Went to stepson's graduation for his master's degree. As we were there for the weekend, between the showing us city culture and meeting his friends at the reception I had a "Teach Your Children" CSN&Y moment. The topping of it was the lighting the fire moment. An asterisk on this is I was not in the picture until after he was out of the home so I didn't have a lot of formative time to indoctrinate him. It is just a balance between family and becoming a silver back out in Dakotah Territory and needing to realize I am a gorilla in a zoo called the world. Anyway... sitting there and seeing a billowing smoke rising in the yard, I stepped out and smiled, as my wife shook her head and looked at me. A master's degree, a nurse practitioner, a licensed clinical psychologist, business administration, and lord knows what other degrees were present trying to start a fire pit and my wife and I just stayed on the deck and smirked. A wet 8 inch round for a base, plastic wrapped condensation gas station bundle splits, twigs picked off the lawn that were sprouting leaves, and set one of my fire starters on the top of the heap so no heat or benefit of a fire starter is gained, SMH. Across state lines so I couldn't even bring seasoned wood. What can you do but smile and thank the almighty that you grew up how and when you did, and hope for the best for the kids and grandkids even if they think I'm a knuckle dragging hillbilly. By end of night 8 inch round was still very identifiable. I am now very happily back in my little slice of heaven called Dakota Territory.
I have seen some pretty sad attempts to light a fire over my years, including one poor young man who lit his leg on fire using gasoline.
I'll never forget one time we were camping along Lake Superior in July. Typical of the area, it was cold. The second day we were there a lady approached me and asked if I'd please get a fire started for her. Turned out she and a couple kids were there and freezing but could not get a fire lit. Of course, she was trying to burn green wood... Yes, I helped her get thawed out.
