Suddenly *Not So* Single Journey

Happiness is a four day holiday weekend…

Author: thenicknick

Oh, but there’s so much more to it than that!  I’m happy because we’re looking at so many firsts!  It’s going to be wonderful.  Let’s count them…because we treasure our firsts.

1. This is our first mountain vacation with the kids.
2. Our first combined family vacation with Jennie’s family.
3. First time renting a boat together.
4. First time hiking around the Fontana Dam.
5. First time I’m at Fontana Village while not on a strict diet.  (Last time, there were dieting tears.)
6. First time riding horses as a family.
7. First time playing putt putt together.
8. First time at a dive in movie.  (Not a typo.  The movie is at the pool.  Cool, huh?)

And there are other firsts.  These firsts are more…private…and special…and soooo anticiapted.

Just know that I have earned this vacation with my tenacity, my perseverance, and my determination to build something special.  We are working hard at blending.  HE is doing a phenomenal job picking up the slack.  And that would be why Rachel keeps accidentally calling him ‘Dad.’

I love it, of course.  It is so nice to have help.  It is so strange and unusual an experience for me.  I’m slowly adjusting.  I almost don’t feel like a slacker when he helps.  Almost.

Now…about Fontana Village, so you can see what I have to be so happy about.  Fontana Village is a result of the dam.  Prior to that…nothing was out there but wild.  And once they started building the dam, they had trouble keeping their workers because…nothing was out there but wild.  So, since it was a project that took years and years and years, they built a village so the workers could have their families around.  It made for a much better work environment, the ultimate benefits package.  A school was built.  Cabins were built.  Baseball fields and other areas of entertainment were built.  All the while, the dam was being built.

And when it was over, there was some concern as to what to do with the place.  Eventually, it was turned into something of a camp…think Dirty Dancing.  It’s almost exactly like that.  There are frequent announcements of activities and locations and times and places.  Last time we went there was dancing and campfires.  There was putt putt and ping pong.  There was all manner of outdoor activity imaginable.  And when the weather is inclement, there are indoor activities, too.

Now there are multiple options for staying there.  The rustic adventurous types can stay in tents and campers.  There are house boats at the marina.  Last time I stayed there at the lodge in hotel rooms.  This time, we’re going with the cabins.

I discovered that there is a seriously limited option for meals if you don’t have a fridge and stove and generally all the comforts of home.  (I’m not a camper…remember?)  So, we planned our menus.  We’re bringing some snacks.  And when all is said and done, I’ll be able to relax and enjoy myself instead of focusing  on where my next meal  is coming from and what it will be.

So, I’m very happy.  So very happy.  And I can’t wait for the weekend to begin.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 6:23 am and is filed under Reflections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.