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FROM THE BECKY COLLECTION



Becky's grandson, Chris, went to camp this summerand returned home filled with memories. Becky listened to Chris' stories, and then she wrote a poem.



Me, My Dad and the Bike ©By Becky (LHolc55865)




My dad took me camping on the back of a bike We went to the mountains and to fish and hike We camped out, lived off the land for one week Gosh, I had a great time, we set up by a creek
My dad and me we are members of the scouts We knew what to do, so there were no doubts We could fend for ourselves out in the woods We hauled our burlap bag with all of our goods
High up in the trees so no bears might decide To come into camp, take a bite out of our hide With our site all set up we decided to explore What was around us, what might be in store
Walking to the creek there was so much to see This was the first time for just my Dad and me To ever be together with no one else around We sat on the bank, we didn't make a sound
Each with our own thoughts no need to say Of what we were thinking, we held it at bay Just having him beside me was just so right Maybe this time alone together here might
Be what we needed to finally bring us close I guess all it really took was to get a big dose Of only him and me, neither could run away Stay and face each other, 'twas no other way
We talked a little about this, then a little bout that Not much to the conversation, but then as we sat The subjects became more serious, more about us He tried to understand how I felt, as a father does
There is still a lot there, that needs to be worked out I think we made a start, there's lots more to talk about We decided to leave it till the next time we came here It is a nice place to reflect, to really listen and to hear
What the other person is saying or tying to impart It seems a good place to try and open your heart It was getting late, our bellies had started to growl We decided to jump on the bike go on the prowl
Wandering around on a bike is really quite wild At least it seems so to me cause I am still a child Dad is a great rider, dressed in leather and beads He can make it so much fun, but he always heeds
The rules of safety, he has drummed into my head If I break any of them I have a great deal to dread First my butt will be kicked, and I can walk home Then to memory I must put them when I am alone
Then I would feel lower than the belly of a snake So I will remember the rules, cause a lot is at stake I will be restricted from the back of the bike I know Not to ride with my dad would just be a great blow
We then found us a place to eat way out in the wild So we circled around, it really seemed quite mild We parked and dismounted my heart starts to sing For I was so hungry and we had found Burger King
Well we finally found us a place to sit down and eat The Kids meal with fries and tenders was really a treat This was the life, drink with a straw finish with a slurp Finish with the finger and fries, let out a great burp
It's sure great being a he-man out here on our own Can't wait till I am bigger, older and finally full grown I'll go camping, and fishing, any day of the week Onto my bike, out into the world my fortune to seek
But in the here and now, there is much fun to be had For tomorrow, down the Chatahoochee me and dad Not a care in the world drifting, looking up at the sky On an inner tube, dreaming, watching the world go by
Up with the birds we run down to the creek for a wash Had never been in the water so early and oh my gosh! This thing is freezing, I am shivering, oh my poor tush My dad then bends over laughing, and falls into a bush
I forget the cold, I start to giggle, the scene is pure gold I just can't wait to get home for here is a tale to be told Our bath is finished and it is time to put n the feed bag I sit there looking at my dads cooking, trying not to gag
We decided to go down to the river get a tube to rent And though at the time, 'twas never any kind of hint Of the trouble and mischief I'd do by end of the day I did learn the lesson, I would need to always obey
We rented the tubes and ours was a yuckey pink And since I am a guy, to me that color does stink We sat our tushes down into the center of the tubes I put on my sun shades, oh man, I was a cool dude
Moseying on down the river, early, just before lunch Was looking around me, there seemed to be a bunch Of kids my age all agog and checking out the view I looked across the water and on a tube of pale blue
I then saw the cutest, sweetest girl I had ever seen There was fear in her eyes, she seemed quite keen As I closed in on her, she looked like she did know I would help as we floated down the river and so
We talked and laughed she then made a request She'd like to trade tubes, she liked the pink best Quickly I agreed, after awhile we changed places Later, looking around and nowhere in the faces
Did I see my dad's face and I felt a shaft of fear For he had sternly told me I must stay near Around me I saw no one I had met at the start I had no idea where me and my dad had part
The girl in the pink tube was by rope pulled in Floating on, afraid, would I see my dad again?
Why had they pulled the girl in I did not know Looking around now, no fun, my fear did grow
There were folks close but I did not know them Panic seemed to set in, my hopes then grew dim All of a sudden there were folks calling my name A lump settled in my throat, again the calls came
People started into the water, catching the tube I tell you then I was no dude, just a dumb boob My dad was standing there, he was fit to be tied He hugged me, then proceeded to tan my hide
The tube of stink pink had a purpose I had found out It told them where I should be pulled from the route But since I had traded with the girl in midstream And caused so much trouble, my dad did then deem
That when we returned home, restricted I would be Till I could recite the safety rules and maybe then he Might take me out on the back of the Valkyrie bike So then me and my Dad will ride-'n-camp and hike
My Dad told me later the thing that scared him most Was to call his mother and tell her I had been lost She'd enter witch mode, have jumped on her broom When she got there, poor Dad would meet his doom

Belljoye July 26, 1999





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