Now, Howard has 6 brothers and they were all hunters.  One of his brothers and his family also took their camper over for the two weeks with his wife and son.  Other family members took their campers and would come and go throughout the weeks.  This became a family outing for us.  We looked forward to it, after all, it was our yearly vacation!

My birthday would always fall during the time we were there.  My sister-in-law always had her aunt make me a butterscotch pie, my favorite, and she would carry it on her lap for the 2-hour trip, and we had birthday pie!

Also, we celebrated Thanksgiving in camp.  We all cooked our Thanksgiving meal and would go from camper to camper sharing our food.  It was truly a wonderful and touching day for all of us.  

We were fortunate to meet a family who had lived in the area for many, many years.   They were full-blooded Indians.  They had been given life-time rights to live on that property.  We gradually got to know them, and when we won their trust they celebrated our Thanksgiving with us.  Oh what a pleasure that was.  They didn't have electricity or the modern conveniences, and had dirt floors with a cooking/heating stove in the center of the kitchen.  

After we got to know these people, we made a yearly trip over during CHRISTmas week to visit them and take them small gifts.  They invited us in and we sat and talked, and they told us a lot about their family and their lives.  Those times are priceless to me now.

Time moved on, and two of  Howard's brothers and his father passed away.  The family vacations gradually stopped.  The hunting season is still a big time at our house, as our son now joins his dad in the sport, but it is different now.  Only the men participate.  No camping now.  

I savor these memories and am so blessed to have been able to enjoy the greatness of God's creation in the forest, and the loving and kind friendship of this family who added so much to our lives and memories.

©  Ann Joyce December 18, 2008