The Gunn Family: Canmore Family camping trip to Radium

Yes it was that time of year and weekend again, when our friends in Canmore arrange a group camping trip for 2 nights. This year we decided to keep it more local after previous years of driving 5-6 hours for a 2 night trip. Which seems a very long way, but in hindsight it still creates fond and happy memories and have created bonds between friends that otherwise would not have been formed. It is so easy to not make the effort to go the large distances, however once you are there and spending great memories together, which otherwise would not be made it is so worth it. It is amazing that all these families have to travel for a camping trip outside of Canmore to all get together. But it is worth every mile and every minute of travel.

Since my diagnosis it has been interesting to see the change in people around me and myself. My friends and neighbors and I have been guilty of seeing each other at the park, at work, in school saying" Oh we must get together for dinner" or " we must get together for a walk". Great friends at work, who I never socialise with, and always wish to do so. We make our lives busy, with tasks, duties, excuses, stuff. People have become aware of the precious time we have as we live our life and how easy time slips through our fingers without catching the grains of special moments, of human connection and interaction.

In a sense, when we all gather at these camping trips, evening meals, walks, runs, cups of tea. We are held in time engaged with others, unable to run to do "the things that need doing".....why would you when they are always going to be there anyway !, the stuff, the duties. See how much more connected and fulfilled you feel.

I love camping and allowing my kids to run free and wild from morning til night. There were probably around 20 children on this, or largest group yet and all the kids played well in groups, as a whole and individually as needed. Observation is essential, and we all look out for everyones kids, but there was rarely a time when intervention or dicipline had to be used.