I had to leave. So when time ran out, I just put on my mountain hat and coat and took off up the side of the mountain to the place that Kate, long ago, named Egypt. What do you know, another God-given opportunity for an adventure of the heart that I wouldn't have taken if I had any other choice!
The wet and slippery trip up the mountain challenged my body and then cleaning the place out once I got there, left me breathless…I can’t go up without sweeping up the bugs and dirt that have accumulated since the last time I made the journey. When finished with my duties, I stopped, looked around, sat in the string 
hammock and listened to the rain dripping on the roof. I visualized Terr, Mike, Tom and Shannon carrying the heavy building supplies up the mountain to build this sweet little box for Kate to play in. (I particularly remember poor Mike, single-handedly carrying those huge sheets of plywood up that steep hill and Shannon pulling large rocks from the soil while digging post holes. He said it was like birthing babies from the soil; all the while, Terr supervising the building of his design. I could almost see Kate (and later, Emily) painting on the walls. I thought of Mayapples, Hemlocks and symbols of God....didn't want to leave the noisy quiet....
Maybe I can bring the granddaughters up here next summer. We could redecorate! Make curtains, add a log bookcase and hang pictures of the three of them on the wall...
Life is good.
great post and all but I'm still trying to figure out how and why a pair of sweatpants were left up there/????
ReplyDeleteDear "family"...I don't really know the answer to your question, but those boys were all over that mountain and I'm sure whoever left them got hot and decided to just wear the shorts that were under them to cool off. I think I did see a couple of boys in shorts and sweatshirts. I’m sure you would have noticed if someone had returned to camp with no pants on!
ReplyDeleteMimi
It's a good thing they aren't older! More questions would arise with that one.......
ReplyDeleteI love you. Kim
Egypt: best place ever. With or without pants. Glad you made the trek to our old hideout :) Love you.
ReplyDeleteA unique structure derived from the Bau(wow)haus school of architecture, which has stood the test of time and withstood the weathering on Croft Mountain, lo these many years. What other structure in the world was constructed by two lawyers, a doctor, a graphic artist, and a professional fund raiser (Molly hauled the water and mixed the concrete)? Grandad
ReplyDeleteSeems only yesterday that Kate
ReplyDeletemade the drawings of the
Hieroglyphs, sp, on the walls.
We really felt we were in Egypt.
How wonderful to have sweet
memories of our children after they
grow "Old"
Nana
I have to confess that, despite the multiple mentions, the credit is undeserved. I somehow missed the whole building. I've heard the stories of the sweat Mike & Shannon put into it. The only sweat I've put into it over the years has been the climb up to the completed structure. But thanks for including me. It is a wonderful place.
ReplyDeleteTom...no wonder I didn't have a memory of you up on that mountain that day. I just couldn't imagine you not being there, I thought my memory was slipping!
ReplyDelete