I went to an empty kids summer camp to find some damn peace and quiet.

I went to an empty kids summer camp to find some damn peace and quiet...and it was amazing. It makes me laugh when I think about how I even got the "in" into Camp Namanu in Sandy, OR.

I am not *always* in this headspace, but I'd say about 85% of the time... I am eager and excited to chat it up with just about anyone. 

I say this because about 3 years ago I became friends with this gal at my neighborhood dispensary in NE Portland. Dispensaries are just like coffee shops and strip clubs at this point...Portland is saturated with them. (Seriously, lol). 

Anywho, I became friends with Marley who worked at this dispensary, and we stayed in contact over the years. I gave her a few haircuts (when I was still doing the hair cutting thing) and we supported each other in the invisible sisterhood support that is social media (high fives)! 

Back to camp...her dad worked at this camp for kids in Sandy >>> obviously camp currently is not in session because of the COVID  >>> and Marley was put in charge of looking after the grounds during this "off-season." 

Then one day I was going through Instagram and I saw that Marley's sweet soul offered up free cabins to anyone that wanted to get out of dodge. 

I took her up on the offer and we had planned to go out to Sandy about 2 months ago...and it couldn't have come at a better time. 

Easton and I are just f*cking zapped. 

My mental health had been waning from the same routine day in and day out -- plus dealing with old beliefs systems forcing productivity expectations on myself while everything in my being responded with "NOOOO!"

Plus, I've learned that seeing your person struggle and not being able to help them get out of it....is a sense of helplessness I'd never felt before.

So needless to say, we needed some f*cking smores and a river. 

Also, context >>> I am not a camper. And I don't say that in the sense of... I can't handle roughing it...I freak out around bugs... I don't like to be without daily luxuries. That's not it, at all.

I honestly don't know how to camp, haha. I never learned and I don't own one single camping item. So that's what we're working with at our baseline.

So, back to Camp Namanu. 

We roll up to this awesome property in Sandy where the sweet Marley pops out to show us the ropes. She points to our sanitized cabin and bathroom set up PLUS the trails right behind our cabin...PLUS she gave us the coordinates to the secret swimming spot just 5 minutes away. 

This. Is. Perfect.

We proceeded to lay in the field and soak up the sun. 

We ate brie, honey, and french bread off of our Coleman camping grill (the brie automatically means glamping, I'd say). 

We went in the back trails of the camp, checking out the challenge courses suspended in the massively tall and beautiful Oregon trees.

I was instantly gratified with my campfire set up and dare I say "excellent" log placements.

We were peacefully content with our butts in the river, watching little tadpoles and snails do their thing.

All I kept thinking the whole time was "whew, we needed this" and "I would totally love going to camp here as a kid."

Especially after seeing the sweet little carvings on our bunk that read "Sierra, age 12 — my horse was Tigger."

Awww. I can't think of anything better than being 12, being assigned a horse for a week to take care of, and horseback riding in and out of the forests all day long.

I definitely learned that I need wayyy more nature in my life. This is true in general but even more so being in this constant state of isolation. 

This is what I've been up to while I've been on my "break" away from all the screens and media platforms. I am as "okay" as I can be and I imagine you know exactly what I mean by that.

I really wish I could just give you all a hug.

I am off to go eat some Indian food leftovers and watch the next episode of that Scientology show where Leah Remini is uncovering all the inhumane corruption that goes on there. If you

haven't peeked in on that...whew. Get ready for a mind explosion.

I'll be in touch soon.

xoxo,

Emily