Our final day in camp dawned cloudy and cool.
I decided on a hike through the valley (solo), along the horse trail for as long as it lasted, and then I just followed some trampled down marsh grasses until I lost the trail.
It was deserted and beautiful, but the sky was looking ominous, so I guess it's just as well I turned around when I did.
I saw only one other person; a fly-fisherman along the bank of the lazy river winding through the valley.
But I did see some pretty little berry bushes and lots of birds.
I got back to camp to find that our neighbors were 'home'.
I showed you the nice empty space to the left of our campsite.
The campsite to the right of us was occupied by a young family.
They arrived just after curfew (quiet hours are 10:00 pm - 6:00 am) one night, and they were so very quiet we were shocked to see there were five children the next morning.
They were a joy to have next door - on the rare occasions they were actually in camp - and we loved to watch the older boys (11 and 9?) play ball on the tent pad (they had a pop-up camper) with the amazingly athletic 4 year old, and to watch the older girl (8?) taking care of the toddler (18 mo. old girl).
They were up and at 'em pretty early every morning and they spent every day at a different lake(s) or hiking trail.
We learned to love them from afar, and if they were late returning we found ourselves worrying about them.
We got to joking about telling them to call us if they were going to be late so we wouldn't have to wait up worrying about them.
Even our 'pet coyote'...
...got lonely for them.
On that cloudy and cold final day in camp, we were blessed to have the neighbors 'home' in the afternoon when we started our fire.
They came over to ask Prince Charming to play some John Denver songs (even the four year old had his favorite).
I was absolutely charmed with these children, and handed over my sketch pad and pencil to the second boy...an artist at heart.
When I started to chat with the oldest boy, he told me why he'd waited to get his Junior Ranger pin up at the Alpine Visitor's Center on the tundra (one of the three separate ecosystems in the park).
"I decided that my personality is like the tundra."
I had to ask if he could put it into words for me why he felt that way.
"Sure. Because I am cool most of the time, but I can be warm and pleasant when I want to."
Wow.
I love to meet young people who know who they are.
I asked him if I could get my notebook and take down that quote.
One thing lead to another, and pretty soon all four of the oldest children were sitting at our camp table doing various forms of art with the meager supplies I had on hand.
It was awesome.
The second boy drew a figure and then drew the shadow of the figure...at a perfect slant.
I was so impressed.
The eldest decided to try his hand at an Inchie and he drew the entire Alpine Visitor's Center, the parking lot, the lake, the meadow, and a grazing elk.
Zowie.
The youngest boy and the oldest girl really enjoyed laying down color and experimented with printing from the tile we were using.
I found the nicest message on my journal pad after they left, and I think it was from the girl.
That's a keeper.
(Wouldn't it be wonderful if we didn't grow out of expressing ourselves freely like this?)
I now have lovely photographs (alas, no permission to post them), memories, and the names and address of this great family, and I cannot wait to become better friends via the good old-fashioned post.
God made a beautiful world, but He topped off the beauty with people.