Mad Town Monday XVI: Fall Freak Out and Ward Campout

There is an odd phenomenon that occurs in those weird places that have all four seasons, that I call the Fall Freak Out! It hits when the air goes from way too hot to just about right and everyone comes to the same realization all at once, that summer is almost over. They think of all the amazing things they had planned for this summer and realize that most of those things won't get done if they don't do it RIGHT NOW! So everyone starts planning BBQ's, outings to the park, and camp outs. They invite everyone they know to come join them outside in the sun because very soon they will all retreat into their cozy little caves to wait out the winter.

I hadn't experienced the Fall Freak Out in 4 years and it took me a little by surprise. So fall 2013 turned into a VERY busy and stressful time for us. The first weekend of September was the camp out I talked about here with my brother's family. Lewis lost his job the following Tuesday. The second weekend was the Ward camp out, which I was in charge of. The third weekend was Indy's 1st birthday party (which is enough to keep me busy for a whole month by itself!). The fourth weekend was a clothing swap I organized for my ward. October was almost as busy. Between General Conference, and the Ward Halloween Party I only had one Saturday to myself in 2 months. For some of you this might seem normal but for me, I usually only attend one or two social functions a month and if I'm planning it, it better be the only thing going on that month. So here I was planning 4 major events in  2 months with the stress of unemployment looming over us. Needless to say, I was a nervous wreck! um...not my normal relaxed self...

So the time for the Annual Ward Camp Out approached like a big black cloud of doom. I was in charge of the camp fire program and no one wanted to sign up to do anything. I twisted some arms and got a few volunteers but when the time for the camp fire arrived. No one was coming. I had spent the last half hour arranging things and telling people to come over to the fire pit area and it was not paying off. Finally an hour and a half after we planned on starting, there were only a handful of people there. We decided to start anyway but within a few skits we had to move everyone to the lit pavilion since darkness had fallen. The pavilion was not ideal for skits since there was only a tiny space in the center surrounded on all sides by tables. But we made do and did what we could as people kept trickling in. All of this was frustrating to be sure but what got my goat the most was that no one was paying attention to the skits. 80% of the people were just talking amongst themselves. What kind of polite adult goes to an activity and completely disregards the efforts of those who have prepared to entertain them?! Grrrrr!

The previous weekend was so hot that I couldn't sleep with a thing on, so I only packed a few large blankets for us to sleep with. Boy was that a bad idea! It was FREEZING! I got practically no sleep and the next morning I was still mad, over tired and now cold and hungry! Breakfast was being provided by the men of the ward and they were getting a late start. I was getting colder, hungrier, and more impatient by the minute. My loving husband suggested that we go enjoy the soothing sights of nature while we waited.

We took some great pictures of the sun rise and as we hiked walked along a little nature trail, my irritability started to dissipate.

I arrived back at camp a much calmer person. That is until I realized that breakfast had started and ended with no food left. I was still cold, starving and mad as hornets! I told Lewis I couldn't take anymore and I wanted to go home NOW!

Indy loved waiting in the car while we packed up the tent

That Sunday, I looked at all the people who at been at the camp out and they all looked happy. I thought it was just because they had survived the ordeal of the ward camp out. But then they started coming up to me and telling me how much fun they had and what a great job I had done on my first activity as Activities Coordinator. I smiled my thanks and thought to myself, "Are you freaking kidding me?! That was the worst activity I've ever been to, let alone help plan!" And then it hit me. They weren't just lying to be polite. They really did have fun. They didn't care that the camp fire was too little too late. They were having fun talking to their friends. It didn't matter that it was cold. These are the hardy people of Wisconsin! They all got a good breakfast and a beautiful sunrise. They genuinely had a good time because they just relaxed and socialized.

I still had a horrible time and nothing can change that but I took the lessons my fellow ward members taught me and applied them to all my future activities. And it's really helped. Lewis also made friends with some awesome people named the Hartmans and started a gaming group so epic, it made us not want to ever leave Madison. So even if the activity itself was a total loss, the lessons I learned and the people I met made the ordeal worth it.